Tough Construction

Building boats for commercial and military applications is an art. You can't just use a run-of-the-mill runabout and expect there to be anything left at the end of the day. It's like replacing you with a suit from the corporate office, handing them the keys and pointing them toward the water. In either event, they're not up to the task and it's not going to be pretty.

Our goal is to provide you with the right equipment to get the job done. Half a century of experience has given us some insight into what that means. It means not cutting corners when it comes to material. It means extra reinforcement in traditional areas of stress. Because of these extra reinforcements, our boats may occasionally be a little bit heavier than others; but when that extra weight is what keeps you afloat when other boats would have submarined, that extra weight isn't so bad.

The boat brand and model you need depends on your specific application. Rest assured that our Impact and Whaler boats, although completely different in terms of looks, share the same attention to detail, quality materials and superior design and construction. Click on the links below for details.

• Whaler Construction
  

  Boston Whaler was thrust into the national limelight in 1961 when Life magazine pictured founder Richard T. Fisher as he sawed a 13-footer in half and drove off in the half with the engine. Thanks to Whaler's unique Unibond construction, you can still do that today. And nowhere is that more valuable than in commercial and governmental applications... or perhaps in the case of a messy divorce that requires equally dividing assets.

  In more common scenarios, commercial Whalers are subject to repeated intentional groundings, punctures by submerged objects, and even impact from collisions in dense fog. There are literally hundreds of stories where Whalers have remained afloat with significant damage- a 3' hole in the bottom, the bow crushed, etc. - and returned their crew safely to shore.

  With exclusive Unibond™ construction, even a Whaler® cut in half will not only float, it can be driven away.
  This 19' Guardian demonstrates level flotation.After taking 1000 rounds of 50 caliber bullets, a Whaler still floats.

  This remarkable Unibond construction provides up to 2 1/2 times the flotation required by the US Coast Guard. Here's how it works.
  
  Unlike most molds, the Whaler hull mold is comprised of two pieces. Each is coated with gelcoat and a skin coat of fiberglass before multiple layers of bi- and tri-directional fiberglass material is applied. The two molds are then latched together and a precise amount of liquid closed-cell foam is poured into the area between the hull molds. The foam expands and fills the space between the molds permanently bonding the halves into a single, inseparable unit. This results in an extremely strong and unsinkable hull. Pound your fist on the side of a Whaler versus another boat and you'll see what we mean.

  Little details make a big difference, especially in a tough commercial or military environment. All Whalers use 316-L stainless steel deck hardware (much tougher than the 304 stainless steel in most marine applications), and we even take an extra step to chrome-plate our screws for additional corrosion resistance. The nonskid pattern is molded right into the deck, not added later. The electrical wiring consists of tinned copper, not bare copper, and the wiring connectors are heat shrunk, not just clamped, to virtually eliminate the possibility of moisture entering the wire core.

  T-tops, seating, gun mounts, tow posts, and cleats are backed by Whaleboard™ or aluminum, which are impervious to rot from water intrusion and have a screw retention 5 times the strength of wood.

  Whalers aren't technically bulletproof; but they definitely give you one less thing to worry about.

  
  
• Impact RIBS Construction
  
  

  Presumably, you are already aware of the multiple advantages of an inflatable boat in the commercial environment.  You already know that reduced weight means improved fuel economy.  You also already know that the inflatable tubes provide superior lateral stability and shock absorption in rough seas and tight maneuvering.  They function as non-marring fenders in boarding and rescue situations.  They are more forgiving, less susceptible to impact damage and easier on dive tanks, expensive equipment and crew.  But let’s take a minute to explore why Impact RIBS are the only inflatable of choice.

  Impact RIBS are not cleverly disguised recreational boats. We offer a series of commercial boats with unique construction and specific features vital to success in the rigorous commercial environment.

  We start with hulls designed to slice through rough water with minimal effort and superior comfort.  Construction starts with a metered application of gelcoat to ensure appropriate thickness. Then our semi-rigid hulls are laminated using repeated layers of multi-directional fiberglass material wetted with a polyester blend resin for optimum strength. We use rotating molds that reveal any excess resin which is removed to ensure a precise strength to weight ratio.  This process ensures that the material we use in each hull is exactly the right amount so that it does not add unnecessary weight which reduces speed and fuel economy.

  Foam stringers are fiberglass encased and permanently affixed to the hull to ensure structural integrity. All areas of stress - cleats, thru-hulls, etc. -  are reinforced with composite material - not wood - to promote strength and longevity.

  Each Impact tube uses heavy-duty materials including polyurethane. Polyurethane fabric has extremely high abrasion resistance - five times greater than Neoprene/Hypalon.  It features resistance to pollution, deterioration caused by UV rays and superior puncture resistance.

  Our seam welding process combines fusion with calendaring under high pressure to assemble the different parts of the tube in conjunction with the internal and external seam reinforcements; this combination ensures the strength of the weld actually surpasses the strength of the tube material.

  Standard commercial features include heavy-duty rubbing strake fenders, non-slip applied to tubes and molded into the gelcoated decks, and heavy-duty inflation valves and pressure relief valves.

  The Impact RIB line offers a range of customizable platforms from 4 to 12 meters.  You design the interior based on your specific application and we’ll take care of building you a boat specifically manufactured for commercial use.

  When people depend on you, you can depend on us.