Hey all im shippin to boot July 8th and will be going to CA after boot camp. I am kinda hoping to get stationed on a 87 cause i think it would be a good experience as Im goin in for BM. Just looking for some information about the 87. I've looked at the units in CA and they have some info about the 87's but not too much. Whats a typical deployment like 7 days, 10 days? Does anyone have any pics of the inside? Any other information would be great. Thanks

Aaron

Hey how's it going? So 87's are fun. It is a High tech cutter compared to the 110's and older fleet. Everything is electronic.

There are 2 man state rooms aboard and 1 4 person state room up forward.(that will be yours if you get an 87)

Depending on where you get stationed, will determine how your patrols are. on the west coast you get U/W for a couple days or a couple weeks. You pull in no more then every 4 or 5 days while on patrol, and you will see much of the coast. Unless on an 87 in the San fran area, or San diego, then you wont see anything but navy boat, cruise ships and other vessels to escort.

if you get an 87 in the gulf you will get u/w no more then 3 days at a time. Bottom line.... You will go to Key west for about 3 weeks but only u/w in 3 day incriments.

A non rate on an 87 is very important becuase the crew is limited and small. So eveyone does everything. You will learn a great deal about Engineering, deck semanship, etc.. That's pretty much it. Google search The USCGC DORADO WPB 87306 and they have pics on there page. Good luck

Building on jbbucciero's comments, the 87's are very small. Not only in terms of crew compliment, but actual size. When you're at Cape May, you will more than likely get what's called an 'Ops Tour' late in training. Unfortunately it's after you select assignments, so it doesn't help there, but half our company got to tour the Vigorous and the other half got split into a group on the Ibis and my group toured the Finback.

The ships are well-built, but very small. If you're a tall guy, you might have trouble getting around. I'm only 5'9", and I had to really focus on not smashing my noggin on the overheads when using the ladders. Probably get used to it, but it's a shock at first.

As for deployments, I was always told 10-14 days is the rule of thumb for an 87-footer, with longer tours as needed. Anyway, they look fun, really want to get on one in the near future. And for you, wanting to get on a cutter out of Recruit Training will make people happy, including your CC's.

The 82 footers were a better Cutter,but they all are gone,the 87 may be ok for a starter to get your sea legs.

What makes you say the 82's were "better"?

I don't think any cutter will ever match the record of the 82 WPB,its mission performances in combat or its proven toughness in heavy weather.IMHO.

82 are the best after serving on two I should know. 87 are good two but like most of the new boats there is more room for things to break. If you are going BM or MK the 87 is preferred smaller better built boat then the 110 and more flexible to conduct different missions. Also most of all you probably have a BMCS or BMCM instead of a officer. You will learn more from a BMCM. Officer just work your butt off.

Hey Corb, I was at Indian River station right out of boot camp..... Did you by chance have either BMCM Al Nations or BMCM Jim Murphy on one of those two 82's?

Wray....

You will learn more from a BMCM. Officer just work your butt off.

that all depends on the Officer, I had a real good on the Manowar.

You can learn from any rate/rank when reporting aboard a Cutter for the first time no matter what your rate is,you can learn from the SN up to the OinC,CPO,Senior or Master Chief and even an Officer.

quote:

Originally posted by jbbucciero:

You pull in no more then every 4 or 5 days while on patrol, and you will see much of the coast. Unless on an 87 in the San fran area, or San diego, then you wont see anything but navy boat, cruise ships and other vessels to escort.

Yes and No. I am stationed on CGC TERN in San Fran right at the Sector. We do do quite a bit of commercial escorts on a patrol but thats not all we do.

We do alot of LE boardings on commercial tugs and fisheries. We do a few rec when we cant get much else. We tend to stay in the bay or go just North/South. We get tasked with going to Baja, and San Diego at times as well. We just came back from the Red Bull Air races in San Diego.

I'll just say this about 87'. Everyone is quite different because the XPOs, and COs are. Some like to do alot of boardings some dont. Some 87' even look different on the inside, daily routines, and gear.

As a non rate it will be great. My SN have so much responsibilty, that they developed in to leaders so fast. They need little tasking and little watching.

If you do get a 87' WPB here is a couple of tips. Stay out of trouble. You can ruin the reputation of yourself and your entire crew and cutter by your actions. Be a self starter and be reliable. There is nothing I hate more than having to breathe down my guys backs for not having good output. Hammer those qualifications. Your really not much help to the crew until you start getting qualified. They need your help, and will place alot of trust in you. You will love every minute of it.

Good luck.

BM2

The 87' WPB is a great platform. As an incoming SN you can expect to help keep the cutter looking new by sanding, priming, and painting exterior surfaces. You will stand the inport OOD watch - you are the OINC or CO's representative. You will stand the CM/EOW watch, keeping the logs and ensuring all machinery is running within parameters. You might also qualify as a Boarding Team Member, assisting the Boarding Officer during fisheries and recreational boardings. If you're good, you'll qualify as a CB-M coxswain and drive us all to the boarding.

BM2
87' DWO

Hey all thanks so much for the information. Sounds like i'm making a good choice. I think i'll probably plan on putting in for an 87 in northern CA. Thanks again for all the info. I cant wait till boot.

One more question. If I was stationed on an 87 what do or can you bring. Like did any of you have labtops, and if so where could you get online? Im also looking to get a bike once i get to CA. Any one on here have just a motorcylce for transportation? If so how does it work out for you? Where do you keep it when your deployed? Thanks for all the help.

Yes you can bring a laptop, but no online underway unless you use wireless, can get a signal (not likely), and the command allows it. As far as what else you can bring, it depends if the command will make you live aboard ship, barracks, Gov't lease apartment, or BAH. So it could be a little else or alot. I'm just wondering, how do you know your going to CA? I've heard of guaranteed district but not guaranteed state.

quote:

Originally posted by BM1339:
I'm just wondering, how do you know your going to CA? I've heard of guaranteed district but not guaranteed state.

If he was guaranteed D11 then California is probably a really good guess on what state he would be going to.

quote:

Originally posted by MarineBM:
If he was guaranteed D11 then California is probably a really good guess on what state he would be going to.

That's a good one! I haven't seen too many 87's in Nevada or Arizona!

Yea thats what I was thinking....lol. Also do you have to have a car to be able to travel to base or what do they do? I have one so im not worried but i was thinking of trying to sell and go into to the Coast Guard with next to nothing to just keep it simple.

quote:

Originally posted by MarineBM:

quote:

Originally posted by BM1339:
I'm just wondering, how do you know your going to CA? I've heard of guaranteed district but not guaranteed state.

If he was guaranteed D11 then California is probably a really good guess on what state he would be going to.

Whoops forgot D11 wasn't part of D13, I'm an idiot. Though I hear there is CG in Utah...

-East Coastie, sends

quote:

Originally posted by BM1339:
Though I hear there is CG in Utah...

-East Coastie, sends

Recruiters