Page 32: of Marine News Magazine (December 2017)

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BOATBUILDING

Commercial Workboat Philanthropy on Display on PT-305

Image: National World War II Museum

WWII Museum’s PT-305 sails again af er a far reaching donor-funded restoration.

By Susan Buchanan n March, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans Recent improvements to the PT-305, which was used launched its reconstructed PT-305, built locally by Hig- for tours and oystering on the U.S. East Coast for over half gins Industries in 1943. The museum acquired the boat a decade, include the addition of 13 feet in hull length that

I known as the USS Sudden Jerk in 2007, restoration began was lost postwar; over 12,000 feet of cabling and wiring; in 2009, and it now sails Lake Pontchartrain as an inter- three miles worth of caulking; 13,000 board feet of wood- active exhibit. PT-305, with a ? fteen-man crew, belonged work and 300 gallons of paint. to a twelve-ship squadron operating in the Mediterranean Four, war-time combat PT boats exist in the United from 1944 until the war ended in 1945. States today, but the Sudden Jerk is the only one that’s “Our administrators estimate we’ve put $3.5 million fully restored. Last month, we spoke with just a few of the into the restoration, not counting the value of volunteer dozens of project donors, benefactors and volunteers.

time,” Tom Czekanski, the National WWII Museum’s senior curator and restoration manager, said last month. VT Halter Marine provided labor and equipment “The vessel, now operating, is valued at $7 million for “VT Halter Marine’s involvement in the restoration replacement purposes. The number of hours donated by project began soon after the PT-305 was returned to New volunteers has reached 120,000.” Orleans in 2007,” Meredith Foster, business development

The project’s more than 200 volunteers include WWII manager and technology control of? cer at VT Halter Ma- vets, naval and electrical engineers, retired Coast Guard rine, Inc. in Pascagoula, Ms., said last month. “VTHM and military members, machinists, parts collectors, histo- has contributed over 700 hours of labor, along with mate- rians and students. A variety of donors gave money, parts rial and equipment, to the project.” The company built and services. And, the local waterfront, workboat industry the rudders and fuel tanks for the PT-305, Rob Mullins, stakeholders and their employees were an undeniably big VTHM’s vice president of business development, said. part of that effort. “We also donated some electrical ? xtures.”

December 2017

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