The historic World War II era P-520 USAAF Crash Rescue boat is in Morro Bay for the summer. The 85′ vessel will be open for tours Friday through Monday from 10:00 – 3:00. Guided tours will take you below decks where you can see the crew quarters, engine room, galley, and infirmary. Tickets are available at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum. General admission is $6. Admission for ages 6-12 is $4. Children age 5 and under are free with one paid adult admission. There is plenty of free parking in the lot behind the Morro Bay Maritime Museum. The boat is tied up across the street from the museum on the Embarcadero near the Harbor Hut Restaurant.    (NOTE: Closed-toe shoes only are allowed on the boat and visitors must be able to climb several sets of stairs and ladders. Thank you.)

This truly unique vessel is the only 85′ U.S. WWII crash rescue boat in the world that maintains its original 1944 military configuration. The MBMM is very grateful to the vessel owner, Jerry Tretter, and his family for loaning the boat to the Morro Bay Maritime Museum so it can be made available to the community.  Also, a special thanks goes out to the City Harbor Department, Tourism Board, and waterfront businessmen Bob Fowler and Troy and Brad Leage (Harbor Hut and Endeavor Sportfishing) for their cooperation. All of these folks worked expeditiously to secure a great waterfront docking location. 

The P-520 will be in Morro Bay all summer and through the Morro Bay Harbor Festival. If you would like more information about the vessel stop by the museum.

If all of this sounds intriguing, we would love your participation. We are looking for volunteers who would like to help with the tour program and museum operations. You can email us at [email protected] or call us at (805) 225-5044. 

Per Coast Guard regulations no sandals, open-toe shoes, or bare feet. No pets. Must have two free hands to climb steep ladders.