47-Foot Motor Life Boat (MLB) 47231 from Station Morrow Bay, 4 Dec 2007. Photo by Mike Baird
The following is a direct quote of a post on the Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9) web site.
Third Round of Industry Input Sought On 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat Service Life Extension Program
July 13, 2018
A request for information (RFI) was released by the Coast Guard on July 12 for the 47-foot motor lifeboat (MLB) service life extension program (SLEP) as part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) program. The Coast Guard is providing industry with the latest draft of the statement of work and specification along with access to the majority of the MLB technical data – drawings and technical publications – while seeking industry comments before making a formal solicitation for the contract, which has an estimated value of over $100 million.
This is the third RFI for the MLB; the first was released in September 2016 and the second in November 2017.
The MLB is the Coast Guard’s primary search and rescue platform in surf and heavy weather conditions. The fleet of more than 100 MLBs is approaching the end of its planned 25-year service life, and operational availability has been limited by parts availability and obsolescence issues. The SLEP will extend the useful life of the MLB by 20 years. The original operational capabilities and characteristics of the MLB will effectively remain the same, while efforts to enhance human system integration will be made where practical.
“This RFI answers questions posed through prior industry engagement,” said Cmdr. David Obermeier, deputy program manager for boats acquisitions. “It also gives industry the opportunity to provide additional feedback on the latest draft statement of work and specification.”
The RFI can be found here. The deadline to submit responses is July 27, 2018, at 2 p.m. EST.
For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment program page
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
Did they ever make a Commercial version of the 47-foot MLB? Probably make a Good Day Cruiser or Powered Fishing Smack…
Don’t think so. Other CG like organizations use the design, but they are pretty expensive. The design compromises required for the Self-righting feature mitigates against “roominess” for living accommodations or cargo.
“The fleet of more than 100 MLBs is approaching the end of its planned 25-year service life.”
It would seem to me that these boats need to be Replaced not renovated?
New building a modified repeat could have been an easy acquisition?
Did the earlier experience with WPBs and the Navy’s PC show the boat owners something?
Are *any* acquisition programs “easy?” (I understand what you are saying – they SHOULD be, but we are talking about the government here…)
As far as what “should” be done, I would assume someone in the MLB community has surveyed the boats and found the state of the hulls and structure are still good, and just equipment needs upgraded/replaced. (This would seem implied by the comment in the story that parts availability is making some boats unavailable.)
Yes certain types of acquisitions are easier. Specifically if there are not substantive changes to the baseline rqmts.
I would have hoped that the USCG did an RFI to find out what the boat builders would price an new version at?
secundius, I suggest if you want a cg boat for pleasure or fishing, look at the 49 foot buoy boats. already much more comfy then the old 45s with plenty of deck space. not that I think there are any available commercially. but if I had to choose…. having been on and worked on 47s, it would be way down on my list of boats to convert,
Does anyone whether the USCG “Still” offers Deck Plans to the “RC/Modelers Association” of USCG Vessels…