The Orleans Historical Society is putting out the possibility of sending a Coast Guard motor lifeboat which was used in a major rescue operation off to Washington. The boat, designated CG36500, is the subject of the book and adapted movie "The Finest Hours", which chronicles the effort to rescue dozens of sailors from a sinking tanker during a major nor'easter off the coast of Chatham in 1952.
The book's author, Casey Sherman, was asked on Wednesday by the historical society about the possibility of gifting the boat to the Coast Guard's main headquarters, an idea which Sherman told reporters he is against. Officials are concerned that the boat will have to come out of the water at some point to be preserved, but they say no decision has been made.