PT boat restoration on track

pfanner@sanduskyregister.comPORT CLINTONEmployees with the Liberty Aviation Museum hope they can see their World War II PT boat in the water by this summer. But that will depend on how its restoration project progresses during the next few months. The museum originally bought the boat in 2012 from a New York owner. They took the boat through the Erie Canal and docked in Port Clinton. From there, they contracted Treasure Cove Marina to restore the boat.But the partnership between the two business deteriorated rapidly after both sides encountered issues with the bills and claimed they were owed money by the other. Both businesses filed lawsuits against each other that concluded last month. The marina was ordered to pay the museum about $45,000.The museum worked on their boat while the case worked through the court system. Museum CEO Edward Patrick said the marina's contractors worked hard on the project, but some of the work needed to be fixed before moving forward. Some of the issues included the boat's exterior wall, wood along the bottom and fiberglass work. The museum's contractors worked to fix these issues during the last three months. They've also installed two 1,500-horsepower engines that run on diesel fuel, among various other pieces, project manager Larry LaFleur said. From here they plan on making the boat safe for dozens of guests to ride at one time. They also plan on populating the boat with torpedo props and other features to emulate its look during World War II. The boat was built in 1945 and was going to be sent to Russia as part of the Lend-Lease Act. But those plans changed after the war ended. The boat was used as a training vessel and a patrol boat before being sold commercially. The boat had several owners before coming to the Liberty Aviation Museum. "We're doing all we can to restore this boat to great condition," LaFleur said. "The rules we need to follow are the same as the ones we'd need to follow for any other commercial vessel."The U.S. Coast Guard has a series of safety regulations each commercial vessel must follow. This includes stability checks, crew training and emergency response training. LaFleur said they passed their initial stability test, but they will face several more tests as they add features to the boat. Crew training, and various other tests, will likely take place in late spring or early summer. "There are certain things we need to be aware of as we work on this boat," LaFleur said. "There are hundreds of details to think about." Liberty Aviation Museum CEO Edward Patrick, right, gives Steve Kraus an impromptu tour of the museum's World War II PT boat currently undergoing restoration on Thursday afternoon. Larry LaFleur of Marblehead, right, project manager of the World War II PT boat restoration project at Liberty Aviation Museum, discusses the construction of a piece of the boat with volunteer Don Dietz of Lakeside on Thursday afternoon. If restoration continues as planned, employees of the museum hope to have the boat in the water by summer. One of the two custom-made props sits ready to be installed on the Liberty Aviation Museum's World War II PT boat currently undergoing restoration. PT boat 728 continues to be restored at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton. If restoration progress continues on track, employees hope to have the boat in the water by this summer. The helm of PT boat 728 sits nearly complete on Thursday at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton. Ron Cook of Port Clinton stands next to the two massive diesel engines, capable of pumping out 1,500-horsepower each, inside of PT boat 728 at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton. A pair of replica .50-caliber machine guns that will be fitted aboard PT boat 728 sit in the lobby of the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton on Thursday. Once the PT boat's restoration is complete, the museum plans on giving rides to the public on Lake Erie.