Classed as screw steam cabin launch, the characteristics of the Tender are as follows:
Builder – ( unknown )
Commissioned – ( by the U.S. Army, 1907 ). by the Fire Department – May 1, 1922
Cost - ( U.S. Army ? ). donated to the Fire Department at no cost
Official Number – 222060
Construction - all wood
Length overall - 60 feet 6 inches
Beam - 12 feet 2 inches
Depth of hull - 6 feet 6 inches
Full load draft - 6 feet
Tonnage - ..?.. Net, ..25 Gross
Fuel capacity - ..? ..
Maximum speed - 10 m.p.h.
Propulsion - ( as built, 1907 ). single screw, surface condensing steam engine of the fore and aft compound type.
------------------H.P.
..?,
. fed by an Almy water tube boiler.
-----------------.( October 1937 ). Converted to Superior, 6-cylinder in-line marine diesel engine, rated @ 130 H.P.
-----------------.( October 1951 ). Repowered with Viking, 6-cylinder in-line marine diesel engine, rated @ 160 H.P.
.
Fire pumps - one (1).300 G.P.M. Hale rotary, driven of front of main engine ( installed, 1954 )
Discharge outlets - one (1) 2 ˝” on trunk deck, above fire pump
Hose - ..?.. feet of 2 ˝” on reel located at aft end of trunk deck.
..In October of 1937, the Tender was rebuilt with the following modifications being made:
- Steam engine and boiler removed
- Installed new 6-cylinder Superior marine diesel engine
- rebuilt trunk deck
- Added wooden skylight with six hinged windows over engine.
- Old steam funnel stack removed, and new type installed.
The position of Fireman/Water tender was eliminated from the crew.
 |
Marine .Battalion Chief .Charles Wilser peers .intently out .the. pilot. house
window .of. the Tender in 1942.. He .commanded the Marine Division from
November 1, 1914, until his death on May 14, 1944.--------------------------------
..In October of 1951, the Tender was re-powered with a new Viking 6-cylinder marine diesel engine. The vessel was still a “bell boat” with the engineer controlling the vessels movement from the engine room.
..In 1954, a 300 g.p.m. Hale rotary fire pump, removed from an old land apparatus was installed in the Tender, being driven off the front of the main engine. A 2 ˝” discharge outlet was installed on the trunk deck, above the fire pump, and a hose reel for 2 ˝” hose was mounted on the aft end of the trunk deck.
 |
Tender, sometime in 1954-55. At that time the hull was painted black, pilot
and deck house were varnished wood, and stack was a buff color, with black
band at top. Covered hose reel can be seen on aft end of deck house.-----------
 |
Tender standing off quarters in 1956 in her final configuration. .The hull .was
painted gray, pilot and deck house painted white, and stack painted buff with
black band at top.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rare color photo of the Tender dressed and ready to escort the new Fire -
boat .Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr. .up the harbor .to .Marine.
Division
Hqt's. for her dedication on September 14, 1956.---------------------------------
..In 1957 the Fire Department Repair Shop installed pilot house control and rebuilt the clutch on the Tender. The crew now consisted of the Chief, and a Pilot/Mate.
..The following year, in 1958, during a drydocking and inspection, the condition of the Tender's hull was found to be in such poor structural shape due to extensive rot, that the boat had to be removed from service. Cost of the extensive rebuild that was needed were too excessive, and it was decided to remove the Tender from service, and obtain a replacement boat as soon as possible.
The Tender was decommissioned by the Fire Department in 1958. Disposition of the boat, unknown.
BACK TO FORMER BOATS