Rob Judge is a lifelong high-performance boat enthusiast who spent his summers running a Cigarette 38 on Lake Erie. Wanting a craft he could use through the colder months near his Ohio home, he chose an unusually rugged option: a Safe Boats Defender 25. The Defender 25’s military pedigree and all-weather capabilities made it an ideal complement to his open-water performance boat.
Safe Boats, headquartered in Seattle, is widely known for building exceptionally strong aluminum vessels for professional maritime operators such as the U.S. Coast Guard, federal law-enforcement agencies and commercial rescue services. Rather than buying new, Judge found a decommissioned government unit for sale—a former U.S. Coast Guard rapid response platform—which he purchased used for $50,000 with a trailer. The price was roughly $350,000 less than the boat’s original new cost, but the hull arrived stripped of ancillaries: no engines, electronics or seating.
Judge bought the boat sight unseen and had it delivered to his family’s facility in March 2022 for a $5,000 fee. His family business, which builds municipal snowplows, provided the skilled workforce to rebuild and refit the aluminum hull. After an initial inspection and a survey by a local performance-boat builder, Judge and his team developed a refit plan centered on modernizing controls and electronics while keeping the vessel’s utilitarian, mission-ready character.
Originally the Defender had carried a deck-mounted .50-caliber weapon and twin Honda 225-hp outboards, which pushed the boat into the low 50-mph range. Judge aimed to increase top speed, reduce weight and create a dependable, near-all-weather platform. The power limits on many Safe Boats models are tied to engine weight to protect the transom under severe loads, so engine choice had to balance power and mass. Judge selected twin Mercury Racing 300R outboards—naturally aspirated V8s that deliver strong low-end torque and roughly a 200-pound weight savings compared with the original Hondas.
The restoration was thorough. Judge’s crew invested more than 2,000 labor hours sanding the entire boat and another 1,000 hours rebuilding foam and repainting sponsons from red to military gray. The trailer was refurbished for road use. A new wiring harness, NEMA network, LED navigation lights, a Garmin 8616 16-inch MFD at a clean, businesslike helm and a night-vision camera brought the electronics up to modern standards. Comfort and usability were improved with SeaDek nonskid, a diesel heater with de-misters, a Fusion/JL Audio sound system, interior LED lighting and a leather Isotta steering wheel wrapped by carpeted wheelhouse walls.
One of the most impactful upgrades was the installation of four Air Ride pilothouse seats—suspension seats adapted from trucking applications. They provide substantial cushioning and drop-down armrests, keeping passengers secure and comfortable during high-speed maneuvers and in rough seas.
Approximately a year after acquisition, and after about $150,000 in materials plus extensive labor, the Defender 25—nicknamed Safe Judgement—was relaunched from its refurbished trailer. Even during the initial restricted run-in, the boat’s performance impressed: once fully broken in it reached 63 mph at wide-open throttle. Acceleration is immediate and aggressive—Judge compares it favorably to a high-performance personal watercraft—yet it also behaves predictably and confidently in challenging conditions.
On a fall day in October 2023 I joined Judge to test the Defender on Lake Erie. The hull’s 25-degree transom deadrise and oversized sponsons made their presence felt immediately. The midships pilothouse positions weight forward and helps the boat plane quickly. Massive forward scuppers efficiently ejected water thrown over the bow. Built to military standards, the hull felt tank-like and highly resistant to roll while the raised wheelhouse delivered excellent visibility.
We powered into 4- to 5-foot chop with gusting winds and a small-craft advisory in effect. Instead of feeling outmatched, the 25 surged ahead with remarkable composure, slicing over chop at more than 40 mph while the pilothouse seats absorbed most of the impact. When we pushed further offshore and Lake Erie built 6-foot peaks with occasional 7-footers, the Defender’s combination of speed, stability and handling allowed us to navigate open water to Kelly’s Island at a steady 30 mph.
The next day I drove the boat in calmer conditions. Ergonomics are excellent: the wheel is naturally positioned, the DTS throttles fall to hand for fingertip control, and nothing obscures the forward view. The boat hit 50 mph before I fully registered its speed. In sweeping turns the 25 grips and runs flat without constant trim adjustments; at a steady 40 mph it feels effortless and controllable. Judge demonstrated a full-lock 180-degree turn at speed that held almost all forward momentum—only the aggressive Air Ride seats prevented us from sliding across the cockpit during the maneuver.
In experienced hands the Defender 25 becomes an astonishingly capable and confidence-inspiring machine: part utility craft, part adventure boat, and thoroughly driver-focused. For Judge it fills a distinct role—fast, rugged and usable in conditions that would keep his Cigarette 38 ashore—making Safe Judgement one of the best all-weather, point-to-point adventure boats on the lake.
Defender 25
LOA: 25’0” Beam: 8’6” Draft: 1’8” Fuel: 100 gals. Power: (2) 300-hp Mercury Racing outboards
This article was originally published in the May 2024 issue.