Higgins built boats to the Sparkman and Stephens design, while other yards built George Crouch's competition entries. Elco entered after a US Navy-requested visit to Britain, acquiring the British Power Boat PV70 design and developing it as PT-9. Huckins then built its own 72-foot candidate, later PT-69, with the Navy supplying engines and the yard carrying the construction risk. Competing prototypes and altered requirements kept the selection process open beyond the original design competition.
Notable Point · 34:14-41:39
How Higgins, Elco, and Huckins entered the PT-boat race
Competing builders produced and adapted early prototypes, while Elco imported a British Power Boat design that became PT-9.