The United States Coast Guard coastal buoy tender George Cobb (WLM-564), based in San Pedro, California, is named for him.

The third man on the capsized boat, William Burke, used an oar as a floatation device and managed to swim ashore.

[7] On September 30, 1905, the steamer Alameda went aground in a thick fog on the rocks off Fort Point, where Cobb was stationed.

[8] Cobb was called to testify before the United States Steamboat Inspection Service and asserted that his fog whistle was indeed blowing before the Alameda went aground.

Heavy surf pushed the ship up onto the beach, but also made it dangerous for anyone on board to enter the water to reach shore.