Specifications and Other Facts

Vessel Name:

Overfalls (LV118 / WAL539)

Built:

1938 at Rice Brothers Shipyard, East Boothbay, Maine

Cost:

$223,900

Mast:

Single

Dimensions:

Length 114'; beam (width) 26'; draft 13'4", weight 422 tons.

Engine:

Single Cooper-Bessemer 400 hp, 8 cylinders with air starter.

Propeller:

steel, 7' 2" diameter, gear-driven

Maximum Speed:

Nine knots (between 10 and 11 mph)

Primary Navigation Light:

Dual 375 mm electric lens lanterns located 57 feet above the water line and rated at 15,000 candle power (1,000 watts). Flashed every 3 seconds at night, visible for 12 miles on a clear night.

Fog Horn:

Dual air diaphones, switchable to single horn with a range of 5 miles, which would sound a three second blast every 30 seconds whenever visibility was less than two miles.

Radio Beacon (transmitter):

25 mile range, which was synchronized with the fog horn (when in operation) so ships equipped with a radio direction finder could calculate the distance to the ship in obscure conditions.

Radar:

RCA surface unit installed 1943 with a range of 15 miles.

Anchors:

7,000 pound mushroom type main, and 3,000 pounds auxiliary anchor.

Crew:

14 men served 2 weeks on and one week off.

Fuel Capacity:

12,400 gallons of diesel in 10 fuel tanks.

Fresh Water Capacity:

6,500 gallons in 4 fresh water tanks.

Ballast Tanks:

4 each with a total capacity of 10,000 gallons sea water.

Station Assignments:

1938 - 1957: Cornfield Point (CT)
1958 - 1962: Cross Rip (MA)
1962 - 1972: Boston (MA)