Yes, the RBM is "drive by wire", which is good and bad. Trying to teach the new coasties how to drive this boat is easy; it's like a video game since it uses two joy sticks. However, you don't need a true understanding of dynamic forces (wind, current and waves) since you can place the boat in docking mode. When in this setting and maneuvering, the boat adjusts the engine RPMs and buckets automatically to make the boat do what traditional boats aren't suppose to do. It will walk sideways like it has bow and stern thrusters and you can still control the heading. It's super easy for the young guys to learn, but was a challenge for me. I still try not to use the docking mode because it confuses me.
Manufacturer specs are different than what we use. Our limitations are 10' seas and 30kts winds, but the boat is more capable than that. As far as the 250nm range, we are limited by policy not operate anymore than 50nm offshore, and our areas of responsibility very, but aren't usually more than 50x50nm.
I got on the helm for the first time in 2011. I remember vividly driving the boat in solid 5 with the occasional 6.5 foot seas off the port bow and getting beat up. I looked over at the other guys on the boat and told then I thought this thing was suppose to have a plush ride. Their reply was "dude, you're going 32kts in 6 footers, what do you expect?" I'll never forget that because in the old 41 UTBs, I'd still get beat up in that sea state, but the boat would be going 10-15kts.
Long story short, it's a bad ass boat for the new generation.
