Fred Wahl to Build Again

Fred Wahl, whose Oregon yard built two Bering Sea aft-house crab boats last year, is starting in on a quite different pot fishing boat to work off the U.S. west coast. Design work on this forward cabin raised-fo'c'sle vessel is by Jensen Maritime of Seattle. Owners Lyle and son Scott Harzell of Florence, Ore. will fish crab, sable fish and other species with the vessel off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington states. The 85 x 26 ft. vessel, with a molded depth midships of 13.3 ft., will have a 2,500 cu. ft. forward floodable/RSW hold for live transport of crab as well as two holds aft with a total capacity of 3,500 cu.ft. for dry frozen product. Tankage includes 16,000 gallons of fuel, 2,200 gallons of water, 220 gallons lube oil, 330 gallons hydraulic oil and 150 gallons of waste oil. The main engine is one of Cummins new QSK19, an electronically controlled 19-litre engine based on the KTA19, favored by many fishermen from Gulf shrimpers to Bering Sea halibut schooners since its introduction in the 1970s. The precision and increased pressure afforded by the electronics is actually delivering 10 percent more hp from the 19-liter engine. With 660 hp at 1,800 rpm, the new engine is considerably more powerful than the mechanical version. Over half the parts, including the cylinder block, on the electronic QSK19 have been changed from the earlier K19 family of engines. The main engine will drive through Twin Disc's new model MG5202 marine gear with a 6:1 ratio to turn a big 72-in. propeller. "I like lots of propeller," says Wahl, "I love diameter, it gives a smoother operation by avoiding the cavitation of a steeper pitched prop. I don't think you need to beat the water up too much." The new boat will have accommodation for a crew of seven. In mid-January the boat was still in the design and lofting stages with construction to start in February and delivery scheduled for mid October of 1999.