Metal Craft Marine seven meter RHIB with inboard-outboard diesel drive by Volvo Penta, Volvo-Penta Photo
MarineLink reports that Volvo Penta has been contracted to provide power and control systems for seven meter, 26 foot, “Cutter Boat, Large” being built by Metal Craft Marine of Cape Vincent, New York. The engines are “Volvo Penta three-liter 220 hp diesel Aquamatic sterndrive systems with HD controls.”
The RIBs are designed for a top speed of 35+ knots carrying up to 13 passengers with an operating range of 200 nautical miles in up to four-meter wave heights.
A Sept. 6, 2018 Press release announced the award of the contract to Metal Craft Marine.
The Coast Guard awarded a firm-fixed price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract Aug. 30, to MetalCraft Marine U.S. Incorporated of Cape Vincent, New York, for a fleet of cutter boats-large (CB-L).
The contract has a maximum value of $20 million and allows for the acquisition of more boats over an ordering period of five years. The initial delivery order for two CB-Ls, trailers, delivery, training and associated logistics documentation was placed for approximately $590,000.
The CB-L will replace the current fleet of 24-foot cutter boats in service onboard 210-foot medium endurance cutters, 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders, and Coast Guard Cutters Alex Haley and Mackinaw. The boats will support operations on the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, as well as in Hawaii, Guam and Alaska.
“We are very excited about getting this asset out to the fleet,” said Cmdr. David Obermeier, deputy program manager for boats acquisition. “A single boat class for multiple cutter classes will provide enhanced operational flexibility.”
Photos added 18 Feb.2022:
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
So, these will be the CBL for the OPC?
These are reportedly for “210-foot medium endurance cutters, 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders, and Coast Guard Cutters Alex Haley and Mackinaw.” The Over the Horizon IV is a little larger. 8 meter.
Actually the Cutter Boat, Large and the Over the Hozon Boat IV look pretty close but apparently they are different enough that we are buying both. According to this,
https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Acquisitions-CG-9/Newsroom/Latest-Acquisition-News/Article/1659617/coast-guard-orders-seven-over-the-horizon-cutter-boats/
We just let a contract with Safe Boats International for seven more OTH-IVs at an average cost of approx. $391K. This brings the total order to 103. It is used on the National Security Cutter, some WMECs (presumably 270s based on the info about the CB-L), and the Webber class FRC so I have presumed it would also go on the Offshore Patrol Cutter.
The contract with Metal Craft is apparently the first order for this type and includes “two CB-Ls, trailers, delivery, training and associated logistics documentation was placed for approximately $590,000.” So the CB-L is cheaper.
I presume the OTH-IV which has a “ballistic protection capability” may be better equipped for Navigation and Communications.
Comments from those more familiarity with the boats would be welcomed.
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Those Volvo’s are the only engine remotely capable of making the required displacement targets work on this hull. Nothing else has the horsepower for the weight. I did some preliminary study with a company that decided the risk of not hitting the weight targets was too much. Especially since Aluminum Chambered Boats ended up using hole saws to hit their targets on the last iteration…
Recent report with some good photos. https://www.marinelog.com/shipbuilding/metalcraft-marine-delivers-7th-cutter-boat-to-u-s-coast-guard/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=30983
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