Engine rebuild
The abbreviation Vo-Tech stands for Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. Several aspects of NOBSKA's restoration complement the school's curriculum, NESF thereby gained an invaluable work-force.
As part of NESF's long-term commitment to wherever possible create educational opportunities throughout NOBSKA's restoration, in late August '96 technicians unbolted and disassembled NOBSKA's 4-cylinder, triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine into seven foot long sections, each weighing 1.1 tons. All sections were lifted out through a skylight and carefully loaded aboard a flat bed truck provided by J.P. Noonan Trucking Company. The truck then took the engine from Charlestown Navy Yard to the New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. There a heavy-duty fork lift from the N.C. Hudon, Inc. of New Bedford lifted the sections into the corner of the automotive shop.
NOBSKA's engine was built in 1924 at Bath Iron Works and is original to the ship. Designed to generate 1,200 horsepower at 200 revolutions per minute (Quiz - E3), this engine gave NOBSKA a service speed of 14 knots (Quiz - N1). The engine has four cylinders. Steam is re-used three times through the engine as it expands; hence the name triple expansion engine. The first, or high pressure state, cylinder is 16 inches in diameter; the second, intermediate pressure cylinder measures 25"; and the last, or low pressure stage cylinders are both 30" in diameter (Quiz - E1). The last stage requires two cylinders to accept the tremendously expanded steam. The length of the stroke on all pistons is the same: 24.5 inches (Quiz - E2).
Today, students under the direction of NOBSKA's last chief engineer, Joe Dawicki, are rebuilding the engine which stands 14 feet high and dominates the space it now occupies. Fully restored, this historic engine will meet all specifications of the American Bureau of Shipping as NOBSKA once more plies the waterways of coastal New England. According to Joe Dawicki, the students are hard-working and learn quickly. Perhaps we already have in hand some future chief engineers.