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Small Boats

Surfboats
Surfboats were used for near shore rescues
They were kept at Life Saving Stations along the coasts
They were on trailers and were hand hauled from the boat house to the water
Some stations had horses to draw the trailers
Later, some even had tractors
The original boats were modified whale boats
Each area of the country developed their own design of surfboat
Eventually the Life Saving Service standardized the boats as much as possible
The surfboats were originally powered by manned oars
They were originally not self-bailing or self-righting
These features were gradually introduced, as were gasoline engines
The surfboat was the main rescue device well into the late 1800s

Class Number Year Comments Pix Model
30′ Raymond
Nantucket Whaleboat
1791 The first lifesaving station in the US
Operated by the Massachusetts Humane Society at Cohasset
Designed by William Raymond
Manned by 12 men and capable of carrying 20 survivors
Yes Yes
Jersey Type
Pulling Surfboat
1871 First “standard” pulling surfboat adopted by the USLSS
From 25′ to 27′ with 6 thwarts for 10 oars, double banked
Clinker built – No sailing rig
Based on square sterned fishing boats in use along the Jersey coast
Neither self-righting nor self-bailing
Versions included the “Squan” and “Long Branch”
Yes
26′ Monomoy Type
Pulling/Sailing Surfboat
Originated on Monomoy Island off Cape Cod
Either 23′ or 26′ with 4 thwarts for 8 oars, double banked
Clinker built – Sprit sailing rig with jib and mainsail
Neither self-righting nor self-bailing
Capable of holding 14 survivors
Note that 26′ Monomoy surfboat was built with a carvel hull
and used as the standard cutter boat
Yes
24’6″ Race Point Type
Pulling/Sailing Surfboat
Originated at Race Point, Cape Cod
24’6″ with 5 thwarts for 5 oars, single banked (alternating sides)
Clinker built – Sprit sailing rig with jib and mainsail
Neither self-righting nor self-bailing
Capable of holding 10 survivors
Yes
27′ Higgins and Gifford
Pulling Surfboat
Designed and built at Higgins and Gifford Boatyard in Gloucester
27′ with 5 thwarts for 10 oars, double banked
Carvel built
Neither self-bailing nor self-righting
Yes
27′ Beebe Type
Pulling Surfboat
Designed by Frederick Beebe
27’4″ with 5 thwarts for 10 oars, double banked
Clinker built – No sailing rig
Neither self-righting nor self-bailing
Yes
26′ Beebe-McLellan Type
Pulling/Sailing Surfboat
Designed by LT McLellan, USRM, and Frederick Beebe
Replaced all previous designs
26′ with 3 or 4 thwarts for 6 or 8 oars, double banked
Clinker built – Sprit sailing rig with jib and sprit sail
Self bailing but not self-righting
Yes
27′ Beebe Type
Motor Surfboat
27′ Beebe pulling boats converted by adding a 12 hp gasoline engine
Capable of about 8 knots
Yes
26′ Beebe-McLellan
Type Motor Surfboat
One 26′ pulling boat was converted as an experiment
Almost all others were built new with the engine
Yes

Lifeboats
Lifeboats were the companions to the surfboats
They were self-bailable and self-rightable and much heavier
They were generally kept in the water so they were faster to launch
But they were not easily used on large sandy beaches where piers could not be built
The original boat was a borrowed British boat
Soon US designs evolved and the LSS quickly standardized them
Lifeboats are still in use today

Class Number Year Comments Pix Model
English Lifeboat 1873 Evaluated by the LSS and used throughout the country until
US-built boats were available
26′ Merryman Type
Pulling/Sailing Lifeboat
Designed by Capt. J.H. Merryman, USRM
26’8″ with 4 thwarts for 8 oars, double banked
Standing lug or sprit sailing rig
Yes
Dobbins Type
Pulling Lifeboat
1878 Designed by David Dobbins, Superintendent, 9th LSS District
24′ to 32′ with 4 thwarts for 8 oars, double banked – no sailing rig
Yes
34′ Merryman Type
Pulling/Sailing Lifeboat
1890 Larger version of the 26′ Merryman with 5 thwarts for 10 oars, double banked
Two masted sailing rig with jib, spritsail, and mainsail
Yes
34′ Converted Merryman Type
Motor Lifeboat
26 1899 LT McLellan fitted a gasoline engine in the stern of a Lake Superior Merryman lifeboat
Capable of about 7 knots and a range of 275 nautical miles
Retained the oars and sailing rig
Experiment was successful and 25 more boats were converted
New boats currently in design/production were redesigned to incorporate the motor
Yes
36′ McLellan Type E
Motor Lifeboat
46 1908 First US lifeboat designed from the beginning to incorporate a motor in the stern
Designed by now-CAPT McLellan, USRM
Capable of about 10 knots
Not capable of being rowed but retained the two sailing masts for emergency use
The boats were named in addition to numbered – the only MLBs so honored
Remained the standard motor lifeboat until replaced by the Type H in 1919
36′ Hunnewell Type H
Motor Lifeboat
76 1919 First motor lifeboat designed by the Coast Guard
The Coast Guard centralized all small boat construction at the depot at Arundel Cove
which is now called the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay
Incorporated several improvements to the Type E boats
Engine moved to amidships and rudder moved forward of tiller
Retained the oars and sails
Capable of 9 knots
Remained in service until replaced by the Type T in 1929
36′ Hansen Type T
Motor Lifeboat
27 1928 Incorporated improvements to the Type H
Partially enclosed cockpit
Capable of 9 knots and a range of 280 nautical miles
CGH
36′ Type TR
Motor Lifeboat
72 1931 Modified Type T
TR = Type T, Revised
CGH
CGP
52′ Wooden Hull
Motor Lifeboat
2 1935 Stationed in the Pacific Northwest
Named Invincible and Triumph
Invincible was transferred to the Navy in 1967
Triumph was lost in a rescue attempt in 1961
CGH
CGAA
 Yes
36′ Type TRS
Motor Lifeboat
130 1937 Modified Type TR
TRS = Type T, Revised, Simplified
The last Type TRS was retired in 1987
CGH
CGP
Yes
52′ Steel Hull
Motor Lifeboat
4 1956 Designed to replace the wooden hulled 52s
Victory, Invincible, Triumph II, and Intrepid
Still in service
CGH
CGP
44′ Motor Lifeboat 110 1963 Probably one of the most legendary boats to serve coastal SAR in the US
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Capable of 14 knots with a 164 nautical mile range
Coast Guard crews speak of the 44 with reverence in their voice
Adopted by at least 10 other nations as their primary SAR boat
CG 44301 was the last 44 in service – Retired from Chatham in 2010
CGH
CGP
Yes
47′ Motor Lifeboat 100 1991 Designed to replace the venerable but aging 44
Current near shore SAR boat
Capable of 23 knots
Can operate in 20 foot seas and 20 foot surf
CGH
CGH
CGAA
Yes

