85 September, 1999

Bahamas Family Continues a Marine Tradition

"My dad, Earnest Sr., has been in the marine business for over 50 years," says Ernest Dean Jr. of Nassau in the Bahamas. At the end of September, Dean Jr., who has a couple of decades in the business himself, will take delivery of a new boat named for his late brother Gurth Dean. The boat will fill a position in the family's mail and general cargo business, left vacant by the loss of a vessel last fall.

Currently building at Rodriguez Boatworks in Bayou LaBatre to an inhouse design, the 110x26-foot boat will also have overnight accommodation for up to 18 passengers. Power is provided by a pair of Cummins' 14-litre six-cylinder N14-M main engines turning 440 HP each into Twin Disc model 5114 gears with a 4.86:1 ratio. Props are four-bladed 58x48 inches. Auxiliary power is provided by a pair of two 60 Kw gen sets powered by Cummins six-cylinder B-series engines.

The significant electrical power will be more than adequate to meet the vessel's general needs and the two large capacity walk in freezers and one walk-in cooler. Designed with an 11-foot molded depth carried well out toward the chine, the aft cabin boat has 11,000 cubic feed of cargo space in two holds. A 15-ton hydraulic crane is located between the two holds. Tankage included 10,000 gallons of fuel and 3500 gallons of water.

One of more than a dozen boats with mail contracts in the Bahamas, the "Capt. Gurth Dean" will service the Abaco Islands.

For more information on the vessel's propulsion contact:

Larry Neff
V/P Marine Marketing
Cummins Alabama Inc.
3422 Georgia Pacific Ave.
Moblie, AL 36617
Phone:334 452-6426

For general arrangement drawings and photos contact:

Mr. Joe Rodriguez Jr.
President, Rodriguez Boatbuilders
Bayou LaBatre, Alabama 36509
Phone: 334 824-4067

For more on the vessel's operational aspects contact:

Earnest Dean
Nassau, Bahama's
Phone: 242 324-5712

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