CG 47ft MLB got rolled at Morro Bay...

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DLL

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I may have missed it, but Soundings Magazine has an article and pictures of our CG in action.

A series of 15ft waves were negotiated well, but a 20ft wave rolled the boat. They even had guys strapped in on the flybridge. All 5 survived it. The article said they CG did as they are supposed to do and the MLB is designed to be "self righting".

Total damage? Bent windshield wiper blades. NICE!!!!!!!!

Wonder what one of those 47ft MLBs would cost?

Anyone actually been on one? I have seen the show where the CG tested them up at the Columbia Bar. Talk about confidence in your gear.
 
Thanks for the info.

The article was in the March issue of Soundings.

The best shots like this that I have EVER seen was the tug boat that rolled under a bridge during a flood and just kept going. Not fake photos. Have you seen those?

One of the Tolly 44 owners (like mine) was heading back to Portland, from the San Juans and got delayed a couple of hours when the CG requested assistance looking for a capsized boat. By the time he swung around to cross the Columbia Bar it was too late. He said the first wave was over his head (on the flybridge -- with his wife and daughter) -- He shoved both throttles up and climbed it, but forgot to pull the engines back. Submarined the bow but brought it out in time to climb the next wave, then remembered to pull back on the throttles and came down ok. After that he did ok, but his wife said she will drive to the San Juans from now on.

I still wander what those 47s cost.
 
Government costing is always fun. I did uncover some info that the initial US Textron contract for the 47's was $163 million for R&D and 93 boats, with the last 23 of those on a separate option which added $20 million to the $143 charged for the R&D and the first seventy boats. So, spreading the cost over the first 93, we get about $1.75 million each, but the "incremental" cost of each additional one is (or was) under $1 million. I also found some info that the Canadians built 7 under license for C$ 14 million, but that also involved a builder bankruptcy and a contract stretched from 3 to 5 years, as well as some assumed one-time tooling, etc. costs. So, rough estimate, about a million or so, once you've absorbed the initial start-up and design costs.

I've heard the 47' MLB described as the only good thing to ever come from a government committee. Comparing it to its predecessor, the 44' MLB, it's twice as fast (25 kt vs. 12 kt), can tow much more effectively, and rights itself from a roll in 10 seconds, about three times as fast as the 44.

I've been aboard for a tour, but never away from the dock on one. The largest interior space, forward under the bow, is almost entirely full of structural framing and good for hanging life jackets, stowing gear, and not much else. The wheelhouse is frankly cramped, but it's only rarely used. Galley facilities are basically a sink and an igloo cooler, and that room is big enough to work on a couple of people on stretchers, etc. Then there's an engine room, a battery room, and that's it. I don't even recall a head, though there might have been a tiny one. It's a workhorse, and the crew spends most of its time on the flybridge. The quicker righting moment is considered a real plus--as one Guardsman said, "There's a big difference between having to hold your breath for 10 seconds on a moment's notice, and doing it for 30 seconds. Try it." The quicker righting moment is largely due to the thick platform over the flybridge where the radars and other antennae are mounted--it's hollow and filled with foam.

It's definitely one kick-butt craft, but not one I expect to see convereted to plearsure usage much.

BTG
 
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