 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
DUKWS (DUCKS)
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?
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.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
