SAFE Boats International delivered its Response Boat-Small demonstration to the U.S. Coast guard. Photo credit: SAFE Boats International
The Navy League magazine, Seapower, reports,
SAFE Boats International, a U.S. manufacturer of high-performance aluminum vessels, announced the successful delivery of its Response Boat–Small (RB-S) demonstrator unit to the U.S. Coast Guard in Charleston, South Carolina.
Dimensions/Speed:
- Length: 32′ 4.5″ overall
- Beam: 8′ 6″
- Cruising speed: 28 knots
- Maximum speed: 49 knots
The article goes on to describe the features of the boat. Very impressive.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
That’s a nice looking boat with some good specs.
I’m curious to see just how much has evolved & changed since the initial 25′ SAFE Boats RBS and the follow on 29′ Metal Shark RB-S II.
I have long since been out since ’92 but from the limited in person contact I had with a few other BM’s that I know and what I read online (for what that is worth) the initial feedback on the RB-S II was not the best. It’s been 14 years since they were first introduced and I’m sure that some of those concerns have been addressed.
I’m glad that today’s crews have much better equipment that I ever did.
Besides the 41 & 44, all we had was a 25′ center console Boston Whaler with an open cockpit. Some shade or cover from the weather sure would have been nice and shock mitigating seats were nowhere to be found on any platform.
Even better, USCG got funded today so we finally have money to buy things again!