PT Boat - Best HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER Offering Ever

**john** · February 6th, 2012, 12:24 PM

HAMMACHER SCHLEMMER is know for having the amazing useless gadgets but this could possible be their best offering yet. And it "only" costs $1 million. gCaptain plans on buying two (one for each coast)... stby for the party invitations!

The Genuine PT Boat.
This is PT-728, a 66 1/2 year-old restored Patrol Torpedo Boat from World War II. With a keel laid on August 10, 1945, she is one of 12 remaining PT boats in the world. She is "armed" (all weapons are deactivated) with a single .50- and two twin .50-caliber Browning machine gun stations, an aft 20mm Oerlikon cannon, four tubes that each housed a Mark VIII torpedo, and two depth charge launchers. Built in the Annapolis Yacht Yard using a 72' British Vosper design, her hard-chined, triple-ply mahogany hull is nearly flat at the stern, allowing her to "plane" on top of the water at speeds up to 42 knots, a necessity for quick getaways after a torpedo run. So compelling was a PT boat's performance that Nelson Rockefeller converted one into a high-speed yacht for commutes between Albany and New York City. Updated for modern use with two turbo-charged diesel engines providing 1,100 total horsepower, she is the only PT boat in existence licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard for carrying passengers; equipped with modern instrumentation and radar. Special conditions and guarantee limitations apply.

**c.captain** · February 6th, 2012, 04:04 PM

No need to spend a million John...I can sell you one for only $50K but you have to supply the "non functional" weapons!

U.S.A. Registered. 85’ x 20’9” Ex-navy rescue / patrol boat with complete berthing / dining / head facilities for 40 adults. Incredibly solid hull of Honduras mahogany over White Oak frames with an inner hull of diagonally planked Port Orford cedar. The hull appears very well maintained, although it needs to be hauled and checked. All machinery reported to be EXCELLENT. Needs some interior finishing and upgrades. Surveyed in 2010. call for the details.

Seriously...if anyone wants a genuine WWII patrol boat, this one is for sale right now! I'd buy her but I simply cannot pay the fuel bill to run her!

**Bayrunner** · February 7th, 2012, 04:22 AM

I would love to own a PT boat. I have a few R/C models of them. Some of the late war boats packed as much punch as a destroyer.

**c.captain** · February 7th, 2012, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by KennyW1983

I would love to own a PT boat. I have a few R/C models of them. Some of the late war boats packed as much punch as a destroyer.

But gallon for gallon they probably had the fuel economy of a B-29! The one I posted has twin 16V-71s. Even if you ran them at a gentle 1300rpm, you're still looking at 10gph per engine and perhaps get 12knots for it. $80 per hour! That's $800 for 120miles or $4000 to deliver her from Eureka, California to Puget Sound....aarrrggghhh.

A great boat to own provided you don't take her anywhere.

**Jemplayer** · February 7th, 2012, 09:42 AM

Considering they used 3 airplane engines that made 1500 HP a piece you're not to far off on the fuel burn.

12kts isn't even worth taking out. what's the fun in owning a PT boat if you're not going to run it at 49kts.

**c.captain** · February 7th, 2012, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Jemplayer

Considering they used 3 airplane engines that made 1500 HP a piece you're not to far off on the fuel burn.

12kts isn't even worth taking out. what's the fun in owning a PT boat if you're not going to run it at 49kts.

I think the fuel burn with the original Packards must have been something astonomical. In the hundreds of gallons per hour and avgas on top of that! You'd have to be a billionaire to affort that kind of running cost but what a rush 49kts! At least with diesels a mere mortal could conceivably operate her somewhere on the planet but I can't. I very much doubt that the PT-728 has her original gas engines either.

Speaking of the original PT boat Packards: here's a great link to check out

**Bayrunner** · February 7th, 2012, 03:14 PM

Oh I know they were fuel hogs. But if you pulled out the old Packard V12s and dropped in some modern diesels you might be able to take her out once in a while. There is an outfit up in Oregon who have a restored Higgins boat and they take it out on special occasions. You can you tube it. They have gotten in trouble before for outrunning their police boat escort they left it in the dust!!

**c.captain** · February 7th, 2012, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by KennyW1983

Oh I know they were fuel hogs. But if you pulled out the old Packard V12s and dropped in some modern diesels you might be able to take her out once in a while. There is an outfit up in Oregon who have a restored Higgins boat and they take it out on special occasions. You can you tube it. They have gotten in trouble before for outrunning their police boat escort they left it in the dust!!

The boat I put up has Detroit 16V-71s which are

1. LOUD
2. fuel hogs
3. LOUD
4. leaky
5. LOUD
I swear the worse diesel ever built are the 149 series Detroits...they are miserable engines

If this boat had Cats or Cummins or just about any other make of engine she would be so much more worth considering BUT I HATE DETROITS!

**Bayrunner** · February 7th, 2012, 04:29 PM

I agree 100%. I was in a tug that had 16v149s on it a few months ago. You could not sit in the galley while the boat was hooked up without ear plugs. It was so loud my brain hurt. But you take that same boat and put some cat 3512 tubos in there and some Deere gen sets and she would be a sweet ride.