 After 1990 many in the Point class were refit with Caterpillar diesel main drive engines.Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360 degree view from the bridge; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment.The design specifications for "Point Brown" included a steel hull for durability and an aluminum superstructure and longitudinally framed construction was used to save weight.