Fire/Rescue Boston Whaler

..The 27 foot, 1,000 gpm., Boston Whaler Fire/Rescue Boat served the Baltimore City Fire Department Marine Division for 12 years from 1991 to 2003. This fast response, shallow draft vessel was the Second Fire/Rescue Boat to go in service with the Marine Division, and replaced the Captiva Jet Boat, which went into reserve. The Boston Whaler spent its entire career at the Fort McHenry Fireboat Station, as our first line Fire/Rescue Boat.


..On May 1, 1991, the Boston Whaler Fire/Rescue Boat went in service, and the Captiva Jet Boat was placed in ready reserve. This new vessel was a welcomed improvement in speed, seaworthiness, and crew comfort.
..With some improvements in machinery and equipment over the years, the boat would serve as our first line Fire/Rescue until December 30, 2003, when its replacement, a 30 foot SeaArk was commissioned.


The characteristics of the Boston Whaler are as follows:

Builder – Boston Whaler, Inc., Rockland MA.

Commissioned – by the Fire Department as Fire/Rescue 1 – May 1, 1991

Cost - $153,407.00 ( with trailer )

Registration Number – MD 5304 AW

Construction - fiberglass hull, aluminum deck and cab

Length overall - 27 feet

Beam - 10 feet

Full load draft - 1 foot 6 inches

Weight - 12,000 lbs.

Fuel capacity - two tank with total capacity of 140 gallons of gasoline

Maximum speed - 44 m.p.h.

Propulsion - Two (2), 200 HP., 6-cylinder, 2-stroke, Yamaha outboards
......................1994 - changed to two (2), 225 HP., 6-cylinder, 2-stroke, Johnson outboards

Fire pumps - one (1) Darley, single stage centrifugal, rated 1,000 gpm. at 150 psi.,
......................direct connected to a 200 HP., GM Marine, 3.1 Liter, V-6 gasoline engine.

Discharge outlets - four, (3) 2½”, and (1) 4½” (for bow monitor), on standpipe above pump.

Monitor pipes - one(1), Akron, on forward deck

Foam - 15 gallons, - three (3), five gallon buckets of 3% AFFF

Hose - 250' of 1 ¾” + two 8' sections of 1 ¾” to direct from boat



..On December 30, 2003, the Boston Whaler was removed from service, placed on its trailer, and stored in the back yard of the Fireboat Station pending disposal. On June 9, 2004, the Boston Whaler was delivered to the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, of Anne Arundel County, MD, in trade for a used heavy rescue truck. Today, the vessel continues to serve as a Fire/Rescue Boat under its new owners.


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