Gravel vessel to be launched in Port Angeles, worked on in Port Townsend

PORT ANGELES — In some respects it’s like a floating dumptruck, a boat with a hopper capable of carrying up to 20 cubic yards of gravel to dress down Little Skookum Shellfish Growers’ clam beds in Shelton.

But the 49½-foot-long, 14-foot-wide, multi-use aluminum vessel launched at Port Angeles Boat Haven marina Monday afternoon will also plant oyster seeds from the hopper and harvest clams at the Shelton shellfish farm owned by Port Angeles resident Peter Becker.

The $100,000 investment will save on labor costs over the long term, Becker said.

“As co-chair of the marine cluster, I felt I should put my money where my mouth is,” Becker said of the Clallam County Economic Development Council’s Clallam netWorks group of marine-industry interests that brainstorms on developing the industry.

Today, Becker said, he will test-drive the J. Lynch, named for Jeremiah Lynch, who founded the shellfish company in 1883.

Going to Port Townsend

Becker will skipper the vessel to the Port of Port Townsend boat yard, where additional work on it could be performed, then on to the Shelton farm.

Olympic Marine Services since November has constructed the barge-like boat designed by master builder Howard Sprouse.

The vessel is powered by twin Honda engines of 140 horsepower each.

Although it can carry up to 20 tons, Becker said, the vessel will typically haul about 5 tons at a time.