80 DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 



RESEARCH VESSELS 

 Broadbill 



With the acceleration of the abalone program, it was necessary to 

 obtain a boat to be used exclusively for diving operations. The Bureau 

 of Patrol's 36-ft, 15-ton vessel, the Broadbill, which had proved unsatis- 

 factory for patrol work, was acquired by Marine Fisheries for use in the 

 abalone investigation. An air compressor was installed, several minor 

 changes made, and diving operations were attempted. Subsequent trials 

 indicated that the Broadbill is not entirely satisfactory as a diving boat. 

 It lacks the maneuverability essential for close inshore operations where 

 the greater portion of the diving must be done. Another boat, the Mol- 

 lusk, was obtained from which the actual diving is being done, and the 

 Broadbill is now principally used as a mother ship and to tow the diving 

 boat to the scene of operation. 



The Broadbill came from Patrol equipped with a Hudson Invader 

 engine, which although supplying the necessary power to drive the heavy 

 steel hull, unfortunately consumed a great amount of fuel, thus making 

 any long runs impractical. The Hudson motor was replaced with a 

 Chrysler Crown, 104 h. p., with reduction gear, which supplies sufficient 

 power and cuts gasoline consumption to less than half. 



Sea trials of the new motor revealed that several alterations were 

 necessary on the external hull — namely, a larger rudder and a new skeg 

 to support it had to be constructed and installed. Because of the reduced 

 horsepower of the new motor, it was found advisable to change the pitch 

 of the existing propeller ; this resulted in an increase in motor revolutions 

 with a subsequent increase in speed. 



It was found that with some adaptations the Broadbell could be 

 utilized for several types of marine research. A hydraulic system was 

 installed to drive auxiliary equipment which would operate gear to be 

 used in various investigations. The vessel has now a hydraulic winch 

 which is used by the crab and dragging investigators, hydraulically 

 driven salmon gurdies, and a hydraulic air compressor which can be used 

 by the diver when conditions are satisfactory for diving from it. Since 

 the boat was originally designed for operations in the Delta region, it was 

 thought advisable to add several navigational aids that would be of value 

 if the boat were to operate safely in the coastal waters. A radio trans- 

 mitter and receiver, an automatic radio direction finder, an automatic 

 pilot, and a Bendix recording fathometer were installed. The interior of 

 the cabin was altered, additional bunks were installed, and the living 

 accommodations in general were improved by the addition of shelves 

 and lockers. The Broadbill now carries in reasonable comfort a crew of 

 three and a biologist, and enough provisions, water, etc., for approxi- 

 mately a week at sea. 



The Broadbill has been used by the crab investigation, working the 

 waters off Bolinas Bay area and in San Francisco Bay. It has recently 

 completed a trip to the North Coast region as far as Fort Bragg, where 

 it was used in the abalone investigation as a mother ship for living quar- 

 ters and to tow the smaller diving boat. 



