Baywatch Rescue Boat #12

Not quite a new build, finished a few years ago, but I've just joined the forum and thought it might make a nice introduction.

While visiting LA, I stumbled across a sharp looking lifeguard boat patrolling the harbor at Marina del Rey. Investigation revealed that this was one of a small fleet of boats working in the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Baywatch team- basically all the life guards from Cabrillo Beach at the south to Malibu in the north. Yes, there really is a Baywatch, but they don't use that horrible yellow boat seen on most of the TV series. In fact, the very first season of Baywatch used the actual LACO boats, which were mostly built by Seaways Boats in Long Beach.

Over my next few visits to LA, I was able to fill my camera several times with detail shots, but I wasn't allowed to take any measurements, other than being told that boat #12 was 32 feet long and 12 feet of beam (a whole 'nuther story behind that issue…).

A shot from Season 1 

My first sight of boat #12!

The office

Lifeguard on maintenance duty

A collection of boats at Marina del Rey HQ

Edited By Patrick Matthews 1 on 05/11/2018 18:58:45

Edited By Patrick Matthews 1 on 05/11/2018 18:59:16

I have a whole build thread over on RC Groups, so just briefly:

I drew up lines that were partially inspired by a the Dumas Trojan kit, modified a bit to suit my photos;

Built a wood hull and covered that in GRP;

and built everything else that ought to go on top!

CAD model

Framing the hull

Diagonally planked

Roughing in the bow monitor

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Assembled and nickel plated

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Cockpit in a seafoam green

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Inside the radio cubby

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Jigging up the wheel

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Waterline the modern way- by laser.

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Stencil for the deck number

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Laser-printed decals for all the other markings.

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Life ring & radios

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RDF

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Edited By Patrick Matthews 1 on 05/11/2018 19:53:08

Surfing on the base

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Cover girl: