Point Divide, 1962 WPB 82337
Builder: Coast Guard Yard, Curtis Bay, MD
Commissioned: 19 September 1962
Decommissioned: 30 March 1995
Disposition: Donated to Washington Maritime Academy
Length: 82’10” oa, 78’ bp
Navigation Draft: 5’11” max (1960)
Beam: 17’7” max
Displacement: 69 fl; 60 light (1960)
Main Engines: 2 Cummins diesel (see class history)
BHP: 1,600
Perfo
rmance, Maximum Sustained: 18.0 kts, 542-mi radius (1,600 hp, 1963)
Performance, Economic: 9.4 kts, 1,500-mi radius (1,600 hp, 1963)
Maximum Speed: 22.9 kts (1963)
Fuel Capacity: 1,840 gal
Complement: 8 men (1960), 2 officers, 8 men (1965)
Electronics:
Radar: SPN-11, CR-103 (1960), or SPS-64
Armament: 1 x 20mm (1960), 5 x .50 cal mg, 1 x 81 mm mortar (Vietnam service)
Class history—The 82-foot patrol boats have mild steel hulls and aluminum superstructures. These boats were completed with a variety of power plants. 82301 through 82313, 82315 through 82317, and 82319 through 82331 were powered by two Cummins 600-hp diesels. Boats 82318 and 82332 through 82379 received two Cummins 800-hp diesels. The 82314 was fitted with two 1,000-hp gas turbines and controllable-pitch propellers. The purpose of this installation was to permit the service to evaluate the propulsion equipment. All units were eventually fitted with the 800-hp diesels. Units remaining in 1990 were re-equipped with Caterpillar diesels. WPB 82301 through 82344 were commissioned without names; at that time the Coast Guard did not name patrol craft shorter than 100 feet. In January 1964 they were assigned names. Ship's history:
The Point Divide was stationed at Newport Beach, CA, from 1962 to 1965. She was used for law enforcement and search and rescue operations. She was stationed at Corona del Mar, CA, from 1966 onward. During the Nixon Presidency, she, in concert with the Point Hobart, performed Presidential Support Duty. Each cutter would alternate patrols off the coast in the security zone around the President's retreat for three days before being relieved by the other cutter. In May 1969, she dewatered and towed pleasure craft At Last to Newport, CA. In January 1970, she rescued a passenger from a distressed sailboat and subsequently towed the boast to Newport. In July 1970, she towed the carcass of a whale from Salt Creek Beach, CA, out to sea. On 29 May 1985, she seized F/V Ocean Joy 15 miles southwest of San Clemente Island with 10 tons of marijuana on board. The crew of the F/V had attempted to scuttle her.
