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 | Pictures | Model |
| 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 |
LSS | |||
| 27′ Beebe Type Motor Surfboat | 27′ Beebe pulling boats converted by adding a 12 hp gasoline engine Capable of about 8 knots |
LSS | |||
| 26′ Beebe-McLellan Type Motor Surfboat | One 26′ pulling boat was converted as an experiment Almost all others were built new with the engine |
LSS |
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 | Pictures | Model | |
| 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 |
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 |
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 |