New Safe/Sea Block Island Now In Service

by Captain Pete Andrews
Safe/Sea Senior Staff Captain

Newly arrived in Rhode Island from Tacoma, Washington, the M/V Safe/Sea Block Island is the first of two new vessels ordered by Safe/Sea for the upcoming 2004 boating season. The new thirty three foot long by twelve foot wide rigid hull inflatable will be stationed in Block Island's New Harbor this season, and is now providing service from Narragansett Bay.

Many of you may by now be familiar with the ALMAR design, as they have been custom building our vessels since 1995. This vessel will be the sistership to the M/V Safe/Sea Salvor, which has been displayed at the Providence Boat Show the past two years.

The electronics suite, the majority of which was supplied by Pawtuxet Marine Electronics, includes a 48 mile range Furuno radar, a Northstar 957 color DGPS chartplotter, twin VHF radios, a Motorola private band two way radio, a Horizon Loudhailer, an Azimuth digital compass, dual ACR remote controlled spotlights, a custom designed 360 degree digital video recording system, and XM satellite radio. Also included are Algae-X fuel filters, and an Oil X-Changer oil recovery system.

The vessel is powered by two Yanmar LYA-UTE 315hp after cooled, turbo charged diesel engines, coupled to Hamilton model 274 jet drives. This package not only allows the vessel to reach a distressed boater at almost forty knots, but the Hamilton jets also provide unparalelled maneuverability when docking, including the ability to move the vessel directly sideways, as well as turn the vessel within its own length.

The second vessel, to be named the M/V Safe/Sea Titan and still under construction, will be a sistership to last year's new Safe/Sea boat, the M/V Safe/Sea Point Judith. Due for delivery in early June, this twenty-eight foot long by ten foot wide vessel is just a smaller version of our thirty-three foot twin jet boats.

Powered by a single 370hp Yanmar diesel, and coupled to a single Hamilton model 274 jet drive, the smaller size of this vessel is ideal for towing and docking smaller boats in the less roomy marinas of Narragansett Bay.

The electronics suite is almost exactly the same as the M/V Safe/Sea Block Island, and is only lacking the luxury of the XM satellite radio. Look for more details and pictures of this vessel in the June issue of Safe/Sea Helpline.

All of us at Safe/Sea are proud to offer the services of these state of the art rescue boats to our members.