Back in the day, when I was young and virile, when I boarded vessels, I'd ask the Coasties if they were going to test the life boats, which didn't happen that often.
Eventually I was told "ETS, you're a ball to board ships with, but we'd all lose our commission if we let you ride that life boat like a sled... I'm not even sure you'd come back"
"How'd we explain having to rescue you out of the Delaware river ten mikes from where the vessel was at anchorage?"
And thus died my dream.
I’ve seen ‘em, but have never seen then them operated!