The Legendary 44-foot Motor Lifeboat

In the late 1950s, the United States Coast Guard faced a challenge: the 36-foot motor lifeboat, which had served as its workhorse rescue vessel for decades, was nearing the end of its usefulness. The service needed something stronger, faster, and better able to withstand the brutal conditions of Great Lakes storms.

The answer was the 44-foot motor lifeboat — a vessel that would define Coast Guard small-boat rescue operations for generations. Rugged, self-righting, and built to work in conditions that would capsize most boats, the 44-footer became legendary among Coast Guard crews for its ability to operate in surf and weather that made other vessels stand down.

At the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, visitors can get up close with this iconic piece of Coast Guard history and understand why it earned its legendary reputation.