About landing crafts

I've seen LCVPs sell for $500, but not lately. The later ones were fiberglass. Here's one for sale:
http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=93491
And general info and a good profile cutaway so you can see the keel structure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCVP
In Sausalito CA a great many were converted to houseboats 30-50 years ago and a few of those are still around.

 

Thanks Bantaan, I got to the forum but didn't see the pics, but I did read several posts there. Seems he wanted about 26K for the ones in poor condition and 50K for the better one. Someone mentioned there that they are snapped up now by collectors.

As to my post above, I found another in the galleries, MO's hb220 I think, MO is in Berlin.

The cut a way was good too, but still can't tell how the bow reverses into a cat/tunnel, but the rest was good. I can also see the dead wood to the bow.

They are also too big to hook up behind most pickups and go down the road.

Bantaan, I've been thinking too of your suggestion of off loading from the side as well. :idea: Seems that would be a good solution and might be adapted to many boats at the stern. Depending on the draft, raise the motor and land to either side then use a ramp

I feel guilty discussing all this in another's thread, guess he left, hope his question was answered and maybe this has brought more info to his thinking as well...

 

The LCVP was a development to the Higgins "Eureka" boat, known in military use as the LCP, or Landing Craft Personnel.
Large numbers were converted to fishing boats, yachts, cruisers and more post WW2.
Here's some stuff from a 1943 text book the company used in their boat handling school, which trained thousands of CG and Navy coxswains who went on to drive these things into machine gun fire and worse.
Construction was 2 layers of mahogany in the bottom and ply topsides.
The builders explain the shape better than I ever could in the second page of the Higgins Industries history and PR piece. This is from a 1943 book. They also made PT boats.
More images from the web and an address with a digital model you can download and turn this way and that on screen to really understand the very very good and successful shape.
http://www.fallingpixel.com/higgins-boat-lcvp-3d-model/505
Higgins got it right and it still works fine.
Obviously a smaller craft could be designed on the same principles.

 

Thanks for the posts! Very cool and they are credited for winning the war!

Just need to find a small one...LOL

Something else I found, not an LC, but interesting....MINI BEEP dot com.
It's an amphibious plywood jeep that is built from a kit, watch how the sections go together....interesting if ya want to put wheels on your boat.

 

Wavewacker, if I remember right you are trying to find a boat to haul a motorcycle around in? A motorcylcle is not that big of a load, 400 to 500 lbs?

Loading over the side works fine. We do it here in Alaska all the time. Pull the boat up parallel to the shore and load your vehicle over the side near the stern. A couple 2x10 planks for ramps makes the job easier. An anchor on the bow and stern also helps to keep the boat in place.

Here are a couple of photos of loading an ATV into an 18' Lund. This is a popular boat around here and people put ATVs into them all the time. The ATV is about 600 lbs. We didn't have any planks for ramps, so we just had a few people lift it over the side. The seats in a Lund are spaced out just right for the wheels to land on.

 

LOL! Yep, I knew it could be done....:!:

But, I'd like a few creature comforts, a berth, head, galley and some room to carry provisions....and I see the seas there were dead calm which is great.

What you have there looks great and it cedrtainly works.

The reason I have been so insistant about this is that I saw a pic of a kid floating a motorcycle down the river in Viet Nam on a raft!

Thanks for the post and the inspiration

 

Higgins Boat

It turns out there is what appears to be an old Higgins boat close by me. I have went past it many times and never paid attention before.

It was interesting to look underneath and see the shape of the hull. The large propeller is well protected in a tunnel. The rudder in front of the prop is also interesting, it goes around the prop shaft.

This particular boat is sheathed in glass on the bottom and the sides are sheathed in steel.

I have more pictures if anyone is interested.

C.O.
http://whatsintheshop.blogspot.com/

 

Yes, post some more pictures!

 

It's unusual to see one that is so original, with the armor plate still on the sides. Definitely an LCVP.

 

It has been sitting on the beach for many years. I don't know anything about it's history, but I am going to ask around. It does look to be very close to origional, the hardware that is visible (like the tiny light on the stern) loosk like origional equipment to me.

On the stern you can see what appears to be some origional markings, I think it says "36VP66420"

In the second photo you can see the laminated keel and a keel cooler that is built into the bottom.

C.O.

 

Great! Any idea about the cabin? I have not seen one with a cabin like that so I guess it was added. Wonder what the accomodations might be...

While the Higgins boat is a famous and great boat, I would think that it's not really economical to operate, fuel and maintenance are probably high.

How about a miniture Higgins?

 

Cabin was added and looks big enough for a bunk, a stove and the steering wheel, plus a small table.
Design might work at about 30', needs much change to make smaller. You are not going to get any sort of comfortable house on a smaller landing craft, unless you make it all cabin and give up the load carrying.
Original Higgins boat and its derivative here, the LCVP, were very overbuilt to take beaching and battle damage, so last well even neglected.
For smaller vessels research Atkins tunnel stern designs, or use an outboard.

 

Right again Bataan, but I bet that house could take on another story like a pickup camper with an aft elevation for a double bunk, if it were designed right wouldn't look toooo bad.

Found some forum posts on Atkins tunnel hull and I like that, he also had several shantys for river cruising that couldbe adapted to an LC, thye just don't look boat liketo me as I prefer a pointed bow.....but, I'm flexible and after seeing others it's getting more acceptable to me.

To ask how efficient the Higgins is wouldn't really be relevant, more like how efficient (MPG with a low hp ob ) would these tunnels be or the flat bottom shanty style?

I also read where the freeboard began all most at 3' at the bow and 2' at the stern, I'd like a little more, another foot. Would you simply build a higher bow like 4' to buck higher chop? The Mississippi gets rough and it would also have to venture out somewhat in the gulf, can't just wait for a glassy day all the time....

But you're right, seems either would be adapted to a LC easily.

 

Take another look at the Bill Munson boats - they are somewhat similar to Higgins, but designed lighter and maybe handle rougher water.

 

Yes, the Munson Boats are nice and surely $$$$$$! For that money I'd need to live on it too. That V bottom seems to be what would be needed for a smaller LC if it were ever to get in rougher waters.....

I guess if you could get an LC Higgins for 500 or a grand that would at least run and float it might be better paying for more fuel than more boat...a fixer upper and add what you need. But there aren't any in my neck of the woods. Wonder if the Karen B is for sale for cheap?