gCaptain reports Canada is planning on acquiring some new self-righting motor surf boats (gCaptain has photos). These boats will be a good deal larger than our 47 footers, they are touted as having longer range. The 47 footer does still appear to have an advantage in the number of survivors it can take on board. Canada has bought 47 footers, perhaps if we have need for a larger MLB with longer range, say in Hawaii or Alaska, maybe these are worth a look.

The vessel’s particulars are as follows (as provided by gCaptain’s story, I did the conversion to English units):

• Length overall – 19.0 metres (63.2 ft)
• Length DWL – 17.5 metres (57.4 ft)
• Beam, moulded – 6.3 metres (20.7ft)
• Depth, moulded, at midship – 2.58 metres (8.5 ft)
• Hull draft, nominal – 1.67 metres (5.5 ft)
• Power – 2,400 kW (3,217 HP)
• Speed – 23.5 kts

These are the specs for the 47 foot MLB as found in Wikipedia.