US Coast Guard to Unveil Historic Lifeboat
A ceremony unveiling a historic lifeboat as a new static display in Chatham, Mass. is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at U.S. Coast Guard Station Chatham.
The new static display commemorates the first production 44-foot Motor Lifeboat purchased by the Coast Guard and commissioned in Chatham in 1963.
Previously, this small boat was used by crews at Station Chatham from 1963-1971, and then again from 2002-2009. With advancements in small-boat technology, the vessel was replaced by the current platform, a 42-foot Near-Shore Lifeboat, specifically designed for the Chatham Bar.
The decision to make Chatham the boat’s final resting place was not arbitrary according to Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate Corbin Ross, officer in charge, Station Chatham.
“The 44301 is a critical piece of the station's history and has strong ties to our local community,” Ross said.
The Coast Guard built a total of 110 44-foot Motor Lifeboats from 1962 to 1972. This particular small boat was the first hull built and the last to be taken out of service in 2009.