Safeboat versus H733

ncp · 24 September 2012, 05:53

Saturday afternoon report: I witnessed a US Coast Guard Safeboat 330X Defender with triple Merc 300's (could have been 250's, but there were three of them) get dusted by a US Navy surplus Zodiac Hurricane 733 with twin 150's loaded with 8 people. The Coast Guard needs to get some better equipment if some people out for a cocktail cruise can outrun them (and out accelerate them from a dead stop)!

Starovich · 24 September 2012, 10:25

They wont out run the helicopters though.

Tmox · 24 September 2012, 16:44

Racing for Pinks?

captnjack · 24 September 2012, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncp

Saturday afternoon report: I witnessed a US Coast Guard Safeboat 330X Defender with triple Merc 300's (could have been 250's, but there were three of them) get dusted by a US Navy surplus Zodiac Hurricane 733 with twin 150's loaded with 8 people. The Coast Guard needs to get some better equipment if some people out for a cocktail cruise can outrun them (and out accelerate them from a dead stop)!

The safeboat is for sure not a lightweight. But it does have a cabin, heat so they can stay out far longer, and presumably survive a firefight alot better than hypalon.

How do you know they were even at full throttle?

jyasaki · 24 September 2012, 17:35

The SAFEBoat is designed as an all-weather, most-conditions, inshore quick response vessel. The larger boats have cabins, all the CG SAFEBoats (as far as I know) run outboards. If I was on a call where bouncing off rocks and such in breaking swell was a possibility (or probability), I think I'd rather have the aluminum hull and foam collar.

The 33 SAFE Boat (at least by the specs) is a cuddy boat; has a full size berth; doubt the 733 had that.

As an aside, the next generation of boats ordered went to someone other than SAFE.

jky

ncp · 25 September 2012, 06:11

I don't think anyone is disputing that they even though they had 3x the horsepower, they had 2x the weight and an extra 9+ft in length. I just think that even they were a bit surprised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

The larger boats have cabins, all the CG SAFEBoats (as far as I know) run outboards.

The Coast Guard also runs the 35ft Archangel which is inboards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

As an aside, the next generation of boats ordered went to someone other than SAFE.

I don't know much about this class of boats (the Safeboats) but the Coast Guards "Over the Horizon Interceptor" which has historically been a Hurricane 733/Yanmar 315/Merc Bravo X will now be by Safeboat. They just awarded them the contract. 26ft now, 400+ hp diesel, and a jet drive. It will be interesting to see their performance (supposed to be better) compared to the Hurricanes (which was already great)

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

How do you know they were even at full throttle?

It was discussed beforehand!

cgoing · 25 September 2012, 13:35

Having been in both the 25' safeboat and a hurricane 733, I would take the hurricane hands down over the safeboat any day of the week. In my opinion the ride is better and the hurricane performs infinitely better as well. Personally I don't see the value in a safeboat.

Screaming04 · 25 September 2012, 17:10

I was intercepted by a 33 safeboat while crossing US waters between two Canadian ports in my 733.

Initially I didn't realize that the coast guard was chasing me, I thought it was just another boat playing around (the flashing blue lights on the front of the boat were obscured when it was on step and of course I couldn't hear the siren). After about 5-10 minutes I noticed the lights, I was about 2 miles from Canadian waters. Having seen youtube videos of them firing on Cigarette boats, I decided to stop. I sat dead in the water for close to a minute waiting for them to catch up.

When they arrived they asked their questions , boarded etc. I told them that I was surprised that they couldn't catch me with their triple 350 Verado's(yes, that's 1050hp!!). They said that they were "taking it easy on the motors". With the "bad guy" 2 miles from Canadian waters, I call BS.

It is a big boat, however. Crew of 4, lots of shelter etc.

I was doing 52mph.

captnjack · 25 September 2012, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screaming04

I was doing 52mph.

The safeboat max speed is not disclosed, I'm not sure if its classified or not. But they don't talk about it. Seems like its in the high 40 knot range though, which jives with your experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgoing

Having been in both the 25' safeboat and a hurricane 733, I would take the hurricane hands down over the safeboat any day of the week. In my opinion the ride is better and the hurricane performs infinitely better as well. Personally I don't see the value in a safeboat.

I've seen them out all day in a snowstorm doing security duty for State ferries. Mental sharpness would definitely be an issue if they used an open boat for this. Speed isn't everything, there's always someone faster anyway - that's what they have helicopters for.

ncp · 25 September 2012, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

- that's what they have helicopters for.

Nor the the machine gun mounted up front. (at least we wouldn't have... We started so close)

cgoing · 25 September 2012, 18:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Screaming04

I told them that I was surprised that they couldn't catch me with their triple 350 Verado's(yes, that's 1050hp!!). They said that they were "taking it easy on the motors". .

That's cause the verado's can't take being run hard !!!!

ncp · 25 September 2012, 19:01

480hp for the new OTH:

From: www.uscg.mil

From MarineLink.com: "SAFE Boat Wins 101-boat USCG Contract"

captnjack · 25 September 2012, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncp

480hp for the new OTH:

From: www.uscg.mil

From MarineLink.com: "SAFE Boat Wins 101-boat USCG Contract"

Interesting they went with diesel. I guess they have alot of it on the cutter and didn't want to have 1000gal gasoline tanks for refueling aboard too.

willk · 25 September 2012, 20:37

I'm far away from the action guys, but I thought that the Powers that Be over there wanted all gasoline off their parent boats ASAP - hence the move to multifuel outboards and big diesel inboards?

Bigtalljv · 25 September 2012, 20:54

You mean like this?

The family and i were driving from Cap Cod, MA to Long Island, NY a couple years ago and took the ferry from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson. Turns out the Clinton's were on board the ferry after their daughter's wedding. There were two CG escorts who would intercept boats passing in front of us and always managed to say something that made the U-turn and go a different direction in a hurry

Perhaps it was the mounted and uncovered M249(?).

We also had a couple steely eyed secret service and a couple coasties with little black backpacks that look like they were going to crush them.

Jason

jyasaki · 26 September 2012, 16:21

A friend and I (and about 5 or 6 others) were off to do a night dive at a site about a mile and a half from the boat ramp in Monterey. Unfortunately, my buddy mistook a scum line for the fuel level in his tank, and he only made it halfway out. Took him and his pax's in tow, and we decided to dive the Barge, which is just outside the harbor. Positioned him on the site and had him drop his hook, then offset a bit and dropped mine. All of a sudden we were lit up. A CG 25 boat slowly circled us twice, keeping the spotlight on us. When it was off my boat and on Jeff's, I could just make out the guy standing at the M-249; hands on, but not aiming at anything. I didn't think to make a radio call, and they never tried to contact us; they just circled a couple of times, and continued into the harbor. Interesting start to the dive.

jky