Port Huron Mackinac Participating Boats
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USCG Cutter Mobile Bay WTGB-103 - Race Escort

Photo Courtesy of The United States Coast Guard

The Mobile Bay is a part of a class of small, yet hard working multi-mission cutters.  The class is known as the "Bay Class."  This series of cutters are especially configured for icebreaking on the Great Lakes, in coastal waters, and in rivers. The design includes an advanced hull and engineering plant, along with a hull air lubrication (bubbler) system, for effective icebreaking and winter flood relief operations. The Bay-class cutters embody the Coast Guard ís minimally manned cutter concept for personal economy.

In addition to icebreaking, the Bay-class cutters are used for search and rescue, enforcement of laws and treaties, deployment of marine environmental protection equipment, port safety operations, and support for aids-to-navigation and escort duties such as the time the ship is spending keeping watch over the Port Huron to Mackinac race.

The Mobile Bay is based out of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Displacement: 690 tons full load
Length: 140 feet
Beam: 37 feet
Speed: 14.7 knots
Power Plant: Diesel electric, one shaft, 2,500 bhp
Icebreaking Capability: 22 inches at 3 knots continuous
Range: 1,500 at full speed, 4,000 at 12 knots, 7,000 at 7 knots
Armament: Two .50-caliber machine guns
Complement: 17
Builder: Tacoma Boat Building