158
December 28, 2001

Rodriguez Delivering Another Twin Screw Shrimper

Bayou LaBatre area shipyards are working overtime to meet the demand for big shrimpers. While some are destined for overseas customers in Africa and Latin America, a good many are being built for Americans. In December, Rodriguez Boat Builders of Coden Alabama were putting the finishing touches on a big blue and yellow boat for delivery to Steve Nguyen of Gretna Louisiana.

The 98 by 26-foot boat has a molded depth of 12.5 feet. It is powered by a pair of six-cylinder Cummins KTA19 M3 main engines generating 600 HP at 1800 RPM turning into ZF gears with 6:1 ratio. Although, explains Joey Rodriguez, the owners typically operate these engines at 1400 to 1475 RPM to achieve the boat’s 11-knots against the boat’s 12-knot hull speed while significantly extending the engine service life. As much as the size is remarkable, the twin engine configuration continues the recent trend to this level of redundancy. The big power also allows these boats to trawl larger nets typically four nets with 65-foot cork lines and 74-foot lead lines. The raised outriggers tower 62 feet above their mounting brackets. The two hydraulic Pullmaster H-30 deck winches hold 4200 feet of 3/4-inch stainless wire each. Hydraulic power is provided by a six-cylinder Cummins C-series engine while electrical needs are met by a pair of Onan 70 Kw Cummins 6B series-powered gen sets. These also provide compressor power for the 4000 cubic foot freezer hold and a 5 by 10-foot stainless steel brine tank for quick freezing the shrimp in 40 to 50 pound onion sacks.

As of mid December, Rodriguez already had two more of these million dollar boats on order. (See also Cummins Hotips#154, Oct.15, 2001)

For further information:

Joe Rodriguez Jr.
President
Rodriguez Boat Builders
PO Box 842
Bayou LaBatre, Alabama 36509 USA
Phone: 334 824-4067 Fax: 334 824-4074
E-Mail: joserodrig@aol.com

Larry Neff
V/P Marine Marketing
Cummins Alabama Inc.
3422 Georgia Pacific Ave.
Moblie, AL 36617 U.S.A.
Phone: 334 452-6426 Fax: 334 473-6657
E-mail: Larry.E.Neff@Cummins.com

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