The Response FR-28 specifications were developed by Mount Pleasant Fire Department in South Carolina to improve firefighting and rescue capability in the coastal areas surrounding Mount Pleasant, which include Charleston Harbor, Gray Bay, and Hamlin Sound.
Funded by a federal grant, the welded aluminum boat was designed by Response Marine and built by Viking Welding & Fabrication.
Norm Allen of Mt. Pleasant Fire Department says, “This has been a long procurement process for us, but we are thrilled to have the boat in service, on time and built with such attention to quality. Viking and Response Marine spent a lot of time working on details with us to improve the boat, all the while staying within our budget. We are excited to have a boat with such great capabilities!”
The 28′ x 9½’ boat provides over 1,250 gallons per minute of water flow at 150 psi through a any of a combination of the 1500 gpm foredeck monitor, the two aft 2½” outlets, and the aft 5″ Storz outlet. Primary propulsion is twin 225 hp Mercury Verado outboards providing sprint speeds of 43 mph. The pilothouse arrangement includes a convertible patient bench and dedicated fire control station. Instead of a traditional forward cuddy cabin, both the FR-280 and FR-31J feature a forward cockpit, which improves crew safety and helmsman visibility in situations where crew are required to work from the forward third of the boat.
Other recent and current Response Marine projects include 31- and 32-foot fire-rescue boats and a 25-foot patrol boat for the state of New York.
