After 19 years of laborious work, Tampa (seen right here previous to refit) is to get new engines and different upgrades
A Chesapeake class pilot boat constructed by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding for the Tampa Bay Pilots Association in 2003 is coming again to the Somerset, Mass., shipyard for a significant overhaul that features a repowering.
With greater than 50,000 working hours, the 53 foot all-aluminum Tampa has racked up greater than 50,000 working hours.
“After 19 years of hard work, the vessel is showing some wear and tear but she still has a lot of life left so she’s definitely worth re-investing in,” mentioned Peter Duclos, Gladding-Hearn’s co-president and director of gross sales.
After modifying the engine beds, hull frames, exhaust methods, cooling and gasoline system piping to accommodate the brand new engines, the shipyard will change the dual 600 bhp Caterpillar 3406E engines with a pair of Caterpillar C18, EPA Tier 3-compliant diesel engines, every delivering 670 bhp at 2100 rpm and giving the boat a prime velocity of over 25 knots.
After putting in new shafts, bearings, seals and couplings, the engines will flip new 5-bladed Bruntons propellers through Twin Disc MGX-5136A “Quickshift” gears. In addition, the pilot boat will obtain a brand new Seastar Optimus steering system and a brand new Northern Lights 12 kW generator.
Other upgrades will embrace new Norsap 1500 pilot seats, new home windows, three new doorways to the pilothouse and 4 new hatch covers. The boat’s backside, topsides and pilothouse can be stripped to reveal metallic and obtain a contemporary coating system.
