Uniflite built these boats; "fire resistant" resin was used causing delamination problems. Uniflite later was acquired by Chris Craft. My slip neighbor had a 28 ft (?) Chris Craft Express Cruiser with these engines. They had minimal exhaust dampening and when he lit them off, always early on a Saturday morning...my sleep was over...thanks Ron!
my Dad did a tour in Vietnam TF 116, on his beret. Think he was in river division 533. good to see more of the style of craft they operated then. He never really did talk much about his time there
There's very little angle and I have very specific geometry to work with in the location of the pump and the engines. It's strange again it's definitely coming from the port side and all parts and geometry is the same.
Hats off to both Doug and Steve. "6881" part of the ID # = the 81st unit of the 1968 contract. 31= hull length, RP =River Patrol. Mare Island Museum had two of these on site. One to be operational, another for show. USN Surface Warfare Dept could supply vessels history. Doug.....No flamethrowers on Seeker please. Bravo Zulu !
Thank You for what you do. I was Army Recon never was around River Boats but if I had gon Navy Brown Water is were I would want to have been. Scouts Out
I would love to do this. I restore Jeeps. But this is a whole different level. Not many PBR’s left. Where did this hull come from? I used to stare at a hull in Sacramento for decades wanting to do this very thing.
You have pics of 6881 ? And yes I didy best . I believe I was thinking of accumulative hp not individual hp . I believe the book rates them at 269. Mine are 270 something on the dyno. . Thanks.
It's a great idea for the vets and family. Thanks for understanding taking this project
Thank you
Fantastic work, your an absolute legend doing what you do, to give thanks to the veterans, god bless there service 🙏
Thank you for your encouragement. It's remains an up hill battle.
That’s amazing! 😁 Great way to honour veterans. 👍
Thank you
30 years? I left RVN over 50 years ago. Great project.
Uniflite built these boats; "fire resistant" resin was used causing delamination problems. Uniflite later was acquired by Chris Craft. My slip neighbor had a 28 ft (?) Chris Craft Express Cruiser with these engines. They had minimal exhaust dampening and when he lit them off, always early on a Saturday morning...my sleep was over...thanks Ron!
Ron was just being a good neighbor and saying hey sleep later let’s go party.
Thank you 6881 was built before the use of those resin's however she is definitely loud ..
Thank you everyone. I did my best. Nothing is perfect so we just do our best to learn from our mistakes and keep moving forward...
my Dad did a tour in Vietnam TF 116, on his beret. Think he was in river division 533. good to see more of the style of craft they operated then. He never really did talk much about his time there
Your awesome be safe out there good luck to you
u-joint angles are critical to prevent vibrations. Lots of articles in hot rod books.
There's very little angle and I have very specific geometry to work with in the location of the pump and the engines. It's strange again it's definitely coming from the port side and all parts and geometry is the same.
Hats off to both Doug and Steve.
"6881" part of the ID # = the 81st unit of the 1968 contract. 31= hull length, RP =River Patrol.
Mare Island Museum had two of these on site. One to be operational, another for show. USN Surface Warfare Dept could supply vessels history. Doug.....No flamethrowers on Seeker please. Bravo Zulu !
Thank you. But I must build a flame thrower 😊
Thank You for what you do. I was Army Recon never was around River Boats but if I had gon Navy Brown Water is were I would want to have been. Scouts Out
Thanks
To cool even to comment on!
I would love to do this. I restore Jeeps. But this is a whole different level. Not many PBR’s left. Where did this hull come from? I used to stare at a hull in Sacramento for decades wanting to do this very thing.
Great resto. ‘PBR Streetgang calling Almighty’
I used to repair PBR's at Nha Be, Vn. 1970-71
Thank you for your service.
Right up there as one oc my favorite boats besides the it's from ww2
Its strange that they dont make wood boats any more, but all that damage to the core seems to happen on a lot of boats, blistering too
The resonant frequency vibration of a part can't be balanced out of it. You have to change the mass of the part.
My wife's adopted Dad is a old brown river navy.
Did he get any on his poop deck?
That's the yacht I want. I wonder if you could go find one in Vietnam at a good price.
Back about 25 years ago there were a few bare PBR hulls available for $3,500 each. No engines, drives or anything else, just the hulls.
Nice job!
600 HP 6v53??
Yeah thank you very much for calling me out on that . I'll do better next time . I'm just a human and I make a lot of mistakes unfortunately.
Berkley jacuzzi jet if i remember. long time ago Vung Tau VN 1967/8
Nope . Nam jet .
Engine on mine were Gray Marine think Detroit diesel,
Well now You got most correct
RIV 553 If i remember we had 83 I might be wrong Have so many pics.
You have pics of 6881 ? And yes I didy best . I believe I was thinking of accumulative hp not individual hp . I believe the book rates them at 269. Mine are 270 something on the dyno. . Thanks.