Interesting boats

[Art]

Here is another old ferry for sale in Tacoma, similar price:
https://www.boats.com/power-boats/1936-ferry-custom-6842114/

I LOVE that ferry!!

 

[socalrider]

That's what I was thinking. If it's triple shaft and at least the outboard props feather, I'd think you run all 3 to go fast, center only to go slow, outboards only in close quarters for maneuvering.

That seems like kind of a long walk for a short drink, but I can't think of another explanation...

Maybe: "Damn it, I'm gonna settle this single versus twins debate once and for all!"

It certainly seems demonstrably worse than both in just about every respect to me.

 

[rslifkin]

That seems like kind of a long walk for a short drink, but I can't think of another explanation...

Maybe: "Damn it, I'm gonna settle this single versus twins debate once and for all!"

It certainly seems demonstrably worse than both in just about every respect to me.

It's more complicated, but we don't know what the drive layout looks like. So it's hard to say if it might be more efficient at slow cruise than 2 bigger engines. Or they had a reason to use 3x 3208s for the power target instead of 2 bigger engines.

 

[socalrider]

It's more complicated, but we don't know what the drive layout looks like. So it's hard to say if it might be more efficient at slow cruise than 2 bigger engines. Or they had a reason to use 3x 3208s for the power target instead of 2 bigger engines.

I can't tell from looking at the engine room photo - it doesn't look like what I'd expect for three symmetrical shafts.

I can't imagine why you'd pick 3x300hp instead of 2x450hp. Have you (or anyone) seen this before? I can't think of any boats in this size range I've ever seen with three propulsion engines.

 

[koliver]

This Symbol 60 has three engines (3208's). Why???

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1987-symbol-motoryacht-8159541/

I came across a 60' custom built boat several years ago that has 3. The story then was that the owner wanted to achieve a speed that the original installation failed to achieve with its pair of engines, so a third was added, between and forward of the original pair, as that was the only possibility for location. It worked to achieve the desired speed. That boat is still around, same owner, so it seems now to have satisfied his needs.

 

[rslifkin]

I can't tell from looking at the engine room photo - it doesn't look like what I'd expect for three symmetrical shafts.

I can't imagine why you'd pick 3x300hp instead of 2x450hp. Have you (or anyone) seen this before? I can't think of any boats in this size range I've ever seen with three propulsion engines.

The engine room photos were a bit hard to decipher for me as well. I think it said 3x 375, but even still, it's a weird setup and not one I've seen before.

 

[Art]

PT boats at times had three big RR's... Fast was the name of their game!!

On a pleasure boat I'd be interested in sound levels with all three cranking hard... and fuel consumption.

 

[Portage_Bay]

I've been on boats with 3 propulsion engines & 3 shafts. Three boats were in scheduled passenger service. Speed was not the main goal, though they would get up and go. The main reason was to allow the engineers to perform routine maintenance and some repairs while underway. The only person who noticed anything different with an engine off line was the one handling the boat around a dock. The other one was for speed. I was only aboard that one as a "guest" for sea trials so all I can say is it was fast.

 

[Art]

I've been on boats with 3 propulsion engines & 3 shafts. Three boats were in scheduled passenger service. Speed was not the main goal, though they would get up and go. The main reason was to allow the engineers to perform routine maintenance and some repairs while underway. The only person who noticed anything different with an engine off line was the one handling the boat around a dock. The other one was for speed. I was only aboard that one as a "guest" for sea trials so all I can say is it was fast.

Can you give any specifics? Size of boat, engines' hp, make, model, speeds...

Photos??

 

[backinblue]

That seems like kind of a long walk for a short drink, but I can't think of another explanation...

Maybe: "Damn it, I'm gonna settle this single versus twins debate once and for all!"

It certainly seems demonstrably worse than both in just about every respect to me.

I tend to agree with you, but maybe the owner or builder thought it was the best of both! A single engine for most of the cruising for economy and to minimize maintenance. Dual engines for manuverability when needed. All 3 if you needed to maximize speed in an emergency or if some other conditions required fast passage. You also have lots of redundancy. I'm not saying it was necessarilly a brilliant decision, but perhaps that was some of the rationalization behind it. There are no pics of the running gear so not sure if they are spinning 3 props. The engine room pics don't support it, but they used 1 engine more than the other 2, and the other 2 for about the same amount, so it's still a bit of a head-scratcher for me.

 

[Portage_Bay]

Can you give any specifics? Size of boat, engines' hp, make, model, speeds...

Photos??

Art,

That will take dredging up some old memories no doubt full in inaccuracies. I worked for that outfit 1975- 76. We built the boat I sailed on in 75. It was the 3rd of 3 for the company. As far as I remember she was about 120' LOA. The engines were, if I remember correctly, Cat 3306TA. Mostly we operated within speed limited areas but sometimes when the owner of the company was aboard he'd take command and run her hard because he liked to. Running light on passengers I recall hitting 25 MPH (inland waters). She was a 500 passenger boat so I'm sure she couldn't hit that speed with 90,000 lbs or more of passengers aboard.

