The city launched a new boat this summer, a 25-foot full cabin manufactured by the company Safe Boat of Bremerton, Washington.

FALL RIVER — She is not the prettiest boat in the world, though she gets better looking as you spend time gazing.

But all you have to do is take her out once to fall in love, said Bob Smith, the city harbormaster.

The city launched a new boat this summer, a 25-foot full cabin manufactured by the company Safe Boat of Bremerton, Washington. “It handles unbelievably well,” Smith said. “It drives just like a car.

“We have been out in some really terrible weather. You barely felt it.

“When you go out in rough seas, at night, that is comforting.”

Safe Boats are made to speed toward trouble. Safe specializes in boats for the Coast Guard and the military as well as for police and fire work. It is built to be strong if it collides with solid objects or speeding waves. The company website cites its ballistic capabilities — listing the bullets that were unable to pierce the thick aluminum hull.

“All the labeling on the doors of the boats are also printed upside down so you can read it if you are inverted,” Smith said. “It is self-righting.”

The city’s new boat was purchased for $240,000 in 2011 to be used by the Coast Guard Auxiliary on Lake Michigan. It had low hours and all its time was spent in fresh water. One of the two 225-horsepower Honda engines had only 400 hours of use.

“The city needed a new boat,” said Cathy Ann Viveiros, the city administrator. “Bob worked with the Coast Guard. We got a great deal.”

Smith said he had been watching the federal surplus property list, looking for a boat. This boat was listed and then taken off the list the next day.

“I called and talked to several Coast Guard officers, telling them why we needed the boat,” Smith said. The city was able to come up with $40,000 from the fees collected over the past few years by the harbormaster’s office. The Coast Guard agreed to the sale.

“We had to add our own electronics,” Smith said. “The Coast Guard takes all of its proprietary equipment off the boat when they sell it.

“But it came really well equipped. They did right by us.”

That was not entirely unselfish. The closest Coast Guard station is in Newport. Fall River responds to all the calls of distress in the Taunton River and the upper Mount Hope Bay.

Most recently, the harbormaster investigated reports of a sinking boat when callers saw the quahog dredging craft at work. City crews were able to determine the calls were unfounded before the Coast Guard cutters left Newport.

“We work with them a lot,” Smith said. “We can do it a lot more safely now.”

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.