How many wooden boats still in government service?

RCE wrote:
> <chuckgould.chuck RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1141893028.220396.13430@z34g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>> While inspecting the progress on my boat yesterday, I noticed a large
>> vessel being completed in the same shed.
>>
>> It's about a 50-footer, wooden hull, and appropriately enough it
>> belongs to the US Forest Service. I was told the yard was contracted to
>> put a new stem on her, and some other work as well. I've requested a
>> complete synopsis of the work that was done and some photos of the job
>> in progress as it might make an interesting story for the magazine.
>>
>> Got me thinking- How many wooden boats are still in use by any branch
>> of the federal government? Anybody know of additional examples? I
>> suspect this 50-year old wooden patrol boat must be pretty unique- and
>> would have been replaced by a boat of some other material if not for
>> the association with the Forest Service.
>>
>
> How about the obvious?
>
> USS Constitution
> Homeport, Boston, MA
>
> RCE
>
>
Chuck,
I know why the USS Constitution is being maintained, but why is the US
Forest Service maintaining an old wooden boat. I am glad they are,
because I love the look of a wooden boat, but it doesn't seem like the
best use of their money.

--
Reggie

"That's my story and I am sticking to it."
 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service? 

The latest thing to replace wood is called
FIBERGLASS. (bad sarcasm there sorry)

Last I knew, fiberglass wasnt magnetic.
Why not use that with a nice kevlar hull and
you got something MUCH stronger than
wood.

Tom
 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service? 

Here's the John Cobb, operated by NOAA.
Displacement: 250 tons
Dimensions: 93 x 26 x 11 feet/28.3 x 7.9 x 3.3 meters
Propulsion: 1 diesel, 325 bhp, 1 shaft, 9.3 knots
Crew: 7 + 4 scientists/mission crew
Notes: An aged, wood-hulled fisheries research ship. In need of
replacement. May be retired when Oscar Dyson enters service.

Builders: Western Boatbuilding, Tacoma, WA.

Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes
R552 John N. Cobb 1950 PAC Juneau, AK
 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service? 

Here's the scoop on the wooden minesweepers- 14 Avenger class in
service:
Displacement: 1,360-1,440 tons full load
Dimensions: 224.25 x 39 x 11.25 feet/68.35 x 11.9 x 3.4 meters
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,600 bhp, 13.5 knots
Crew: 81
Sonar: SQQ-32 mine detection
Armament: 2 12.7mm MG
Concept/Program: Large, highly capable multirole minesweepers/hunters,
capable of overseas deployment. They have suffered numerous technical
problems, some of which remain unresolved, and it is reported that
maintenance is being badly underfunded. Four are based overseas, the
others in Texas.

Builders: Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WI; Marinette Marine, WI
(MCM 2, 4, 7).

Design: Wooden-hulled minesweepers of relatively conventional design,
equipped with modern hunting/sweeping systems. Carry the SQQ-32
minehunting sonar, Mk116 mine neutralization system with 2 SLQ-48
minehunting devices, SLQ-37(V)3 magnetic/acoustic sweep array, SLQ-38
mechanical sweep, and mine disposal divers.

Number Name Year FLT Homeport Group
Notes
MCM 1 Avenger 1987 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2 NRF
MCM 2 Defender 1989 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2 NRF
MCM 3 Sentry 1990 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2
NRF
MCM 4 Champion1991 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2 NRF
MCM 5 Guardian 1989 PAC Sasebo MCMRon1/PhibRon11
MCM 6 Devastator 1990 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2
MCM 7 Patriot 1991 PAC Sasebo MCMRon1/PhibRon11
MCM 8 Scout 1990 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2
MCM 9 Pioneer 1992 ATL Ingleside MCMRon1 NRF
MCM 10 Warrior 1992 ATL Ingleside MCMRon3 NRF
MCM 11 Gladiator 1993 ATL Ingleside MCMRon3 NRF
MCM 12 Ardent 1993 PG Bahrain MCMRon3
MCM 13 Dextrous 1994 PG Bahrain MCMRon3
MCM 14 Chief 1994 ATL Ingleside MCMRon2

Also, it's not federal but the state of New Jersey operates an old
wooden buoy tender, about 75-80 ft. There are a lot of state marked
channels in the coastal rivers and bays and off the ICW.
 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service? 

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 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service? 

snave wrote:

> Here's the scoop on the wooden minesweepers- 14 Avenger class in
> service:
> Displacement: 1,360-1,440 tons full load
> Dimensions: 224.25 x 39 x 11.25 feet/68.35 x 11.9 x 3.4 meters
> Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,600 bhp, 13.5 knots
> Crew: 81
> Sonar: SQQ-32 mine detection
> Armament: 2 12.7mm MG
> Concept/Program: Large, highly capable multirole minesweepers/hunters,
> capable of overseas deployment. They have suffered numerous technical
> problems, some of which remain unresolved, and it is reported that
> maintenance is being badly underfunded. Four are based overseas, the
> others in Texas.
>
> Builders: Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, WI; Marinette Marine, WI
> (MCM 2, 4, 7).

Who describes those ships as "wood"? They were entering
service when I was in the Navy (and that was a long time
ago, although it doesn't seem like it to me) and there was a
lot of hoopla about them being fiberglass.

I have also seen them described as "fiberglass reinforced
wood" construction.

And Navy ships maintenance is always underfunded.

DSK
 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service? 

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 >> Stay informed about: How many wooden boats still in government service?