What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
PCMSC research vessel Parke Snavely
Information about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel Parke Snavely, acquired in November 2007.
Learn about our research vessels
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center acquired research vessel (R/V) Parke Snavely in November 2007. The Parke Snavely is a 34’ Armstrong Catamaran with an open stern and an aluminum hull. Her beam is 10’6” and she drafts 3’9” (1.5 meters).
The boat is named after Parke D. Snavely, Jr. (1919 - 2003), a pioneer of marine geology research at USGS.
R/V Snavely is a multipurpose research vessel, used in many coastal and lacustrine operations:
- sonar mapping
- chirp sub-bottom profiling

- seafloor photography/videography
- dive operations support
- mooring deployment and recovery
- instrument deployment and sampling
Characteristics
- Built in 2007 by Armstrong Marine, Port Angeles, WA
- Length: 34 ft

- Beam: 10.5 ft
- Draft: 1.5 meters
- Propulsion: Twin Volvo Penta D6 -310
- Drive: Volvo Penta DuoProp outdrives
- Cruising Speed: 25 knots
- Fuel Capacity: 220 gallons
- Endurance: 200 miles
Equipment

- 12kw marine diesel generator
- 13 ft a-frame w/ 2000lb SWL and tugger winch
- 6 ft davit w/ hydraulic capstan, 800lb SWL
- Several deck winch options
Navigation
- Dual Garmin GPSMAP 7610 chart plotters
- GPS19x antenna, WAAS and GLONASS capable (3m accuracy)
- Garmin GPSMAP 922xs chart plotter / depth sounder
- Volvo AP Reactor 40 autopilot
- Garmin 18xHD Marine Radar
- Airmar M260-10F 1kW Broadband transducer, 50 and 200 kHz, max depth 735m
Capabilities
- Submetrix 3-100 m interferometric sonar
- Norbit Winghead i67 0.2m to 400m multibeam sonar
- EdgeTech Chirp sub-bottom profiler
- Minisparker sub-bottom profiler
- Bottom camera tow sled
Learn more about our vessels and PCMSC's Marine Facility.
USGS vessel Fast Eddy
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
PCMSC vessel San Lorenzo
PCMSC MarFac Vessels
PCMSC vessel Jewell
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
USGS ocean engineer Gerry Hatcher with the camera system he helped create for recording the precise time and geographic location of each air photo it takes. The system is mounted in the cargo compartment of a Cessna 182R airplane and takes photos through a window cut into a removable cargo door (right).
USGS ocean engineer Gerry Hatcher with the camera system he helped create for recording the precise time and geographic location of each air photo it takes. The system is mounted in the cargo compartment of a Cessna 182R airplane and takes photos through a window cut into a removable cargo door (right).
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, located in Santa Cruz, California, owns and operates the research vessel R/V Parke Snavely to collect data and run surveys.
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, located in Santa Cruz, California, owns and operates the research vessel R/V Parke Snavely to collect data and run surveys.

USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s research vessel R/V Parke Snavely motors on the Nisqually Reach of Puget Sound.
USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s research vessel R/V Parke Snavely motors on the Nisqually Reach of Puget Sound.
Eric Grossman and Rob Wyland reviewing bathymetry data as it's being collected, on R/V Parke Snavely.
Eric Grossman and Rob Wyland reviewing bathymetry data as it's being collected, on R/V Parke Snavely.
Information about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel Parke Snavely, acquired in November 2007.
Learn about our research vessels
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center acquired research vessel (R/V) Parke Snavely in November 2007. The Parke Snavely is a 34’ Armstrong Catamaran with an open stern and an aluminum hull. Her beam is 10’6” and she drafts 3’9” (1.5 meters).
The boat is named after Parke D. Snavely, Jr. (1919 - 2003), a pioneer of marine geology research at USGS.
R/V Snavely is a multipurpose research vessel, used in many coastal and lacustrine operations:
- sonar mapping
- chirp sub-bottom profiling

- seafloor photography/videography
- dive operations support
- mooring deployment and recovery
- instrument deployment and sampling
Characteristics
- Built in 2007 by Armstrong Marine, Port Angeles, WA
- Length: 34 ft

- Beam: 10.5 ft
- Draft: 1.5 meters
- Propulsion: Twin Volvo Penta D6 -310
- Drive: Volvo Penta DuoProp outdrives
- Cruising Speed: 25 knots
- Fuel Capacity: 220 gallons
- Endurance: 200 miles
Equipment

- 12kw marine diesel generator
- 13 ft a-frame w/ 2000lb SWL and tugger winch
- 6 ft davit w/ hydraulic capstan, 800lb SWL
- Several deck winch options
Navigation
- Dual Garmin GPSMAP 7610 chart plotters
- GPS19x antenna, WAAS and GLONASS capable (3m accuracy)
- Garmin GPSMAP 922xs chart plotter / depth sounder
- Volvo AP Reactor 40 autopilot
- Garmin 18xHD Marine Radar
- Airmar M260-10F 1kW Broadband transducer, 50 and 200 kHz, max depth 735m
Capabilities
- Submetrix 3-100 m interferometric sonar
- Norbit Winghead i67 0.2m to 400m multibeam sonar
- EdgeTech Chirp sub-bottom profiler
- Minisparker sub-bottom profiler
- Bottom camera tow sled
Learn more about our vessels and PCMSC's Marine Facility.
USGS vessel Fast Eddy
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
PCMSC vessel San Lorenzo
PCMSC MarFac Vessels
PCMSC vessel Jewell
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
What does it take to become an ocean engineer? Here is the path that USGS Gerry Hatcher took.
USGS ocean engineer Gerry Hatcher with the camera system he helped create for recording the precise time and geographic location of each air photo it takes. The system is mounted in the cargo compartment of a Cessna 182R airplane and takes photos through a window cut into a removable cargo door (right).
USGS ocean engineer Gerry Hatcher with the camera system he helped create for recording the precise time and geographic location of each air photo it takes. The system is mounted in the cargo compartment of a Cessna 182R airplane and takes photos through a window cut into a removable cargo door (right).
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, located in Santa Cruz, California, owns and operates the research vessel R/V Parke Snavely to collect data and run surveys.
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, located in Santa Cruz, California, owns and operates the research vessel R/V Parke Snavely to collect data and run surveys.

USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s research vessel R/V Parke Snavely motors on the Nisqually Reach of Puget Sound.
USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s research vessel R/V Parke Snavely motors on the Nisqually Reach of Puget Sound.
Eric Grossman and Rob Wyland reviewing bathymetry data as it's being collected, on R/V Parke Snavely.
Eric Grossman and Rob Wyland reviewing bathymetry data as it's being collected, on R/V Parke Snavely.