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The 26' US Navy Motor Mark 10 Whale Boat is one of the most usable military boats for post-service civilian use. It is built by the Navy to sustain 20-foot waves, and indeed in the US, as sport ex-sailors lash the pilot to the helm, with the rider holding two reins attached to the bow cleats as if riding a bull, and they take the boat out in Nor'easters that generate 6 metre swells, head face into the waves full-throttle and ride the waves. The hull takes the punishment with no effect on the extremely strong structure and the adrenaline rush is huge.

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The boats were designed to be carried on Naval ships where they served as lifeboats, officers' gig, shore-party boat, mailboat and in remote areas when tugboats were unavailable, three of them would be lowered into the water to move a destroyer to dock. The fibreglass in them is way over-engineered, as one may expect with military specifications. They are made to crash into the side of a ship in a blue-water storm while being lowered on rescue missions and sustain no damage.

Stability while transporting a full load of passengers was crucial to keep everyone comfortable. They have terrific handling characteristics and can be easily manoeuvred. As you can see in the pictures, everything is rounded to provide for safety of passengers, and under the seats are extensive storage for lifejackets, personal possessions and tools. The ensign staff (flag pole) does double duty as a tiller in the event that for any reason, the helm (steering wheel) does not work.

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They can be beached to discharge passengers from the bow, and they have a very large 18 inch (450mm) diameter propeller that enables the boat to pull off the sand or to tow other much larger craft. In the US, they are often used for sea tow, as the Coast Guard goes out to rescue those in trouble, but then calls sea tow to bring back the disabled boat once it is stable.

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This particular boat was made by Uniflite in Bellingham Washington USA in 1969, Serial Number 26MW6846. It is said the initial purchase price was over US$100,00, although verification has not been obtained. In 1988 it was sold at surplus to a retired sailor who restored it.

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When the Navy sold these at auction, they would either be candidates for restoration or parts-only. This particular boat was the best of a lot of six, then subject of a two-year restoration by a retired Navy sailor. The restoration workmanship was excellent, and all it has required since then is repainting which has been done three times on its stands.

 

It was purchased by the current owner in 1993 for use in Narragansett Bay, Newport, RI - then home of the America's Cup, where guests from New York would fly up for weekends... pile 20 into the boat, motor over to the Lobster Factory to select fresh caught dinner, and then off to a remote beach where the boat would pull onto the sand, offload passengers and then be anchored nearby for a beach picnic. Typically, it was filled with diesel at the beginning of the season, and that tank would last all summer because it is a displacement hull with the efficiency of a sailboat.

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In 1997, it was container-shipped it to Half Moon Bay, Auckland, motored over to Waiheke, where unfortunately good swing moorings were hard to find. The boat was beached, the diesel motor was removed and then the hiab lifted the motor and boat separately on to the hiab truck bed for delivery up the hill where it has stood ever since. The Westerbeke (Perkins) motor and Paragon transmission are stored in the garage. To learn more about the engine and transmission see: https://www.westerbeke.com/advanced%20specs/w40.pdf. 

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WESTERBEKE·PARAGON P220 Hydraulic Navy Gear Specially developed to Bureau of Ships specifications. It is oversized and built for use on diesel engines up to 75 horsepower. It may be used with a WESTERBEKE 40 on large sailing craft that can make use of a 4 " offset. 2.2: 1 reduction ratio. and right hand propeller. Weight 166 lb.

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Sold to a local on Waiheke

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