Mobile in Mobile County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

26 - Foot Motor Surfboat

USCG-MK 5

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

1. 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat Marker

Inscription.

26 - Foot Motor Surfboat. USCG-MK 5. The small boat you are looking at is a United States Coast Guard 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat, Mark V. Manufactured from 1960 through the 1990's, the USCG used this basic rescue boat at shore-stations where the boat was driven into the surf for near shore rescues and aboard large Coast Guard cutters where they were used for search and rescue, law enforcement, patrol, and logistic missions. Efficient, highly maneuverable, and motor powered, the 26' MSB's replaced the Coast Guard's wooden-hulled 23' and 26' "Monomoy" Type Pulling/ Sailing Surfboats beginning in the late 1960's. Adaptable to all weather conditions, the 26' MSB's were self-righting and self-bailing in both coastal surf waters and light chop ocean. A true multi-task boat, the 26' MSB served the USCG well for over 30 years. , The 26' Motor Surfboat exhibited here was built in 1994 and assigned to the USCGC Decisive (WMEC), a 210' cutter homeported in Pascagoula, MS. The small boat (DEC 1) was lowered from the Decisive to carry| boarding parties to other vessels on the high seas. These boarding parties then searched ships for smuggled goods and other violations of international law. The photo to the left shows the typical set-up for cutter-based MSB's. The boat's compliment consisted of 3 crewmen and was capable of carrying up to 10 rescue survivors or passengers. This truly was the USCG's "Little Engine that Could.", 26-Foot (MSB) Stats and Info , Manufacturer - Ocean Technical Services, Harvey, LA , Operators - United States Coast Guard , Main Missions - Search/Rescue, Law Enforcement and Patrol/Logistics , Built - 1960-1990's , In Service - late 1960's-2000 , Completed (shore-based + cutter-based) - 300 , Displacement - 5,000lbs. , Beam - 13 ft. 6 in. , Draft - 2 ft. , Propulsion - Single Screw Diesel, Cummins 4BT3.9M , Speed - 18 knots , Crew - 3, Did You Know? , Established August 4, 1790 under the Tariff Act signed by President George Washington, the "Coast Guard" served as the country's only armed force afloat until the United States Congress created the Navy Department in 1798. , Captions , Upper Left: United States Coast Guard Logo Patch , (Source: USCO website section titled "Flags, Logos, Pennants of USCG") , Upper Right: USCGC "Decisive" WMEC 629 Logo Patch , (Source: Wessling's USCG Patch Archive website) , Upper Left: A Motor Surf Boat crew comes alongside a United States Coast Guard cutter with an injured woman. , (Photo Source: Official United States Coast Guard photo and used in an article for Britannica Online for Kids titled United States Coast Guard: motor surf boat crew photograph)

The small boat you are looking at is a United States Coast Guard 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat, Mark V. Manufactured from 1960 through the 1990's, the USCG used this basic rescue boat at shore-stations where the boat was driven into the surf for near shore rescues and aboard large Coast Guard cutters where they were used for search and rescue, law enforcement, patrol, and logistic missions. Efficient, highly maneuverable, and motor powered, the 26' MSB's replaced the Coast Guard's wooden-hulled 23' and 26' "Monomoy" Type Pulling/ Sailing Surfboats beginning in the late 1960's. Adaptable to all weather conditions, the 26' MSB's were self-righting and self-bailing in both coastal surf waters and light chop ocean. A true multi-task boat, the 26' MSB served the USCG well for over 30 years.

The 26' Motor Surfboat exhibited here was built in 1994 and assigned to the USCGC Decisive (WMEC), a 210' cutter homeported in Pascagoula, MS. The small boat (DEC 1) was lowered from the Decisive to carry| boarding parties to other vessels on the high seas. These boarding parties then searched ships for smuggled goods and other violations of international law. The photo to the left shows the typical set-up for cutter-based MSB's. The boat's compliment consisted of 3 crewmen and was capable of carrying up to 10 rescue survivors or passengers.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

This truly was the USCG's "Little Engine that Could."

26-Foot (MSB) Stats & Info
Manufacturer - Ocean Technical Services, Harvey, LA
Operators - United States Coast Guard
Main Missions - Search/Rescue, Law Enforcement and Patrol/Logistics
Built - 1960-1990's
In Service - late 1960's-2000
Completed (shore-based + cutter-based) - 300
Displacement - 5,000lbs.
Beam - 13 ft. 6 in.
Draft - 2 ft.
Propulsion - Single Screw Diesel, Cummins 4BT3.9M
Speed - 18 knots
Crew - 3

Did You Know?
Established August 4, 1790 under the Tariff Act signed by President George Washington, the "Coast Guard" served as the country's only armed force afloat until the United States Congress created the Navy Department in 1798.

Captions
Upper Left: United States Coast Guard Logo Patch
(Source: USCO website section titled "Flags, Logos, Pennants of USCG")
Upper Right: USCGC "Decisive" WMEC 629 Logo Patch
(Source: Wessling's USCG Patch Archive website)
Upper Left: A Motor Surf Boat crew comes alongside a United States Coast Guard cutter with an injured woman.
(Photo Source: Official United States Coast Guard photo and used in an article for Britannica Online
Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

2. The front view of the 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat and Marker
for Kids titled United States Coast Guard: motor surf boat crew photograph)

Erected by USS Alabama Memorial Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 30° 40.936′ N, 88° 1.012′ W. Marker is in Mobile, Alabama, in Mobile County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Battleship Parkway and Old Spanish Trail (U.S. 98). The marker is located in the southwestern section of the USS Alabama Memorial Park at the Korean War Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2703 Battleship Parkway, Mobile AL 36602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 41-Foot Utility Boat (a few steps from this marker); The Fallen Guardians Monument (a few steps from this marker); Sikorsky Helicopter "SeaGuard" (a few steps from this marker); B-52D "Stratofortress" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); H.L. Hunley (about 400 feet away); Memorial to USS Herring (SS-233) (about 400 feet away); "Take Her Down!" (about 400 feet away); The Submarine Lookout Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mobile.

More about this marker. The marker is located on the outside section of the USS Alabama Memorial

The side view of the 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

3. The side view of the 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat and Marker

Park. There is a parking fee and entry fee required to visit the exhibits at the park.

The 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat is the third vehicle from the right image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, January 24, 2022

4. The 26 - Foot Motor Surfboat is the third vehicle from the right

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,401 times since then and 205 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.