Utility Boats
The Coast Guard has used a variety of small boats for a variety of missions
Originally called launches, they are now referred to as utility boats
One was an air cushion vehicle that was evaluated but not accepted for service
This is NOT a complete list of every UTB used by the Coast Guard
Considering all of the one-of-a-kind acquisitions, that list would be huge

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
36′ Picket Boat 103 1925 Built to enforce Prohibition
Built as either single cabin or double cabin
Out of service after WWII – Replaced by the 40 foot UTB
CGH
38′ Picket Boat 500+ 1920 Built to enforce Prohibition
Sturdier than the smaller 36s
Direct forerunner to the 41s
CGP Yes
30′ Utility Boat 1950 Replaced the aging 36′ Picket Boats in inland/near shore waters
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Steel hulls
Served into the 70s – Replaced by the 41′ UTB
CGP Yes
40′ Utility Boat (40-Boats) 331 1950 Replaced the aging 38′ Picket Boats and 30′ Motor Rescue Boats
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Early boats were wood, most were steel, the last ones were fiberglass
Capable of 20 knots with a range of 380 miles in moderate seas
The Mark IV was capable of carrying 20 survivors or 5,000 lbs. of cargo
Served into the late 1970s – Replaced by the 41′ UTB
CGH
CGP
Yes
38′ Air Cushion Vehicle 3 1970 Evaluated for use – not accepted into service CGH
CGP
CGAA
31′ Port Security Boat 28 1970 Built at the Coast Guard yard in Curtis Bay
Fiberglass construction
Equipped with a 250 gal/min fire pump
CGH
CGP
27′ Presidential Security Boat 1970 Built for speed and fire power CGP
41′ UTB 156 1973 Replaced the aging 30 and 40 boats
Built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, MD
Capable of 26 knots and operating in heavy seas
Proved to be a rugged utility boat for all but fast law enforcement
Currently showing their age- limited to 8′ waves and 30 knot winds
Being replaced by the 25′
CGH
CGH
CGP
Yes
32′ Ports and Waterways Boat 50 1976 Built in response to the Port and Waterways Act of 1973
Fiberglass construction
Built for firefighting and pollution investigation
Out of service by 2000
CGP
43′ Coastal Interceptor 5 1987 Designed as a high speed law enforcement boat
Not very fuel efficient
Retired by 2000
CGH
25′ Transportable Port Security Boat 1997 Capable of 40 knots CGH
25′ Defender Class 457 2002 Developed in response to the need for Homeland Security assets after 9/11
Capable of 45 knots and highly maneuverable
Can survive in 10 foot seas
45′ Response Boat Medium 180 2008 Replaced the 41s

Surf Rescue Boats
Stationed ashore
Driven into surf for near shore rescues

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
38′ DUKW 1944 Built for the Army in WWII for amphibious warfare
Coast Guard used them in heavy surf and for flood relief
Additional units built in CG Yard
Suffered from high maintenance costs
All units disposed of by 1970
CGH
CGP
CGAA
Yes
35′ Land Amphibious
Rescue Craft (LARC)
27 1963 Designed for the Army as a replacement for the WWII era DUKWs
35 mph on land and 9 knots underway
Could handle 10 foot surf and climb a 60 percent grade
Extremely high maintenance limited their use
Out of service by the 1980s
CGH
CGP
CGAA
26′ Motor Surfboat 117 1969 Shore-stationed version of the 26′ shipboard MSB
Development of the 30′ Surf Rescue Boat was behind schedule
As a temporary measure, 17 cutter-based MSBs were modifies with cabins
They served until the SRBs were in service
CGH Yes
30′ Surf Rescue Boat 20 1986 Designed for near shore SAR in heavy seas and surf CGH
CGAA

Cutter Boats
The Coast Guard has always carried small boats on cutters for rescues and boardings
Note that there are no “lifeboats” on Coast Guard Cutters
The Monomoy surfboat filled the role until the 60s
The 26′ Motor Surf Boat replaced it and stayed around until 2000

Class Number Year Comments Pictures Model
26′ Monomoy Type Pulling/Sailing Surfboat 26′ Monomoy shore side surfboat built with a carvel hull
and used as the standard cutter boat
26′ Motor Surfboat 206 1960 Replaced the 26′ pulling Monomoy surfboat CGAA Yes
21′ Over-the-Horizon Boat 2008 Cutter boats
36′ Long Range Interceptor 2008 Cutter boats
25′ Short Range Prosecutor 2008 Cutter boats