Historical Fire Boats – Zodiac Hurricane

In the fall of 1998, three years of program work culminated in Zodiac of North American's delivery of their first Hurricane Fireboat (Boat 6451) to the City of Monterey. Monterey's varied coastline, waterfront development, diverse recreational base, and cold water temperatures, make an ideal laboratory setting to demonstrate the versatility of the new technology while expanding the City of Monterey's customer service.

The Monterey City Council's resolution to restore marine fire fighting and necessary budgetary support have been combined with close working relationships between the Monterey Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Monterey's Harbormaster's Office and Police Department.

These relationships have allowed Boat 6451 to be berthed in a state of readiness adjacent to the Coast Guard's own Motor Lifeboat 47224. It is anticipated that Boat 6451 will be able to fully complement the fine services offered by the Coast Guard by providing Marine Fire fighting and life-safety protection for the Monterey Harbor.

Boat 6451 is a 14' rigid-hulled inflatable with 175 horsepower Mercury Sport Jet engine and carries the following equipment.

• Standard Omni mobile VHF marine radio/public address system
• Rescue-sling, inflatable tossing life sling
• Floating rescue medivac litter
• 10 gallons of class B foam
• Foam eductor and nozzle
• 1.2 million candlepower spot light
• Two telescoping paddles
• Emergency signaling kit
• Sterns Search and Rescue PFD's
• Sterns anti-exposure work suit/pfd's
• Cascade helmets
• Depth Sounder
• Compass
• Insulated gloves, goggles
• Fortress anchor and ground tackle
• Strobe light
• First Responder Medical Aid Equipment

Boat 6451 is driven onto a floating "jet dock", which supports Boat 6451 approximately 8" above the waterline.  Two crewmembers can launch or retrieve the boat in less than two minutes. Seating capacity is for four persons with the ultimate load of 2000 lbs. There is a lager rescue/swim platform at the stern waterline. There are full-length handholds on each tube set for victims in the water. There is no propeller in the water. 

Boat 641 can flow approximately 400 gallons of seawater per minute remotely through a joystick-aimed,
1 3/8 inch straight tip on an Akron Stream Master monitor, while maneuvering in all directions or remaining stationary. Fuel capacity is 25 gallons of gasoline.