PLATYPUS MARINE, THE full-service shipyard, steel-boat builder and yacht repair facility on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, hauled out Surfbird on Thursday morning with the assistance of Westport Yachts’ 550-ton TraveLift.
Platypus’ own 330-ton TraveLift was a bit underpowered for this lift.
I understand the 115-foot expedition yacht weighed 350 tons when she was hauled out.
Surfbird spent Thursday suspended in the TraveLift to give a surveyor access to the running gear and hull.
On Friday morning while she was still in the TraveLift, a contractor performed an ultrasonic inspection of the hull, which in the industry is more commonly known as audio gauging.
Lighter barges
Platypus hauled out two U.S. Navy open lighter barges that were brought to Port Angeles from Bremerton.
One of the barges is stowed in the Commander Building; the other is sitting on the hard and will be encased in plastic, after which personnel will sandblast, audio gauge the hulls, replace plating as necessary and repaint the barges.
They should both be back in the water in about eight weeks.
Platypus also hauled out two deep-water draft floats that were towed to Port Angeles from the submarine base at Bangor.
I believe these unusual-looking floats are used when berthing submarines to keep them separated from each other or away from a pier.
Sea trials
I ventured out to Crozier Crafts’s manufacturing facilities on Highway 101 west of Port Angeles last week and spoke with the owner, Chad Crozier.
He told me he and his crew had just finished building a 30-foot monohull aluminum research vessel for the Tulalip tribe’s shellfish department.
Chad went on to say they did sea trials with the vessel, which is powered by twin 200-horsepower outboard engines, on Tuesday and that she scooted along at about 35.8 knots.
Father’s Day gift idea
Today is Father’s Day, and for those of you late deciders whose father has a boat, may I suggest a BoatUS unlimited saltwater towing membership and trailer assist package.
The towing membership is similar to the roadside assistance most of us have for our autos.
Additionally, the towing plans are good for any boat that is owned, rented or borrowed, and there are no deductibles.
To my mind, the trailer assist package is also a good opportunity to score some Father’s Day kudos.
The program will tow both the broken-down boat trailer and its tow vehicle up to 100 miles.
During the recent halibut derby, I watched a couple of boat trailers get hauled away and wondered aloud (to myself) if the owner had a BoatUS trailer assist plan.
For more information, call BoatUS at 800-395-2628.
Harbor happenings
On Tuesday, Tesoro Petroleum in Port Angeles Harbor provided bunkers to Silver Rotterdam, a 600-foot petroleum products tanker that is flagged in Panama.
On Friday, Tesoro refueled STI Fontvieille, a 601-foot petroleum products tanker that is flagged in the Marshall Islands.
Today, Tesoro is scheduled to bunker Liberty Bay, an 823-foot crude oil tanker that is flagged in the USA.
_________
David G. Sellars is a Port Angeles resident and former Navy boatswain’s mate who enjoys boats and strolling the area’s waterfronts and boat yards.
Items and questions involving boating, marina and industrial activities and the North Olympic Peninsula waterfronts are always welcome. News announcements about boating groups, including yacht clubs and squadrons, are welcome as well.
Email dgsellars@hotmail.com or phone him at 360-808-3202.
