Veteran Boston Harbor ferry Outward Bound returns to Gladding-Hearn for mid-life refit

Photo: Gladding-Hearn

Originally delivered by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation in 1995, the Boston Harbor ferry MV Outward Bound has returned to the Somerset, Mass., shipyard for a mid-life refit. Redelivery is planned for spring 2026.

Purpose-designed by JW Gilbert Associates, the 64-foot, 140-passenger steel vessel carries visitors and supplies seasonally to the Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound School, which offers experiential outdoor programs for youth and adults on the island in Boston Harbor.

Along with installing a new shaft and propeller, the yard will replace the Outward Bound’s original 315 hp Detroit Diesel 8V92 engine and modify the engine bed to accommodate a new 429 hp, EPA Tier 3, Mitsubishi S6B3-MPTAW-3 diesel engine, which will deliver a top speed of 11 knots. The new engine is connected to a Twin Disc MG-5114, 3:1 gearbox. The shipyard will replace the vessel’s exhaust, cooling and ventilation systems to accommodate the new engine. The original Wagner steering system will be replaced with a new Dometic Seastar Optimus system.

Six electric heaters will replace the original diesel-fired boiler and heaters to produce sufficient heat for seasonal operation. Many updates will be made to the electrical and piping systems, including new LED lighting, bilge piping, and domestic systems. The engine room will be equipped with a new FireBoy GA Series fire suppression system.

The vessel’s hull will be fully sandblasted, surveyed, and replated as required. Doors, windows, and hatches will be inspected, tested, and repaired as needed. The exterior and interior will receive a new coating system.