Research Vessels

Early Bird II

R/V Early Bird II is a 42-foot U.S. Coast Guard-inspected research vessel.  Twin Diesel powered (10 knot cruising speed) and equipped with two differential GPS’s with plotters, 2 kW color fathometer, radar, side-scan sonar, two VHF radios, two-meter radio, 21 kW three-phase generator, twelve-man life raft, GPS emergency positioning beacon (EPIRB), bunking space for up to six persons, and a thirty foot tower (crows nest) with helm controls. The large rear deck and low-to-water aft freeboard and full beam width swim step supports a 13-foot hydraulic A-frame (1-ton capacity); a deck winch with 5000-ft of cable; a large boom and boom winch; a thirty-foot bow plank for tagging marine mammals; three, 50-gallon bait tanks with two-inch water source capable of supplying additional tanks; low stern freeboard and a full beam width swim step and dive ladder along the stern for easy instrument launch and recovery. Most of these items can be easily removed or added, or the deck customized to meet the needs of any project.