The PT Boat Forum
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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: PT 8 NOW FOR SALE
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=693

Just happened to be on EBAY this evening and noticed that PT 8 is up for sale. It has been completely refurbished and looks pretty nice for an aluminum Navy failure. This was the boat if you remember that was outfitted with heavy Navy fittings and failed sea test's. It would later be placed at melville as a training vessel. If any of us has a cool one million bucks, we might get her. That's the opening bid...............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 29, 2008 - 8:58pm
Total Posts: 3544 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

That's not bad, Frank. 500K from you and 500 K from me. Of course, we'd have to keep it on the west coast......

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Mar 30, 2008 - 8:09am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Will

I'll go to he Bank on Monday, Mortgage my Home, sell my 2 Kids on the black market ( although at the ages of 26 and 28 I might not get as much for them). I will make the purchase with you, but it has to go here in Massachuetts. Maybe we can get some of the other guys here on the message board to cough up 50K apiece....

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 30, 2008 - 8:22am
Total Posts: 3544 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

Yeah, for 50K you could have a little brass plaque with your name on it in the officers' head.....

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Mar 30, 2008 - 3:48pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

For 100K you could have a plaque in the Officers Head all by yourself, plus you could Pilot the boat twice a year for 10 minutes each trip................

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Mar 30, 2008 - 9:24pm
Total Posts: 3544 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

http://www.ablboats.com/details.asp?ListingID=74741

Better pics of PT8

Posted By: VCR | Posted on: Apr 1, 2008 - 1:26pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Were you able to cobble together enough cash for a bid? Someone's bid a million for it...but it looks like the minimum bid is closer to 1.1 mil.

How do you guys feel about all the work that's been done to the boat since the guy bought it? The "modernizing" stuff, without knowing the circumstances of the "restoration," kinda bothers me and would lower the value of the boat (if I had the cash).

Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net

Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Apr 7, 2008 - 1:05am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I can tell you this, if I had that kind of money, I would purchase the boat, bring it here to Massachusetts, then worry about any changes made to the boat. I think with any old boat, you have to modernize it to keep up with the current COAST GUARD regulations. I do agree with you that keeping her as close to original would be the best thing for us PT BOAT GUYS, but for some, they want those modern changes for comfort, which as you know this boat was certainly not built for comfort.

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Apr 7, 2008 - 3:57am
Total Posts: 3544 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

You are right Frank,
During the restoration of PT658 we have had personal experience with the whole USCG regulations issue and whether or not to apply them in restoring the boat. The requirements to achieve compliance with all of the new USCG regulations sometimes conflict with the ideals of the Historic Naval Ships Association guidelines of keeping the historical fabric of the boat intact. More often than not, we have tried to stay within the authentic historical context of how the boat was built, even if it may conflict with modern day regulations. This same thing was detrimental to the restoration of the restoration efforts by Bill Bohmfalk on the Vosper PT728 (now owned by Ron Ianucci in Kingston NY) They were forced to put handrails and the like on her decks all in keeping with obtaining a USCG Certification for passenger vessels. Although she was able to get certified and registered, in my opinion it significantly changed the outward appearance of the whole boat away from its historical roots. I think the boat should look like the day it was built both inside and out to the maximum extent possible and certain exceptions to the rules actually do allow the restoration principles to be grandfathered in and trump the newfangled regulations. I guess this is a subject that I feel particularly strong about, since I have stayed awake nights sometimes thinking about whether or not we did the right thing. I hope whoever purchases PT8 will change it back to its historical appearance as much as possible. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Apr 7, 2008 - 8:16am
Total Posts: 1486 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Does anyone know if the boat was ever sold...............

Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Jan 18, 2009 - 5:32am
Total Posts: 3544 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am

728 ALSO REQIURED TO HAVE HER BULKHEADS RELOCATED TO COMPLY WITH DAMAGE STABILITY.

TIM IVORY

Posted By: TIMSLIBBY | Posted on: Jan 18, 2009 - 10:20am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Jerry,

You are 100% correct with your assessment of PT728's outward appearance with the handrails. It most certainly takes away from the boat and also conceals the forward and aft torpedo tubes and much of the deck equipment. Our Vosper as we all know and are constantly reminded of, is not an authentic restoration. With its deck railings and Detroit diesel engines, It is what it is.

But................we would not be able to do what we do with this boat without the rails. And Coast Guard regulations or not, as the Captain of this boat, I would not take people out without the railings. We take people of all ages, shapes and sizes including people with disabilities and offer them this experience, and those railings keep them safe. Myself and my crew members have even carried people with wheelchairs on to the boat.

If you see the photos on the website that I am starting to rebuild, you can see how the crowds are all over the decks. When I bring everyone to "General Quarters" and bring them on a torpedo run, without those railings we would have to follow our wake back and pick people out of that water LOL.

[url]http://www.pt728.com/Charterpage.html[/url]

I look at 728 as a "workhorse" that brings attention to all of the genuine restorations out there such as your 658, the two boats at Battleship Cove and to PT boats in general. As time goes by less and less people are aware of (or could care less about) what these boats and their crew members did for our country. I think our Vosper does a good job at that and hopefully with the money we are bringing in can start the funding for Tim to do a genuine restoration on 48, 615 or 459; similar to the great job you have done to 658.

I would also like to add that we have a BLAST when we are out running 728. We have a great crew and a growing group of volunteers that really make this a great experience for anyone who comes out with us. I have also had many PT boat veterans on 728 and they love what we are doing. On occasion when conditions were favorable, I have also given many of them the wheel . To see the faces on their families makes it all worthwhile to me.

I would love to get out to the West Coast to meet you guys and to see 658 one of these days.

Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 19, 2009 - 9:04am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

I also forgot to mention that when we are out doing public events we hand out the pamphlets for PT Boats inc (50 Tons of Fighting Fury). We do that with the hopes that people will visit this site, become members and keep the memories alive.

Tom

Posted By: twhyte | Posted on: Jan 19, 2009 - 9:08am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hey Tom,
Now that I see and understand just how much you guys are doing, it really makes me feel like you guys are really doing the right thing. Like you said, the 728 "is what it is" and for your crew to take it, repair it, and get the USCG certification and then open it up for the general public is something that our boat can only dream about. I also appreciate that you guys are doing a lot to publicize the history aspect of all PT Boats in general, and after al "a rising tide floats all boats". So thanks Tom and your whole crew for doing such a great job.

When you guys restore the PT 48 and 459 and the others, I was glad to hear how you guys wil strive to stick to historical authenticity whenever possible. I know this concept sometimes is a hard row to hoe, since there are so many modern day requirements that seem to over-rule restoring the historic fabric of the vessel. That special problem only becomes an issue if you are trying to restore the boat in order to use it as a tour boat to take passengers out for money. If you are not trying to do that, then you can forego a lot of those restrictions under the banner of "Historic Restoration" and the USCG can and will make specific Exceptions in those cases.

We have such an understanding with the USCG. While we strive to meet as many of their regulations for tour boats as possible, if the regulations require installing or modifying some item that is important to the historic authenticty of the boat, then we have the leeway to get out of being required to install it. This only applies if you cannot classify the boat as a "Tour Boat" . I like to compare it to the idea of not installing seat belts into a classic 1910 Model T Automobile, it would just look wrong! The same idea goes to PT Boats and modern day regulations.

Anyway good job again to you and your whole crew and keep up the good work! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 19, 2009 - 9:50am
Total Posts: 1486 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm