High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The USCG Defender class boat, also called response boat-small (RB-S), is a standard boat introduced by the United States Coast Guard in July 2003. The Coast Guard plans to replace a mixture of older boats with up to 700 Defender class vessels. The boats serves a variety of missions, including search and rescue, port security and law enforcement duties. The boats are 25 feet in actuality the design length is 25 2.5 ft long and the overall length is 29 8.5 ft. The length at the water line is 22 6.5 ft. (7.6 meters) in length and have a draft of 39" (3'3"). Powered by twin 225 hp (168 kW) Honda outboard motors, they are capable of speeds in excess of 46 knots (85 km/h) and have a range of 105 or 150 nautical miles (278 km), depending on the type of fuel tanks used. The boat can launch with a two-person crew, but has a carrying capacity for 10 persons.