The U.S. Coast Guard is set to unveil a historic lifeboat as a new static display during a ceremony scheduled for May 6 at 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,” said Ross.
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.