I was under the impression that the new Anchor Bay piece would be a "COAST GUARD" Buoy Tender. Boy was I wrong! At least the scuddlebutt in the new Lighthouse Digest say it won't be a CG Tender. The 175' Tender George Cobb is the one they are saying will come out this Spring. Looks like there's another Anchor Bay that I won't be buying since I only am interested in lightships and CG vessels. Oh well, I'll be $65-$75 richer in the pocketbook.

This is a fairly new ship - July 2000 - being how it is painted black with the traditional CG racing stripe one would have to presume it is a CG vessel. Here is a picture of the real ship just after delivery. I guess I'm a little confused as to who owns the ship if the CG doesn't. . . . . . .

Looks like a Coast Guard bouy tender to me.

Called up an old CG "Boatswain Mate" buddy of mine and he indeed informed me that this was the new 175' bouy tender that is replacing the older 175' and 180' tenders. He wasn't 100% sure about the 180' tenders but thought so. I stand as an old retired Coastie with egg on my face. I'm still riding the waves on the 255' and 327' High Endurance Cutters and can't begin to think about the Coast Guard getting funded to buy anything new. Looks like I'll be poorer in the check book after all.

Even the CG catches a break once in a while, Rich. Before long they will have the newest inventory of all the Services. Think about thos poor flyboys (and girls) flying B-52s that were old when their fathers flew them . . . . .

It will be interesting to see how the George Cobb comes out as a sculpture. I wonder how many retired and active Coasties buy these replicas of USCG ships.

Bob

All I have to say is that I wish they would do one of the 180' ones that are being replaced. Maybe the Sundew, now based in Duluth, MN?
Sundew Stats and Photos

This vessels was involved in the search for the Edmund Fitzgerald (if I recall correctly) and involved in the rescue of the survivor of the Carl D. Bradley, which was another of the major modern-day Great Lakes shipwrecks.

Now that is a Tender that I remember. The old ones(just like the early HL pieces)are the best and have a little class to them.