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-
 We
sent our intrepid administrative secretary Jennifer Miller on assignment
to capture the essence of a USCG motor lifeboat. She returned with
a fascinating story. -
-
It’s usually hard for me to wake
up at 5:30 in the morning. But not on this day—I was
heading out to observe 44-foot motor lifeboats (MLB)
training on the Columbia River Bar. I was going out
there: on the bar, going through the surf, getting a
taste of what it would be like to work on an MLB. My
vantage point would be from CG-47213, a
47-footer.
-
- I had done my homework. While I was
researching the 44-footer, I learned about the
capabilities of motor lifeboats and how they could pound
through 20-foot surf. I read the stories of #44300 facing
35-foot waves during rough-water training in 1962. I saw
the pictures of boats being tossed, turned, rolled, and
pitched in the surf. I talked to the men who piloted the
boats, and heard their stories of big surf. But that was
not enough to prepare me for the day’s
adventure.
-
 First,
I had to suit up. With water temperature around 50
degrees, and a strong east wind, hypothermia is a
definite hazard. I was given a mustang suit, polar fleece
undergarment, boots, and helmet. The mustang suit is
neoprene, the same fabric used in wet suits, with a
bright orange nylon shell. The suit provides both
flotation and thermal protection. The polar fleece
undergarment is worn under the mustang suit, but over
regular clothing. It is a water-resistant material
designed to hold in body heat even when wet. The red
helmet and large black boots round out my attire. What
the outfit lacks in aesthetics, it makes up. for in
function.-
- Once suited up, I was introduced to
the crew and boarded motor lifeboat 47213. This boat is
truly an impressive piece of technology. She can be
piloted either from inside the wheelhouse or from one of
two stations on the outside deck. The coxswains prefer
the visibility of the outside deck during rough
conditions or during a rescue, but the wheelhouse
provides shelter during long transits. I was assigned the
position between the two steering stations on the outside
deck. What a great view! From 14 feet above the water, I
could see and hear everything.
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- Before we left the dock I was given a
pyrovest: a net vest with pockets containing items (such
as flares and a knife) which I would need if I ended up
in the water. I was also given a belt with two heavy
nylon straps about three feet long with clips on each
end. While in the surf, the crew is required to clip the
straps to rings located about every two feet along the
rails of the boat. If the crew needs to move around, they
clip one strap and unclip the other, then move and clip
again so that they always have at least one strap
attached. The straps not only keep the crew from being
thrown overboard, but also keep them from being thrown
into the equipment. The crew told the
story of one coxswain who was thrown so
violently that he was knocked out cold.
-
 We
were ready to go. One of the coxswains loaned me his
gloves, and for that I was very grateful. I strapped
myself in and evaluated my surroundings. I quickly
realized that I had better not get seasick; it would be
almost impossible for me to get to the side of the boat.
I was instructed to keep my knees bent, eyes open, and to
hold on!-
- The Columbia River bar runs east and
west between the North Jetty and Clatsop Spit.
Today’s mission was to practice "laterals," running
south parallel to the breaking waves, and then turn
around and go north again. The boat should snake through
the waves, not going too far east or west. There were two
trainers, two trainees, one engineer, and myself aboard.
Two 44-foot MLBs also engaged in training accompanied us.
After a quick equipment check, we were off to the bar. I
observed the 44-foot MLBs for a few minutes. They entered
the bar parallel to the surf and when a large wave came,
they squared up, turning directly into the wave. For a
split second the boats would disappear into white water
before plowing through to the other side of the wave.
Although the trainer stated that the surf was small, 10
to 12 feet, I was in awe of both the power of the boats
and the power of the water.
-
- Then it was our turn. The trainer ran
the boat back and forth across the bar, explaining his
methods. After each run the boat returned to the buoy, in
deeper, safer water, to evaluate the run. It was the
students’ turn to try and maneuver through the surf.
The 47213 MLB provided a better roller coaster ride than
anything I have experienced. I intently watched the waves
trying to anticipate which way the boat would roll or
pitch. Most of the time, the boat would ride over the
wave and set down gently on the other side. When it got a
little rougher, my legs and arms would stiffen or flex to
try and compensate for the boat’s movement. When I
heard "Hold on," the fun began. At first I did not take
the suggestion seriously, but I only made that mistake
once. The boat was tossed by a wave with such force that
twice my feet left the deck. I watched as the boat lifted
over the top of the wave and held on for dear life as the
boat slid down the backside. The trainer reminded me to
stay loose and keep my knees bent. I can only imagine how
stiff I looked with my teeth clenched and a death grip on
the handle. As the waves broke and the wind gusted, the
crew got sprayed with water. Every once in a while, I got
a taste of salt water or felt the dribble of 50-degree
water down my back.
-
 The
second drill was to run the boat out toward sea, then
turn around and come back. The trick is turning around
without getting broadsided by a wave, and returning
without having a wave break over the stern. The 47213 MLB
is fast enough, with a maximum speed of 25 knots (29
miles/hour). to run at the same speed as the waves. Once
the coxswain finds a break in the waves, he can ride that
break all the way in. The 44-foot MLB's maximum speed is
only 14 knots (16 miles/hour). It is
common for the waves to be moving faster
than the 44-foot MLB, forcing the her to turn around and
square up to the surf until they find another
break.-
- We were out on the water for more
than two hours. My hair was wet, my arms and legs were
sore, and I had developed an entirely new respect for the
ocean. It was truly a powerful experience. The raw power
of the surf, the power to take a 47-foot, 40,000 pound
boat and toss it around like a toy, and the skills and
temperament of the crew were all equally impressive. The
coxswain not only had to maneuver the boat through
constantly changing wind and surf
conditions, it also had to respond to information that
was being given by other crew members, such as location.
The crew was always calm and collected.
-
- Returning to the dock, someone asked
how big the waves were. The coxswain held out his hand,
and using his thumb and index finger, measured out about
an inch. To him, the surf was insignificant. To me, it
was huge, big enough to engulf a small boat. Then again,
for him it was just another day at the office. For me, it
was an adventure I will not soon forget!
-
-
My thanks go to the
Columbia River
Maritime Museum, for allowing me to use this
material.
The National Motor Lifeboat School Web
Site
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