Stars and Stripes is reporting that Minnesota Sea Cadets are attempting to raise money to purchase the former USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167) which also saw service as the USS Shackle(ARS-9), a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship.
She would probably be a good choice. Not only only does the ship have a long and notable history, this class was robustly built.
A brief history and many photos are on Navsource.org at below link
http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/37/3709.htm