Baltimore Class

Length Overall: 47’-7”
Beam: 14’-9”
Draft: 3’-10”
Displacement: 42,000 lbs.
Power: (2) Volvo Penta D13 MH, 600 BHP @ 1900 RPM
Gears: ZF 400 A, 1.76:1
Propellers: Brunton 30” x 38” x 5 blade
Speed: 28 kts Service Speed / 30 kts Top Speed
Fuel Capacity: 400 USG
Construction: Aluminum
Builder: Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Somerset, Massachusetts

The Maryland Pilots asked for a smaller version of their 53-foot Chesapeake Class boats to work Baltimore harbor and upper Chesapeake Bay. The job for the new Baltimore Class boats is to shuttle pilots around the waterfront, landing mostly at piers and ships at anchor. While the new boats would not be venturing far offshore, the pilots demanded the same performance and handling as on their larger 53s. Shallow draft was needed for some berths and a boathouse. Wake mitigation was also a factor for inner harbor operation driving a balanced bottom loading between ride comfort and wake size. And they wanted to have the same ergonomics and features of their Chesapeake Class boats for safety and crew familiarity. The hull design is still a full deadrise deep-v for its ride and handling qualities. Propeller tunnels were employed to reduce draft. Safety features include an innovative hydraulicly powered J-basket rescue system installed on the transom, an aft steering station, heated decks and handrails, and a Harken trolly and harness safety track welded to the handrails.