PORT ANGELES — The Coast Guard cutter Cuttyhunk, an 18-year-old, 110-foot boat, pushed off for the long journey to the East Coast for a yearlong makeover on Monday.
The boat’s crew will accompany the cutter to Curtis Bay, Md., on the 50-day voyage, said the boat’s skipper, Chief Warrant Officer James Robson.
After a couple weeks of unloading the boat and inventorying and storing equipment, the 16-person crew will return to Port Angeles to help out with other boats and anywhere else in the district sailors are needed, Robson said.
Although the crew may be spread out on different assignments, Robson said he would keep tabs on his people.
“We still want to keep up training so when we go pick up the cutter we’ll still be qualified,” he said.
The refurbishments scheduled for the boat include replacing hull plating, tanks, piping and electrical wiring.
Addition work will renew decks, living quarters and engineering systems.
The pilothouse will be reconfigured to better fit the re-wired electronics.
The refurbishments will give the Cuttyhunk another nine to 10 years of service, Robson said. About $6.8 million has been allotted for the work, he said.