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 |
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
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 |
| 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 |
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 | |
| 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 |
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| 26′ Motor Surfboat | 206 | 1960 | Standard cutter boat that replaced the 26′ pulling Monomoy surfboat | CGAA | Yes |