USCGC Point Ledge ( WPB - 82334 ) USCGC " Point Ledge " ( WPB - 82334 ) was an Point class cutter constructed at the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay , Maryland in 1962 for use as a law enforcement and search and rescue patrol boat . Since the Coast Guard policy in 1962 was not to name cutters under in length , it was designated as " WPB - 82334 " when commissioned and acquired the name " Point Ledge " in January 1964 when the Coast Guard started naming all cutters longer than . Construction and design details . " Point Ledge " was built to accommodate an 8 man crew . She was powered by two VT800 Cummins diesel main drive engines and had two five - bladed propellers . Water tank capacity was and fuel tank capacity was at 95 % full . After 1990 she was refit with Caterpillar diesel main drive engines . Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge ; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment . The design specifications for " Point Ledge " included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight . Ease of operation with a small crew size was possible because of the non - manned main drive engine spaces . Controls and alarms located on the bridge allowed one man operation of the cutter thus eliminating a live engineer watch in the engine room . Because of design , four men could operate the cutter ; however , the need for resting watchstanders brought the crew size to eight men for normal domestic service . The screws were designed for ease of replacement and could be changed without removing the cutter from the water . A clutch - in idle speed of three knots helped to conserve fuel on lengthy patrols and an eighteen knot maximum speed could get the cutter on scene quickly . Air - conditioned interior spaces were a part of the original design for the Point class cutter . Interior access to the deckhouse was through a watertight door on the starboard side aft of the deckhouse . The deckhouse contained the cabin for the officer - in - charge and the executive petty officer . The deckhouse also included a small arms locker , scuttlebutt , a small desk and head . Access to the lower deck and engine room was down a ladder . At the bottom of the ladder was the galley , mess and recreation deck . A watertight door at the front of the mess bulkhead led to the main crew quarters which was ten feet long and included six bunks that could be stowed , three bunks on each side . Forward of the bunks was the crew ' s head complete with a compact sink , shower and commode . History . " Point Ledge " was stationed at Fort Bragg , California , from 1962 to January 1994 and was used for law enforcement and search and rescue operations . On 31 May 1965 she rescued the crew from F / V " Christine " as it sank 20 miles northwest of Fort Bragg . On 5 September 1966 , she helped rescue four from pleasure craft " Aquilo " and unsuccessfully fought a fire three miles off Fort Bragg . On 7 March 1968 , she rescued the pilot from a downed U . S . Air Force F - 101 off Eureka , California . On 4 November 1976 , she engaged in the rescue of three survivors from the F / V " Pacific Pearl " , which was struck by an unknown vessel 24 miles from Point Cabrillo . On the night of 27 December 1982 , she helped fight fire at a fishery on the Noyo River . From January 1994 to 1996 , she was stationed at St . Thomas , Virgin Islands where she suffered heavy damage by Hurricane Marilyn in September 1995 and required extensive repairs , which were completed in New Orleans , Louisiana . In March 1996 , the newly repaired " Point Ledge " reported for duty in Mobile , Alabama . She was decommissioned in Mobile on 3 August 1998 . She was transferred to Venezuela on 30 August 1998 .