SAVE THE PT BOAT INC. was formed by a group of gray-haired ex-PT boaters to take custody of an historic relic, PT 658, a Navy-owned World-War II motor torpedo boat, and restore it to original operating condition, with full armament and three 1,500 horsepower Packard V-12 engines.
In keeping with Oregon’s maritime tradition, we intend to operate and display the boat in the Pacific Northwest as a living memorial to the thousands of U.S. sailors who manned these tiny warships in nearly every WW II theater: The Atlantic, the English Channel, the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, the Aleutians and the Philippines.
In our effort to restore PT 658, Save The PT Boat, Inc. has enjoyed generous assistance from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and USCG, the Oregon and Washington National Guard; the Oregon Military Museum, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Peter Tare (The National Organization of WW II PT Boat officers), and numerous corporate and individual contributors.
Many unpaid volunteers, including ex-PT boaters, have repaired the wooden hull and three original Packard engines. In restoring the boat, they have paid attention to the smallest detail making the boat as close to its original condition as possible. PT 658 is owned by the Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C.
Save The PT Boat, Inc. has accomplished quite a lot, but we still need help for a museum and restoring and maintaining the boat and other items. Your contributions of cash or equipment are greatly appreciated and are deductible on Federal and Oregon State personal and corporate income tax returns. Our IRS tax number is 93-1162295.
Oh yeah, one of those is on my wish list. I wonder if you can get plans or a kit.
Last one to the Farallons is a rotten egg!
I wouldn’t mind having one of these to sport around in either —
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glzG9lizkSc
What a great way for these fine gentlemen to spend their retirement years! Just like that generation to be productive and have a great time in the process.
Re Tina’s: “What a great way for these fine gentlemen to spend their retirement years! Just like that generation to be productive and have a great time in the process.”
Spot on Tina. This is a labor of love and honor. And fun!
Several years back I spent more than a few hours researching PT boat history and restoration projects. These sturdy, powerful craft were made so well and so fast it is absolutely astonishing. They are from the era of when Americans could get something done. (We still can, don’t believe the noise.)
There are quite a few restoration projects across the US, and every one deserves our gratitude.
Parts may be rare but plans have been saved, photographic records still exist, and tradesmen and machinists in the US are not yet lost to history (at least not as long as folks like these are still around).
I wonder who they get their plywood from. My guess it is not Home Depot.
I have a son who would be great at this kind of work. But he’s still young enough to need a paying job…lol. Maybe something for him to to think about in the future. Geez what would people be restoring 30 years from now?