Search and Rescue Anchor Patch — Order This Hydrant-Flanked Maltese Cross
Design S1733A at a glance
A Maltese cross with a navy edge, carrying an anchor with coiled rope at its center, together with crossed nozzles and waves, and a hydrant standing on each side. The lettering names the team, carries a search-and-rescue line, and adds a founding year and a motto. Light blue and silver against navy keep the water scene clear.
Maltese cross shapeNavy borderAnchor with coiled ropeCrossed nozzlesWavesFlanking hydrants
About this anchor and waves rescue cross
Water rescue teams sit between two worlds — fire service and marine work — and this cross puts both in the same emblem. The anchor and rope say water, the crossed nozzles and hydrants say fire company, and the waves tie the two together. Four thread colors keep it busy enough to tell the story but disciplined enough to stitch cleanly.
Customize it for your team: swap the anchor for a rescue boat or life ring, reword the motto, or move the palette to red and black. This page shows a design concept we manufacture to order — your stitch-ready proof arrives 6–12 hours after you order, and nothing is produced until you approve it.
Search and rescue anchor patch quick facts
- Embroidered search and rescue patches cost $3.00–$20.00 each depending on quantity, with a 10-patch minimum.
- Rush production takes 7–10 days and is available on every custom patch.
- Water rescue teams often add a PVC version because it shrugs off repeated soaking.
- Wave detail in light blue holds best at 3.5" and up.
- A navy edge blends into the field, so the Maltese cross outline reads as one solid shape.
- Owl Badges is a US-based badge and patch manufacturer in Simi Valley, California, in business since 1999.
Customize this search and rescue patch: backing, size, and thread options
- Backing: hook-side velcro for rescue vests and gear bags, sew-on for station shirts, iron-on for team apparel
- Sizes: 2.5"–12" — 4" for sleeves; 10"+ for jacket backs
- Colorways: navy, silver, light blue and red as shown, or red and black, or a subdued gray
- Border: navy (shown), or silver, red or light blue merrow
- Thread: metallic silver available for the anchor and nozzle tips
- Artwork: the anchor redraws as a rescue boat, life ring or diver helmet at no art charge
Who orders this design
Fire department water rescue teams, swiftwater and dive units, and regional search-and-rescue squads order this cross for station shirts, rescue vests and gear bags. Coastal and lake departments like that it reads as fire service first. Orders commonly pair embroidered sleeve patches with a PVC run for wet gear.
Custom search and rescue patch pricing — embroidered
| Quantity | Price per patch |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | $20.00 |
| 20–29 | $14.00 |
| 30–49 | $11.00 |
| 50–74 | $6.50 |
| 75–99 | $6.00 |
| 100–249 | $5.50 |
| 250–499 | $3.00 |
Rush production in 7–10 days is available on all custom patches. Design your changes in the markup tool above, or get this patch quoted exactly as shown.
What your quote covers
- Your exact spec — quantity, size, backing, and colorway, priced to the piece
- A free digital mockup within 4 hours, before you commit to anything
- Rush production in 7–10 days whenever you need it
- No setup, digitizing, or art fees — the table price is the whole price
How ordering this patch works
Request a quote
Send this design (marked up or as-is) with your quantity. Quotes are answered 24/7 within 4 hours.
Approve your proof
Your stitch-ready proof arrives 6–12 hours after ordering. Nothing is produced until you approve it.
We verify & produce
Law-enforcement orders are verified with your agency before production — standard practice since 1999.
Delivery confirmed
We confirm your shipping address by phone, then email tracking the day your patches ship.
🏛 Bidding for your department or agency? We answer bids, RFQs and purchase-order quotes — see how agency bids and RFQs work, or tick “This quote is for a bid” in the quote form.
Search and rescue anchor patch questions
Can the anchor become a rescue boat?
Yes. A rescue boat, life ring or diver's helmet can take the anchor's place, redrawn at no art charge and shown on your proof.
Which build holds up best around water?
PVC tolerates constant soaking best. Embroidered patches handle normal wash cycles well, and many teams order both.
Can we change the motto and year?
Yes. The motto and founding year each restitch, or we can replace them with a unit number.
Are the hydrants required?
No. They can be removed or swapped for stars, and we rebalance the cross on your proof.
How do I show you what to change?
Use the markup tool in the quote form: circle the anchor, pin notes on the lettering and pick a colorway. The marked-up design travels with your quote.
Looking at other rescue and fire designs?
This page covers one water-rescue Maltese cross. The fire department patches including anchor-and-wave rescue crosses and apparatus shields show the other emblems we stitch. For PVC durability around water, backings and pricing, the patch guide comparing embroidered and PVC builds for an anchor rescue cross answers it.
Notes
Drop a 📍 pin on the patch, then type what you want changed there.