Two New York Fireboats For Sale

Dec. 9, 2003
Psst. Buddy. Over here. Want to buy two New York City fireboats?

Psst. Buddy. Over here. Want to buy two New York City fireboats?

Sure, they're 11 years old, but they're just like new. Never been officially used. And we'll let you have these beauties for almost one-tenth of what they cost city taxpayers.

Well, the boats do have some flaws - including leaking hydraulic systems and a nasty habit of spinning in circles when water shoots out of their cannons. That's the maritime equivalent of letting air out of a balloon rapidly.

The city bought the boats, made by Textron Marine & Land Services of New Orleans, for nearly $7 million in 1992. At the time, they were hailed as the harbor firefighters of the future.

But after the problems became apparent, the Fire Department sued Textron to recover damages. That case was settled, but neither Textron nor the Fire Department will comment on the terms.

Marcon International, a marine broker, is offering the boats for sale on Textron's behalf at $787,500 - the total for both boats. For several years, they have been stored, bound in plastic wrap on a private pier near Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

The ad on Marcon's Web site, though, left open the possibility they would go for less by calling the dollar figure a "price idea."

Alas, after more than a month of advertising, no takers. Marcon broker Bob Beegle on Friday didn't say much more.

"They're all just asking prices anyway. I don't take it seriously until people put some money or some hard figures on the table," he said.

Textron did not return telephone calls for comment, but has previously told Newsday any problems with the boats were due to the Fire Department's specifications.

The only other fireboat being offered for sale by Marcon is a 1990 boat from another manufacturer that has been "semi-laid up since built & never traded," according to the company Web site.

That boat has about 300 hours of use on its engines, the site said, and the asking price was 3.3 million euros, or close to $4 million dollars.

Beegle said the boats were very different and their value could not be compared.

Potential buyers should be aware that the offer of sale carries no guarantees about the performance of the boats. It tells potential buyers that they are for sale, "As is, where is."

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