There are a couple of reasons for the Soo not having a new 47' Motor Lifeboat stationed near the locks.
1. The St. Marys River is more protected form big waves than the other stations on the lakes (Marquette, St. Ignace, Charlevoix, Portage @ Dollar Bay, etc.). Those conditions don't warrant the expense and maintenance of a larger high tech boat.
2. When I was stationed at the Soo, the CG Station had a 41' Utility Boat, but still had to wait to lock through to get to the Upper St. Marys and Whitefish Bay. They eventually started using larger trailerable boats that could be towed around the locks and launched directly into the upper river.
Sar Lifeboats
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JM
Sar Lifeboats
In the Great Lakes area, shipping and recreational boaters in the Soo area are almost double in size compared to other regions yet lack the latest rescue craft such as the newest version of the Sar lifeboat class. Strange but True.