By Lawrence P. Dukes
I am a retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. and former nuclear reactor operator. I’m also the owner of Dubuque, a 36-foot surplus U.S. Navy Landing Craft Personnel Light that once served aboard the Dubuque (LPD-8), which was decommissioned in 2006.
I found Dubuque on eBay in 2018 — high and dry, covered in red dust in a surplus yard in Del Rio, Texas along the Rio Grande. At first glance, I knew this was my boat. When it arrived at Green Cove Springs Marina, Fla., a crowd formed. Shouts of “it’s a gunboat!” rang out. Dubuque was in bad shape — most of the engine missing, no windows, no cleats, no railing. It had been stripped, and I think they were making bets I would never get it in the water.
But the stainless-steel lettering on its stern gleaming in the sunlight stated defiantly “USS DUBUQUE” — identifying itself as one of the Dubuque’s small boats. That was enough for me. I had been an engineer half of my Navy career. I was undaunted. I moved Dubuque to long-term storage and formulated a restoration plan.
After almost two years in storage, I moved Dubuque into the work area and began the restoration. COVID-19 hit, making parts difficult to find. My biggest hurdle was the engine — too many parts missing. Then I miraculously found a fully functional 8V-71 Detroit Diesel on a GSA Government Auction website. I won the auction and drove to Yorktown, Va. to retrieve the 4,000-pound engine myself. The 26-hour trip back at 45 mph drew curious onlookers at every stop. It was slow going, but I made it back to Green Cove Springs.
After more work and a few hiccups, a year and a half after placing Dubuque on the hard stand, she was ready to be tested.
When I energized the batteries, Dubuque woke from a 20-year sleep — lights on, fan whirling. “It’s alive!” I shouted. Next came the engine test. Two huge barrels of water on deck fed the raw water-cooling system. I pressed the start button. The engine tried to turn over: “wah,” “wah,” “wah.” Charles, my boat neighbor, threw me a can of starting fluid. “Hit it with this! In the air intakes!” Two shots, and the engine rolled over with a roar, settling into the steady beat of a two-stroke Detroit Diesel. Beautiful.
The cooling water and exhaust flowed from the twin stern exhausts. I went down to view the propeller — the shaft was spinning, the propeller turning smooth as butter. I sprayed silicon lubricant into the shaft strut bearing, and everything spun smoothly in silence. It was magical. I thought I heard Dubuque say, “Reporting for duty, ready to answer all bells, sir!”
Dubuque would be back in the water very soon now. I looked around and noticed that a few of the Marina Staff had been watching the activity, and they were now enthusiastically giving me and Dubuque a thumbs up. It was a great day. Mission accomplished.
I could not have accomplished this task without the support of the Green Cove Springs Marina Staff and my boat neighbors who are now my good friends.
Lawrence P. Dukes is a retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr., former reactor operator aboard the Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), and U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master. He is a graduate of Terry Parker High School and the University of North Florida. He owns SEA STATE Realty Corp. and SEA STATE Maritime School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
