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Finditsurfit · 10-10-2009, 20:37

A Navy Tboat came up for sale around me for a good price but I have no Idea about them. I am looking for a steel full displacement boat for a passagemaker/ exploration conversion. I have been mostly looking at bc steel fishing trollers but this boat is the right price only burns 3 gallons an hour and is steel. Any body know how they are in the bluewater and bad conditions. I just don't know much about them.

PS2954 - Watts-T-Use Details - Pacific Boat Brokers Inc.

Still havn't sold my sail boat and can't figure it out but have hope.

**James S** · 11-10-2009, 03:37

I don't have any info on this boat but its sure classic looking...would be a fun project but all things considered I'm not sure its that cheap...around $62,300 USD
I guess if the big stuff (hull ,engines were in excellent shape it may be worth while.
Nice hull shape.

Mule · 11-10-2009, 05:35

I believe that is an Army T boat, not Navy. The US Army comissioned a bunch of these back around the late 40's and early 50's. There have been a number of conversions, the best I know of was featured in Passagemaker around 2003, the boat was named "The Colonel". Great, tough boat and the biggest money pit imaginable, however when you are through you would really have something. Anything built in the USA to mil-spec is gonna be tough.

You might want to consider this boat, that is ready to go, needs a bit more fuel capacity and it is in your neck of the woods also:

1953 U.S. Navy design Pilothouse Liveaboard Cruising Trawler Commercial Boat For

Chief Engineer · 11-10-2009, 06:42

I am somewhat knowledgeable about these.

Keep in mind that you will be battling rust forever.

If there is old wiring in it...it can be a pain to work with (armoured cable)

Money Pit.....aren't all old boats money pits?

Oh....and learn how to weld

If it is an older engine...parts may be a problem

If you get a survey done...prepare to pay for audiogauging the hull

motion30 · 11-10-2009, 06:42

I do not know about that one, you will need a full time crew to keep the rust at bay

stevensc · 11-10-2009, 06:52

If I remember right Passagemaker magazine did an article on one which was converted for pleasure use. They sometimes have these articles on file downloadable, for sale, if you check their website you might find it.
There are tons of GM 8V-71 s around I don't know how expensive the parts are.
Steve

**David M** · 11-10-2009, 08:21

We had two of these boats at the maritime academy used for teaching boat handling. I was also involved in a sea scout program for a while that had one. They are indeed tough little boats.

Here are some websites I came across about these neat boats.

T-Boats
1953 T Boat Yacht Conversion - Ready to Cruise - Pilot House
http://tboatsusa.com/mainpages/database.html
https://www.boats-and-harbors.com/onlinePub.html See page 19

Don't worry about getting older rebuilt Detroit Diesel parts. They are still plentiful. Its an easy Google search.

Boats and Harbors classifieds lists companies that have these parts for sale. https://www.boats-and-harbors.com/index.cfm

Finditsurfit · 11-10-2009, 08:27

I can weld quite well. I don't see why this boat would be more rust work than another 60ft steel boat? I am going to take a look at it but still havn't sold my wharram. Thanks for all the comments

Finditsurfit · 11-10-2009, 08:31

Thanks MUle for the recomendation but I only want steel hulls.

**David M** · 11-10-2009, 11:29

Steel hulls are not too hard to keep the paint looking decent. Its all in the prep work. Don't though ever expect to go for very long without a rust bleed developing somewhere.

hoppy · 11-10-2009, 12:12

If you want a torpedo boat you could go for some history and get this 1938 United States Navy PT-8 Power New and Used Boats for Sale
or luxury 1959 Ex. Swedish Navy Torpedo Boat Power New and Used Boats for

OK they are way out of the price range, but interesting boats anyway

lorenzo b · 11-10-2009, 17:07

What you're looking at is an Army T boat. Just google Army T boat and all kinds of stuff will come up. I almost bought one in Tenants Harbor Me. two years ago and looked at several of them. The one I liked would not pass a hull inspection because steel was just welded over the old bad steel rather than cut out and replaced, and the frigging idiot poured concrete into the bilge and raised the cabin some six ft without an architect.
They are old boats and unless they have been looked after you could be in for some big expenses. They were specifically built for coastal duty and have deep narrow drafts so you will want to do some stabilizing if you take it out in blue water.
Ones that are fixed up and in great shape are selling for around 250K, just to give you an idea what you'll be spending.
That said, they are beauties.
There's a guy in Maine named Captain Hal Oates that brokers a lot of them, I advise caution in dealing with him.