Fire/Rescue Jetboat

..The 24 foot, 1,250 gpm., Captiva Fire/Rescue Jet Boat served the Baltimore City Fire Department Marine Division for 15 years from 1988 to 2003. This fast response, shallow draft vessel was the first Fire/Rescue Boat to go in service with the Marine Division when that service was first established. The Jet Boat spent its entire career at the Fort McHenry Fireboat Station, being in first line service for three years, and the reserve boat for another twelve.


..On March 24, 1988, the Baltimore City Fire Department placed an order with the Ft. Myers Yacht Co. to construct a shallow draft, fast response Fire/Rescue Boat to provide better waterborne fire and medical service to the growing number of marinas and recreational boaters in Baltimore Harbor.
..Operational guidelines were developed, and candidates selected for training in the new position of “Emergency Boat Operator”. The jet boat arrived on December 12, 1988, and training continued. After a number of mechanical, and operational problems were worked out, Fire/Rescue Boat 1 went in service on May 10, 1989.


The characteristics of the Jet Boat are as follows:

Builder – Fort Myers Yacht and Shipbuilding Inc., Fort Myers, FL

Commissioned – by the Fire Department as Fire/Rescue 1 – May 10, 1989

Cost - $135,924.00( with trailer )

Registration Number – MD 4288 AT

Construction - fiberglass

Length overall - 24 feet

Beam - 9 feet 6 inches

Full load draft - 1 foot 6 inches

Weight - 6,800 lbs.

Fuel capacity - one tank with total capacity of 75 gallons of diesel

Maximum speed - 34 m.p.h.

Propulsion - One (1), 285 HP., Ford/Merlin, 6-cylinder, inline diesel, driving a Hamilton Model 291 jet drive

Fire pumps - one (1) American Godiva, single stage centrifugal, rated 1,250 gpm. at 150 psi., driven off front of main engine

Discharge outlets - four (4) 2½”,on forward cuddy cabin bulkhead

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

Foam - 75 gallons of 3% cold protein in fixed system tank

Hose - 200' of 1 ¾” + one 8' sections of 1 ¾” to direct from boat



..On August 12, 2003, the Jet Boat was delivered to the Dickman Street Garage to be disposed of at auction. The vessel had been unserviceable for the last year, and was condemned due to major problems with the hull, engine, and jet drive. The Jet Boat was purchased at auction by a private citizen in St. Michaels, MD.

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