" A Navy boat is defined as an uncommissioned waterborne unit of the Fleet, not designated as a service craft, and capable of limited independent operation. It may be assigned to a shore station or a fleet operating unit." It should be added, with some exceptions, that it be painted haze gray. The full description of the boat used in the mid 1950s was: 26' Motor Whaleboat MK 2 (Magnetic).

official Navy specifications:

Purpose. To transport personnel and for use as a lifeboat.

Capacity. 22 men including crew

Crew. 2-3 men (usually 3; coxswain, bowhook and engineer) and sometimes a very junior Ensign as boat officer.

Length overall. 26' 3/8", Beam. 7' 4 5/8", Draft 2' 4" loaded.

Full load displacement. 8,850 lbs. (open) or 9,070 lbs. (canopied)

Hoisting weight. 5,550 lbs. with 2 crew, 6,450 lbs. with 8 man life saving crew.

Hoisted by davit located starboard side forward of the stack.

Construction. Round bottom wood frame, caravel (i.e., smooth sided) planked.

Speed. 7 kts. full load displacement, Fuel Capacity 28 gallons, Range 110 nautical mi. at full power and full load.

The whaleboat was hung in radial davits that were swung out by the guy lines when lowering preparations were made. The boat was raised by the anchor windlass, the powerful electric winch on the forward main deck.

The coiled lines that would hang over the boat were called the "monkey ropes", knotted lines that the men would hang on to while the boat was being hoisted.

When the ship was at anchor, a boat boom held the boat alongside to keep it from banging into the ship. An accommodation ladder was rigged over the side and provided access to the whaleboat from the ship.

The boat was also known as the "Captain's gig" when it was being used by the ships' commanding officer.