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master stateroom was gutted and converted to build equipment for minesweeping gear. Other areas of the boat suffered from the hard military life.
After several years of duty and some time parked at the dock, the Navy advertised her for sale in 1989 and 1990, asking $25,000. and noting that she was in poor condition.
"I bid $20,000. and got her," Bill said. "With taxes, it came to $23885." The boat could not move under her own power, so the Navy towed her to San Diego.
I looked at her and I wondered, what in hell did I do?" Bill said. "This was nuts!"
THE FIRST STEPS
Bill's next purchase was a gasoline-fitted pump to keep chronic leaks from sinking the Romsdal, now named Ocean Quest. It was the beginning of an effort that would possess him for 13 years: after work every day, for 14-
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hour days on weekends, and during any spare moment that came along.
Next, he rooted out enough trash - pipe, wire, pegboard, and other junk left by the Navy - to fill six dumpsters. Old photos show the extent of the rust, dirt, corrosion, and rot, but they also hint at the underlying quality of the Romsdal.
Ocean Quest had two 120hp J Series Cummins diesel engines. One was shot, and the other needed help. A factory team did the work, making improvements that included installing a new top end (head, valves, and turbocharger) on the port engine, boosting it to 200hp. The naturally aspirated starboard engine was reconditioned, without needing major repair.
The yacht's propulsion system probably seems unusual to most boaters, but it was common on the Romsdal line. Either engine can power the single shaft.
The rebuilt port engine is Ocean Quest's principal
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