This week we welcomed two dozen volunteers aboard for our annual Spring Work Week. Twice a year, folks from across the country live aboard SLATER and help with various projects. This year, painting was a large focus thanks to the beautiful weather.
After storing the motor whaleboat at the Scarano's boat yard for the winter, the Engineering gang successfully sailed north and returned to the mother ship. For the remainder of the season, this WWII motor whaleboat will remain alongside SLATER in the water and be used regularly by the volunteers.
Official Navy specifications:
Purpose: To transport personnel and for use as a lifeboat.
Capacity: 22 men including crew
Crew: 2-3 men (usually 3; coxswain, bowhook and engineer) and sometimes a very junior Ensign as boat officer.
Length overall: 26' 3/8", Beam. 7' 4 5/8", Draft 2' 4" loaded.
Full load displacement: 8,850 lbs. (open) or 9,070 lbs. (canopied)
Hoisting weight: 5,550 lbs. with 2 crew, 6,450 lbs. with 8 man life saving crew. Hoisted by davit located starboard side forward of the stack.
Construction: Round bottom wood frame, caravel (i.e., smooth sided) planked.
Speed: 7 kts. full load displacement, Fuel Capacity 28 gallons, Range 110 nautical mi. at full power and full load.
Engine: 4 cyl. diesel, 25 hp. at 1430 r.p.m., Navy type DA, Navy type cylinder head, direct sea water cooled, 24-volt electrical system. Propeller. one 18" dia. by 25" pitch by 1 3/8" bore, right hand rotation.
To learn about how you can further support the museum, click here: ussslater.org/support
Follow us on Facebook for daily posts: / uss.slater