Constructed of a welded aluminum hull and molded fiberglass superstructure this vessel was powered by twin Cummins diesel engines with conventional shafts and propellers. Over the course of 41 years this was the general workhorse for the Coast Guard. A three person crew performed law enforcement, search and rescue and firefighting duties.
In all, 207 UTBs were built at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland, from 1973 to 1978. They have been credited with saving thousands of lives and millions of dollars in property. Cost new (1979): $235,000.
The last operational United States Coast Guard UTB is on permanent display in front of the Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay, WI. The exterior is accessible to visitors and the interior for special events.
CG-41410 went into service on July 1, 1977 at Station Milwaukee and served at a number of Lake Michigan stations in the succeeding 37 years. That included twice being stationed at the Sturgeon Bay Canal Station from April 26, 2002 until August 15, 2003 and again from June 12, 2007 until August 6, 2007. It was last stationed in Muskegon, Michigan.
In keeping with standard USCG practice - boats of this size are numbered and not named. The hull number begins with the length followed by a sequential number. If you look closely the hull numbers on this vessel are colored gold. This signifies that it is the very last boat of it's class in service.
Beginning in 2008 the aging UTB fleet was gradually retired and replaced with the 45 foot USCG Response Boat – Medium (RB-M). Half of the fleet is built here in northeast Wisconsin by Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Cost new: $2.4 million.
Plenty of rich maritime history around these parts.
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