Safeboats becoming available in USA

Bigtalljv · 07 January 2014, 21:21

My brother walked out of his house to a 25' Safeboat parked in front of his house. A neighbor's buddy had purchased it and was trailering it from Northern California to Florida and stopped by for the night. I'm trying to get pictures.

Jason

jyasaki · 08 January 2014, 17:11

They've been available, on a build-to-order basis. Expensive as hell, though...

I've occasionally seen CG surplus SafeBoats, but even with the depreciation I can't afford them.

jky

cgoing · 08 January 2014, 17:22

There have been a bunch of them sold on surplus lately and some of them went very cheap. Personally I am not a fan of them.

ncp · 08 January 2014, 17:38

Cheap? Well, getting cheaper....In the last 3 month, every auction sale price has gotten lower (started out ~$75K, last two were around $37K). JKY, they'll be a bargain soon enough - There are ~500 that are at the end of their 10 year service life. Some will go to other agencies but a lot will be auctioned.

Metalshark is building the replacements - USCG: Acquisition Newsroom

cgoing · 09 January 2014, 01:38

Two of them sold for under 10,000.00 each recently.

ncp · 09 January 2014, 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by cgoing

Two of them sold for under 10,000.00 each recently.

I must have missed those (though I'm not in the market). Really beat up or someplace like Guam or Alaska?

Bigtalljv · 09 January 2014, 05:52

Would they make a good recreational boat? I guess it depends on your budget. The cabin has AC as an option so I imagine it would get hot in the sun. They weight half again as much as the Willard/zodiacs so maybe not the best trailer boat. Plenty of big ribs have dual 250 but I seem to recall the people here that have used the, didn't have to pay for gas. would it be a commercial option for southern California? Something to compete with a Radon? They don't have a Radons deck space. They are built as a patrol boat and probably excel in that design but i'm not sure if it would be a good day boat for my family and friends to tube behind.

Jason

jyasaki · 09 January 2014, 16:30

The 25' boats in Monterey are moved the 200 or so yards from the storage lot to the dock on a triple-axle trailer. Running twin Honda 200's or 225's (don't recall which.) I'd want the M-240 they mount on the front as well.

The Radons that I'm familiar with are more of a true cabin boat, as opposed to SB's deck-boat-that-happens-to-have-a-cabin. Nice boats, though, even without tubes...

jky

ncp · 09 January 2014, 16:53

Well built, zero deck space, limited range (100 gallon tank), and poor visibility - the replacement from Metal Shark supposedly addresses the visibility issues.

Bigtalljv · 09 January 2014, 17:53

whew, sounds like I'll keep mine. I'd hate to want something else before I ever have it running

The safeboat in the auction looked to have the gun mount in the front still, must be multipurpose. I have the two post recesses in my deck for the gun mount. I still looking for a m-240 looking electric powered water cannon....

ncp · 09 January 2014, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

I have the two post recesses in my deck for the gun mount.

Two stainless sleeves in deck, offset up in front, starboard side?

Bigtalljv · 09 January 2014, 19:10

yep. Pretty sure I saw a picture somewhere with a gun mount stuck in those.

ncp · 10 January 2014, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

yep. Pretty sure I saw a picture somewhere with a gun mount stuck in those.

My light bar/arch fits in the two holes for storage on my Willard (Pic #1/#2). I've always seen the .50 caliber mount attached the the sampson post (Pic #3). Also in pic #3, you can see the edge of the arch in it's storage spot (I had only seen that in pictures of older Zodiac though).

If you ever have a chance to just cruise through pictures, go to Wikimedia Commons and search "rhib".

Bigtalljv · 10 January 2014, 01:12

Nope mine are different. I have to recessed in the deck.

ncp · 10 January 2014, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtalljv

Nope mine are different. I have to recessed in the deck.

Exactly what mine look like. Should be just over console width and the legs from the removable light bar/arch slide in there for stowage.

Could be different....

vtecless · 10 January 2014, 18:23

do you guys have the site where these are being auctioned?

Bigtalljv · 10 January 2014, 19:20

there are a couple. http://www.Gsaauctions.gov being the largest. Also Government Surplus Auctions at Government Liquidation might get some. Those are the two that I checked when looking for my Zodiac.

Canada has the same type of site but not sure what they are up to. They sod of a ton of 733s a few years ago. https://www.gcsurplus.ca/

Jason

mavrick211 · 08 June 2014, 21:06

I used to deliver aluminum where these boats are made. That place is like the workshop of dreams.
I've seen drop down front landing craft with 4 huge outboards and all other maner of craziness.
I asked the guy if he gets a discount if he buys one I think he told me they get 10% off but he said the boats are the cost of a large house so even at 10% it's not practical
I loved going to that place

jyasaki · 09 June 2014, 15:42

I seem to recall that the 25' USCG Safeboats run them near a quarter million bucks a pop. May or may not be accurate, though.

jky

captnjack · 09 June 2014, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

I seem to recall that the 25' USCG Safeboats run them near a quarter million bucks a pop. May or may not be accurate, though.

jky

Yeah that's what I recall too.

For someplace like WA or AK (or BC) I could see the cabin being an asset. In Cali, no way. You'd roast in that aluminum and glass box even with AC. And there's no deck space for the bikini clad crew to lay on either....