Enjoy a tour for up to 10 people of Lightship Overfalls in Lewes, DE.

Built in 1938 for the U.S. Lighthouse Service, the LV-118 was decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1972 and has been in Lewes, Delaware since 1973. LV-118, renamed Overfalls in honor of the Overfalls Shoals lightship station located nearby and the American lightship sailors that served there, is now preserved, maintained and operated by a dedicated team of volunteers.

Lighting the Way

The Overfalls main aid to navigation was a 375 mm dual electric lantern located 57 feet above the water line. Rated at 15,000 candle power, (approximately 1,000 watts), it flashed every 3 seconds from dusk until dawn. On a clear night it could be seen for 12 miles. The ship also had a dual diaphone fog horn with a range of 5 miles that sounded every 30 seconds in foggy weather.

A radio beacon with a range of 25 miles transmitted the call letters of the ship (NMJF) in Morse code. In foggy weather it was synchronized with the horn and broadcast every 30 seconds.

Ship Tours

Take a guided tour above and below decks of the refurbished Overfalls! 

Come visit our facilities and learn the story of how the ship went from near ruin to becoming a National Historic Landmark worthy of ship tours and public events. You will hear about the roles lightships played in American history and see what life aboard a lightship was like. We’ll introduce you to the Delaware Maritime Hall of Fame, explain what a Monomoy is and show you several life-size aids to navigation.

overfalls.org