posted 02-05-2012 11:51 AM ET (US)        

Unfortunately, as a guest, I won't be allowed to drive the boat but it will be undergoing speed trials as well as maneuvering trials during my visit. If the opportunity presents I'll get some photographs of the helm, engine room, and exterior.

I'll be using my handheld GPS to measure speed. If there is any interest I'll report back and post the pictures to photobucket.

posted 02-08-2012 08:06 PM ET (US)            

An extraordinary thing about our short drive was the absolute lack of vibration despite having the two mains and the generator running. My L4 Verado produces more vibration on my 190 Montauk.

This was my first experience with drive by wire throttles and shift on a largish commercial craft. Operation was virtually silent.

Steering is a combination of tillers and joy sticks. The boat has six rudders. Each engine has two flanking rudders forward of the wheel and a steering rudder behind the wheel. This makes for excellent maneuverability in difficult conditions. The flanking rudders provide for more or less sideways motion, like a crabbing motion, while the independent steering rudders work as usual. This systems allows an experienced helmsman to move the boat just about any way called for by the situation. Pretty amazing to me how beautifully this boat handles. I didn't see the joysticks in action but watching the helmsman using the four tillers was a pleasure.

TO BE CONTINUED:

posted 02-09-2012 07:42 PM ET (US)            

In the previous post I discussed some of the maneuvering aspects and controls and touched on the vibration free environment on the boat. I failed to mention that an aid to controlling the vessel is the ability to throttle down to a propeller speed of one RPM. I questioned this capability and was told that it is accomplished by the transmission's ability to slip thus having shaft output vastly slower than shaft input from the engine.

Much to my surprise and delight I was offered the opportunity to take the helm. Due to the narrow channel and my unfamiliarity with the controls coupled with an abundance of caution I declined the opportunity. Since the boat was and is still owned by the yard I wanted no part of damaging it.

The Corps is attempting to use biodiesel in it's fleet of diesels and the CATs on this boat are very capable of operating on that fuel. I was very surprised when the mains and generator were started and there was no exhaust smell. Even at WOT with a tailwind there was no exhaust smell. The engines are Tier III(?) rated but the lack of any discernible odor at WOT was a big surprise to me.

The engine room is very spacious. There is approximately 12 feet between the engines. A beam of 22 feet helps accomplish the spacing. Working room is generous around all mechanical equipment. There is a soft patch in the engine room overhead to facilitate engine or other equipment removal when it becomes necessary. There are steel eyes welded to the overhead to allow for lifting devices for any serious repairs required aboard.

The crew quarters and galley spaces are tight. There are three comfortable berths and a head aft of the galley. the head is roomy but there is a single though roomy shower, a sink and vanity and a water closet. The galley is small but well equipped with a table for four and some cabinets, a cooktop, micowave/convection oven, a refrigerator/freezer, and a sink with faucet. There is a type III MSD and a storage tank with pump out capability as well as overboard discharge.

I've posted pictures on photobucket. I apologize for the pictures. They are fuzzy and not well done. My excuse is that there were about 15 men aboard and getting pictures was difficult due to crowding. The pictures I downloaded to zoombrowser, the Canon free software that came with my camera, were sharp and not too bad. But somehow in the transfer to photobucket the quality was lost. Here is the link [URL]photobucket.com/albums/uu154/butchdavis/USACEMY GENERALIRWIN/#!CPzz1qqTPPzz16{url].

Any advice on how to avoid these photo quality problems in the furure are welcome. Anyone wanting a clear picture just let me know and I'll e-mail it.

posted 02-09-2012 08:42 PM ET (US)            

Cleaned-up your link for you.

posted 02-10-2012 07:53 AM ET (US)            

Thank you!!!

Clearly I need to learn how to do this stuff. The first error was a typo, but getting the URL wrong was just ignorance. As the kids say, "Duh"!