A New Breed of Coastal Security

Metal Shark has been awarded a contract to replace the U.S. Coast Guard’s fleet of 470 Response Boats – Small (RB-S) with the 28 Defiant. With an additional 20 boats available to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and another ten slated for purchase by the U.S. Navy, the $192 million contract is one of the largest boat buys of its kind for the Coast Guard.

The 28 Defiant is a new approach to a pilothouse model in the Metal Shark line. Like its larger Defiant siblings, its enclosed cockpit offers enhanced crew protection and permits extended operation under demanding weather conditions.

The 28 Defiant is available with a convertable window system allowing the forward, side, and aft windows to drop into the hull to convert the vessel from a full cabin to an open boat. In the Bow Cockpit model, a forward door provides through-cabin access to the open foredeck and optional .50-caliber machine gun mount, while the Cuddy Cabin model features a roomy forward berth.

Both configurations come standard with a full-width main cabin, which may be fitted with optional climate control and shock mitigating seating for true all-weather comfort.

Each 28 Defiant features solid, welded construction, foam flotation below decks and in the gunnels, and an innovative foam collar made of solid foam encased in durable, impact-resistant urethane. It offers reliable impact protection for the craft and its crew, and combines the utility of a full foam collar with the deck space and simplicity of a hard sided craft.

With a deep vee hull and power options up to 600 HP, the 28 Defiant will slice through the waves, and its wide reverse chines provide stability while at rest.

Thanks to its 8’6” beam, the 28 Defiant is legal for over the road transport, and its sturdy one-piece upper pilothouse assembly is easily detached and stowed in the aft cockpit to achieve trailerable clearance.

The Metal Shark 28 Defiant currently serves as the US Coast Guard Response Boat – Small.

LOA……………………………………28′
Beam……………………………………8’ 6”
Draft…………………………………………24
Fuel…………………………………200 gal
WEIGHT…………………………………6,000 lbs.
HP……………………………..600HP

5086 aluminum alloy utilized as follows:
3/16” Hull Side
1/4” Hull Bottom
1/4” Stringers and Bulkheads
3/16” Deck
3/16” Cabin

Standard Equipment
Heavy Duty Welded Aluminum Hull,
Cockpit and Side Decks
Integrated Foam Fendering System
Foam Floatation Below Decks and in
Gunnels
Self Bailing Cockpit with 4” Scuppers
Welded Aluminum Cabin with drop down windows
Two (2) helm seats
Full Transom Bulkhead
(6) 8” Welded Cleats
Welded Aluminum Bow & Stern Eyes
200 Gallon Baffled Aluminum Fuel Tank
Hydraulic Steering with Stainless Wheel
Navigation Lights
Forward Bunk Area (cuddy model)
Bow Deck with Storage Compartment
and Hatch (bow cockpit model)
Triple switched batteries
Two (2) 2000 GPH Bilge Pump with
Auto/Manual Control
Garboard Drain Plug
Non-Skid Decks and Gunnels