My guest appearance on the sea trials boat was aboad a triple engine aluminum work boat. That would have been in the early 80s. Built by a Seattle area builder. Munson maybe? All I remember about that ride was 3 DD V8s. Probably 8V71s not the 4 stroke version. The contract requirements were for 30 kts and the boat attained that speed.

My point in posting about those boats is that triple propulsion systems are unusual but not unheard of.

 

[Adopo]

So in my daily search of "show boats listed within he last day" this popped up. I love these old classics.

https://www.boats.com/power-boats/1956-matthews-42-flybridge-8162075/

 

[Adopo]

a few more...NW just has the coolest boats that always appear to be in great shape.

 

[Max Simmons]

Beaut!

 

[Art]

That Matthews is one of my favorite raised deck boats ever!

 

[Adopo]

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1997-custom-59-8076467/

https://youtu.be/NntvNSXehbw

It's just quirky enough to like...what is this modeled after? Era? It has Mathews Houseboat era windows, a steamboat type pilot house. Where have I seen a similar design?

 

[Adopo]

a few more

 

[cardude01]

Interesting boat for flat water, but there seems to be a lot of stuff that would fly around in some rough seas. Like that giant TV!

And that “easy” engine access didn’t look too easy to me.

But she’s definitely interesting.

 

[FF]

That is a great "houseboat" from the era when Trumpy and others did great houseboat cruisers.

The simple interior looks great and should be easy to maintain.

 

[HTurner]

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1938-alden-classic-motor-sailer-4510632/

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. HT. Indeed an interesting boat BUT one would think that for over a $ quarter mil' $ one would expect the exterior bronze hardware to be polished as shown in one of the deck pictures. Someone is deferring their maintenance.

 

[socalrider]

Greetings,
Mr. HT. Indeed an interesting boat BUT one would think that for over a $ quarter mil' $ one would expect the exterior bronze hardware to be polished as shown in one of the deck pictures. Someone is deferring their maintenance.

$2.6m?!?

Every second spent not varnishing or polishing on that boat is deferred maintenance.

 

[OldDan1943]

HT, I would not take that boat unless it came with a contract to maintain the bright work for free and then I would still be reluctant.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. s. Duh! You are correct, of course. I regularly misplace decimal points as well as my spectacles....

 

[FF]

"BUT one would think that for over a $ quarter mil' $ one would expect the exterior bronze hardware to be polished as shown in one of the deck pictures"

In wood boat days the building yard would cast the boats hardware.

Much was simply sanded and then painted to reduce maint.

 

[Art]

1950 wood boat dad purchased in early 1960's [he and I restored it over a few year period - we also family-cruised it for years coastal and inland in NE] was a 38' raised deck, SD bottom, sedan, sport fisher... a professionally custom designed and professionally built one-off beauty. Unfortunately its exterior "varnish" finish [all decks, super structure, transom and inside cockpit - hull sides were painted] had been let deteriorate. Every area was mahogany with every square inch VARNISHED!!! And, multi coats of ill prepared and ill applied re-varnish was EVERYWHERE!!

Thank God for Jasco Paint/Varnish Remover. We eventually had stripped every piece of wood to bare and sanded it all well. Paint was applied to most surfaces. Some areas on the flybridge interior were oiled and rubbed... inside the cockpit too. transom was kept varnished.

Man... that boat was a labor of love... lot o' love! We even eventually tore out the old straight six cylinder 155 hp. Nordberg Knight gasser and replaced with 185 hp. Perkins diesel.

For interest sake: A Nordberg sales brochure quotes 339.2 cu in capacity, 155hp @ 3200rpm, 4" bore 4.5" stroke, updraught carb.

These were all Nordberg manufacture, they also made the transmission as well.

List price was $US 1642 with direct drive gearbox, more for reduction boxes, as of January 10 1955.

 

[slowgoesit]

Man... that boat was a labor of love... lot o' love! We even eventually tore out the old straight six cylinder 155 hp. Nordberg Knight gasser and replaced with 185 hp. Perkins diesel.

For interest sake: A Nordberg sales brochure quotes 339.2 cu in capacity, 155hp @ 3200rpm, 4" bore 4.5" stroke, updraught carb.

These were all Nordberg manufacture, they also made the transmission as well.

List price was $US 1642 with direct drive gearbox, more for reduction boxes, as of January 10 1955.

I had the Nordberg Knight engine in my first boat, a 1959 34' Monk. It was a marinized Hercules truck engine. Paired with a Paragon reduction gear. Ran just fine, but I still prefer diesels!

 

[Northern Spy]

Meh. I like verdigris on exterior bronze.

 

[Adopo]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris

 

[Adopo]

Meh. I like verdigris on exterior bronze.

Agreed, like our roof. Same for the little boat.

Designed by Floridian architect Alfred Browning Parker 1964. Just before the eclipse in 17.