bow from the cap rail to the chine.” When I asked Jeff about the
bulbous bow configuration, he said, “I hesitate to comment as
there are significant differences in opinion on the effectiveness
and advantages of the bulb bow.” Forward of the 400-square-foot
stern work platform there are two cranes, towing equipment, and
work boats, as well as a central entrance to the lab area with a
dry lab to port and a wet lab to starboard. A passageway leads
forward to the saloon and galley. Stairwells to starboard lead
below to 10-person sleeping accommodations, as well as access
to the engine room. As you would imagine, the fit and finish of
these spaces are appropriate to the boat’s purpose, prioritizing
function over style. Her guest accommodations consist of bunks
in shared cabins. Because she is a government asset, entrance to
the engine room is limited to the ship’s crew. However, I was
able to peer through the explosion-proof door and glass to see
Hogarth’s two immense Caterpillar diesels at work. Her saloon
and galley occupy the forward end of the hull, and she is finished
in the style of a working ship. There’s a galley, a beverage bar,
and two large fixed tables with enough seating for the crew
and scientists. About this time in my tour, breakfast was ready.
A choice of bacon and eggs, omelets, or pancakes were made
to order. This was certainly the best (and possibly the only)
breakfast I’ve been served while underway on a boat test.
A third stairwell leads up to the command bridge, which is
almost full beam in width. As you might expect on a vessel of this
type, the instrumentation and controls were overwhelming and
state-of-the-art. A look at the specifications gives you an idea
of what it takes to operate such a complex vessel. There is an
entire control center located to starboard that is reserved only for
the dynamic positioning system. Its final installation had not yet
been completed, though, so I did not get to see it in operation.
By midmorning we had anchored off the point of Fort De
Soto. The RIB was launched with one of the cranes and I was
taken to shore. The water was too rough to land at the dock soLENGTH: 78’ 0”
BEAM: 26’ 0”
DRAFT: 6’ 4”
POWER: (2) CAT C18 ACERT
(600 bhp @ 1800 rpm)
GENERATORS: John Deere
FUEL: 6,000 gal.
WATER: 1,400 gal.
CRUISING SPEED: 9 knots
FUEL BURN: 36 gph (combined)
RANGE: 2,700 nm
CREW: 4
SCIENTISTS: 10This Photo: The aft deck
bristles with research
equipment. Above: First
Mate Ryan Healy pilots
the W.T. Hogarth out of
St. Petersburg Harbor
just before sunrise over
Tampa Bay.