Lower Township near Cape May in Cape May County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Monomoy Lifesaving Boat

circa late 1800s - 1930s

— Cape May Maritime Museum —

Monomoy Lifesaving Boat Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 17, 2022

1. Monomoy Lifesaving Boat Marker

Inscription.

Monomoy Lifesaving Boat. circa late 1800s - 1930s. , This boat represents an integral part of U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard history. It is a 26-foot lifesaving boat, "Monomoy" Class, circa 1800s-1930s. This class of rescue boat originated in New England and was regularly used in Cape May area Life Saving Stations, including East Cape May, Kiwanis meeting house in Cape May, Stone Harbor Life Saving Station, and in Lewes, Delaware., the boat is 26 feet long with a 7-foot beam and draw of about 2 feet with the crew on board. Most weigh over 2,000 lbs. The rowing configuration is double-banked; the eight rowers sit in four pairs side-by-side on fixed thwarts (benches). Each rower handles a single 12-foot wooden oar. The oars range in weight from 11 to 15 lbs. A coxswain stands in the stern and steers with a 16-foot oar., The design developed from boats used to hunt whales and and is named after Monomoy Island, off Chatham, Mass.,

"The Monomoy design is an evolution of the classic utilitarian whaleboat: a double-ended, lightweight, cheaply constructed boat to be rowed or sailed under all conditions in pursuit of whales and for use in general ship's work. In 1934 the U.S. Coast Guard standardized the design for contract purposes, and thousands were built for use as lifeboats and gigs aboard not only naval and military ships but also commercial freighters and ocean liners.....The boat is quite simple and Spartan." , Source: Wooden Boat Magazine, A Tale of Two Sisters: Carvel vs. Cold Molding, January/February 1982 By W. Tay Vaughan, III, "Made to both transit the most unimaginable waters that nature could and to return through the same surf loaded with the storm's victims, these boats required a degree of skill unparalleled among mariners. Keen knowledge of the vagaries of breaking surf, instant, explosive power to take advantage of the interval between combers and relentless grit to continue rowing while beyond exhaustion were prerequisites to a crew even entering a surfboat." -- Source: Hull Lifesaving Museum

, For more information, visit the Cape May Maritime Museum at www.cmmaritime.org., Photo credits: From the collection of Richard Boonisar, with thanks to the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association.

This boat represents an integral part of U.S. Lifesaving Service and U.S. Coast Guard history. It is a 26-foot lifesaving boat, "Monomoy" Class, circa 1800s-1930s. This class of rescue boat originated in New England and was regularly used in Cape May area Life Saving Stations, including East Cape May, Kiwanis meeting house in Cape May, Stone Harbor Life Saving Station, and in Lewes, Delaware.

the boat is 26 feet long with a 7-foot beam and draw of about 2 feet with the crew on board. Most weigh over 2,000 lbs. The rowing configuration is double-banked; the eight rowers sit in four pairs side-by-side on fixed thwarts (benches). Each rower handles a single 12-foot wooden oar. The oars range in weight from 11 to 15 lbs. A coxswain stands in the stern and steers with a 16-foot oar.

The design developed from boats used to hunt whales and and is named after Monomoy Island, off Chatham, Mass.

"The Monomoy design is an evolution of the classic utilitarian whaleboat: a double-ended, lightweight, cheaply constructed boat to be rowed or sailed under all conditions in pursuit of whales and for use in general ship's work. In 1934 the U.S. Coast Guard standardized the design for contract purposes, and thousands were built for use as lifeboats and gigs aboard not only naval and military ships but
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also commercial freighters and ocean liners.....The boat is quite simple and Spartan." — Source: Wooden Boat Magazine, A Tale of Two Sisters: Carvel vs. Cold Molding, January/February 1982 By W. Tay Vaughan, III

"Made to both transit the most unimaginable waters that nature could and to return through the same surf loaded with the storm's victims, these boats required a degree of skill unparalleled among mariners. Keen knowledge of the vagaries of breaking surf, instant, explosive power to take advantage of the interval between combers and relentless grit to continue rowing while beyond exhaustion were prerequisites to a crew even entering a surfboat." -- Source: Hull Lifesaving Museum

For more information, visit the Cape May Maritime Museum at www.cmmaritime.org.

Photo credits: From the collection of Richard Boonisar, with thanks to the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association.

Erected by The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 38° 55.982′ N, 74° 57.613′ W. Marker is near Cape May, New Jersey, in Cape May County. It is in Lower Township. Marker is at the intersection

Monomoy Lifesaving Boat Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 17, 2022

2. Monomoy Lifesaving Boat Display

of Light House Avenue (County Road 629) and Lehigh Avenue, on the left when traveling south on Light House Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 215 Light House Ave, Cape May NJ 08204, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lighthouse Keepers' Homes & Gardens (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the Cape May Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Maritime Sentinels (a few steps from this marker); The Cape May Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Oil House (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Oil House (a few steps from this marker); Fragile Flyers (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Swarms of Dragonflies (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape May.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.