DUKWS were amphibious craft designed and built for use in World War II. They were originally built on a two and one-half ton CCKW Army truck sometimes called the "duce and an half". Every one of the DUKWS I have surveyed and consulted on are now used for commercial tours on land; into the sea and lake water. I have four clients who use them for their own private use.
DUKWS are street legal to drive on the roads and are also legal to drive on water as recreational boats.
DUKWS used for commercial "duck tours" have to meet the commercial U.S. Coast Guard requirements for tour boats. United States Coast Guard officials like to attend my surveying of these craft, to see me using my ultra-sounding and testing equipment.
What does DUKW stand for?
D=First year of production code "D" is for 1942
U=Body style "U" utility truck (amphibious)
K=Front wheel drive. GMC used that on trucks (K5 Chevy Blazer)
W=Two rear driving wheels (tandem axle)
The DUKW is capable of carrying a 2 1/2 ton payload over land or water. It is equipped with a GMC 270 cubic inch 6 cylinder gasoline engine. It has a 5 speed transmission with a 2 speed transfer case. This gives a total of 10 forward speeds and 2 in reverse. It has 6 wheel drive, a water propeller and a 10 ton winch. All or any of these can be run separately or together in any combination. Top speed on land is 50 to 55 mph while on the water top speed is only 6 mph (land miles per hour not knots). It also has a tire inflation system with a 2 cylinder air compressor and air storage tank. This allows the driver to inflate or deflate any one or all six tires at the same time from the dashboard. The dashboard also has a tire pressure gauge so that air pressure can be monitored. The front brake lines are protected in steel conduit with barbed wire cutters on the outside. The DUKW weighs 7 1/2 tons empty and is 31 feet long. DUKWS were manufactured from 1942 to 1945 by General Motors Corporation.
I have designed the survey formats, surveyed and consulted on 21 DUKWS through out the east coast and lake regions.