Reviving History: Repowering the Western Flyer
Photo courtesy of the Western Flyer Foundation.
The Western Flyer, a vessel steeped in literary and scientific history, has undergone a remarkable transformation that blends its storied past with cutting-edge marine technology. This iconic boat was chartered by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts for their famed 1940 expedition to the Gulf of California. Now, the vessel has been repowered with a state-of-the-art hybrid system centered around a John Deere 6135AFM85 marine propulsion engine.
Restoring a Piece of History
Built in 1937 in Tacoma, Washington, the Western Flyer has been called "the most famous research vessel to ever have sailed." The 77-foot (23.5-meter) wooden boat was built as a purse seiner to fish for sardines out of Monterey, California.
After its famous expedition that was chronicled in Steinbeck's The Log from the Sea of Cortez, the Western Flyer continued to serve various purposes in the fishing industry. The boat faced numerous challenges over the years and eventually fell into disrepair after sinking twice in Washington where it had been moored. Caked in mud, covered in barnacles, and in rough shape, the vessel was purchased in February 2015 by marine geologist John Gregg, who has had a lifelong interest in Steinbeck and Ricketts.
Gregg founded the Western Flyer Foundation and initiated a comprehensive rebuild of the boat to transform it into a state-of-the-art research vessel and educational platform. The restoration honors the boat's legacy while equipping it for a new life in marine education and conservation.
"It was a labor of love. They used as much as they could of the original vessel and reconstructed her, but what we were left with was a wooden boat with virtually nothing inside it," says Paul Tate, the Western Flyer's new captain. "When it came time to repower the vessel, we knew we needed an engine that was Tier 3 compliant and electronically controlled that could interface with the hybrid electric system we were adding to the boat. John Deere had just the engine that offered the power, weight, and technology we were looking for."
The Heart of the Marine Repower
The Western Flyer had been powered by several marine engines over the years. The latest engine to come aboard is a 425 hp @ 1900 rpm John Deere marine engine. Cascade Engine Center, the John Deere engine distributor for the Pacific Northwest, worked with Snow & Company, a boatbuilding, refit, and fabrication company, to repower the historic fishing vessel with the John Deere engine.
The engine, with a displacement of 13.5L, was chosen for its reliability and efficiency. The compact design and power density of the package made it an ideal fit for the Western Flyer's limited engine room space.
"It's really efficient because the boat reaches its hull speed with very low power input. It does not take very much throttle to run the boat at cruising speed," said Tim Sandeman, vice president of operations at Cascade Engine Center. "It also pairs well with the hybrid system, which gives them a lot of flexibility."
Photo courtesy of the Western Flyer Foundation.
Flexible Engine Power
Though the Western Flyer Foundation originally considered converting the boat to full electric, it ultimately elected to go with a diesel-electric hybrid system. With this combination, the boat is capable of being powered largely by diesel but can switch to electric power for brief periods as needed for research purposes.
The decision to implement a hybrid system aligns perfectly with the Western Flyer's legacy of environmental awareness: The electric mode allows for zero operating emissions. The hybrid system also helps to optimize fuel consumption and minimize noise, which is crucial for marine research.
The John Deere engine not only provides propulsion but also serves as the primary generator for the vessel's electrical systems. The engine powers a generator that charges battery banks, which in turn supply power to the electric propulsion motor and onboard systems.
"This was an exciting project for us to work on because hybrid propulsion systems are such a new thing for the marine industry. We don't see the marine industry as transitioning to fully electric power, but applications like this one demonstrate the benefits of electric assistance," says Sandeman. "This boat will be an example of what's possible with a Tier 3 EPA engine like the John Deere 6135AFM85 and a hybrid system as a tool for reducing emissions."
A Bridge Between Past and Future
After a successful repower, the Western Flyer made its voyage home to California after many years away. The foundation has ambitious plans for the vessel. Western Flyer will serve as a versatile platform for a research program investigating marine ecosystem functions and interactions between human communities and their local marine ecosystems.
"After six months of operations here in Monterey, I can say we ended up with a tremendous power package," said Captain Tate. "It's an old boat but it's a new boat. You have the old purse seiner appearance from 1937 on the outside with very sophisticated technology on the inside."
