Marine Rescue Batemans Bay's largest vessel is the state's first Steber 38 to be refitted with updated electronic, mechanical and propulsion systems and a "schmick" new look.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Unit commander Richard Blundell said Batemans Bay's expanding marina needed a boat "of this capability".
On Monday, October 14, the Steber 38 BM30 was taken out of the water for a hull clean before it was lifted by crane onto a truck, then transported to a refitting company at Nowra.
"They'll replace a lot of the electronics equipment on board the boat," Mr Blundell said.
"They'll do some changes to the mechanical and propulsion system on the boat and then they'll completely strip the outside of it - new decals, new paint job and give it a great polish and clean."
He said the 10-year-old boat was starting to show signs of wear and tear.
"Planned maintenance has to be done to increase the longevity of the boat," he said.
He said most rescues for the vessel were at open sea, sometimes at Batemans Bay's Tollgate Islands' shelf where a stranded vessel had a mechanical or electrical problem or had run out of fuel.
"Anything bigger than about three metres, we take this boat out because it has a great capability," Mr Blundell said.
With the BM30 gone for a few months, the regional operations manager would call on similar-sized vessels from Narooma, Bermagui or Ulladulla Marine Rescue units if needed.
Mr Blundell said his crew was always looking for more volunteers, particularly to be trained in radio.
"It's a great working environment, we're a great bunch of people who have similar aspirations of helping people out on the water," he said.
READ MORE