New harbormaster's boat ready for spring
By Sam Bari

Harbor Management Commission Chairman, Mike de Angeli and Chief of Police, Thomas Tighe inspect the new Ribcraft harbormaster's boat and trailer. Photo by Sam Bari

The long anticipated harbormaster's boat was delivered to the police station last Wednesday by Police Lt. William Donovan and Harbor Management Commission Chairman Mike de Angeli. The 21-foot 3-inch long by 8-feet 6- inch beamed patrol boat was made by Ribcraft of Gloucester, Mass.

The boat cost $97,920 and includes a two-axle trailer and the engine as well as the boat and electronics. The boat was ordered with an aluminum hull, tow posts on bow and stern, and T-top with all available reinforcements to the tubes for durability. "The idea was that this boat should be able to serve our needs for a long time," said Chairman de Angeli. He also mentioned that "We appreciate the assistance of Police Chief Thomas Tighe and especially that of Lt. Bill Donovan in getting this procurement accomplished."

The boat's specs include a Honda 150 horsepower engine, an ICOM 422 VHF radio, Garmin 298 GPS chart plotter and bottomimaging sonar depth finder, police VHF and Whelen hailer/light bar. An 800 MHZ police radio is to be added shortly. The top speed of the craft is approximately 45 knots per hour.

The Harbor Commission funded the boat from money collected in previous years and retained for the day that a new vessel would be needed.

The boat was ordered in July of 2006 by Chief Tighe after Ribcraft won a bid, against Zodiac and other manufacturers, to provide a boat to the Jamestown department.