John N Cobb NOAA Research Vessel

 John N Cobb NOAA Research Vessel

My sailing students did not show up so I walked over to look at some of the old wooden vessels docked behind MOHI http://www.mohai.org/exhibits/item/8-maritime-seattle and The Center for Wooden Boats docks. 

Some old salt was aboard this vessel and invited me aboard to see the Vessel. He explained that this was a NOAA Research Vessel and was important in Marine life reasearch. the Vessel's crew included the Captain, 1st Mate, Cook, Chief Engineer, Deck Hand  and 4 scientist, he was one of the scientist that worked aboard this vessel. 

Turns out this vessel built in 1950 is the last of it's kind and is under restoration here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAAS_John_N._Cobb_(R_552) 

This 93' long Research Vessel is known as a "Workboat" common name to any vessel that does work in the Pacific Northwest including fireboats, lighthouse boats, tugs, utility vessels of all sorts. This was a big Friggen boat!

After walking the main working deck I took these steps up to the Wheel house.

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The bridge deck is pretty high, bet it can get rockin up here.

The Scientist said he was never interested in going up to the Crow's Nest

Huge aft working deck

Diesel stacks from the main engine and the generator

Need a big wheel to turn a big boat

Slow Astern

Notice the Wind Speed goes to 100

Plenty of room to spread out full size charts, the NAV room is just aft the Wheelhouse.

The Captains Quarters are right next to the Nav room

4 bunks for the Scientist, two to a stateroom. 

6 Cylinder Diesel

BIG 6

This is one cylinder, the cylinder head is bigger than a dinner plate When I saw this I could only think of my Florida Friend and Gulf Crossing Crew Buddy John Furlinger who spent his career as a Chief Engineer in Ocean going tugs and his workday was in similar but just bigger engine rooms.  

Tall Boy water separator, diesel filters

remote oil filters oil change station

Not long ago the shaft and this bearing cap to a piston rod broke. 

It has Port and Starboard walk in Freezers

Big Deisel Generator

Not sure how many KW?

Big electric Panel

Had a long work bench with lots of these parts and tool drawers

Ground tackel for deep water. 

This vessel was also pressed on duty to help manage the Exxon Valdez Oil disaster

 After seeing this I realized how much more The Wooden Boat Center has to offer those interested in boats. After I walked out I saw that this was a special day, all the "Workboats" were open for viewing as it was the "Workboat Festival" I had fun on each one and the next few post will feature each one. Each boat has it's own foundation to raise funds to restore and recruit volunteers to help in the restoration. I will not have time for more volunteer work now but it is a good opportunity to acquire some new skills.