Page 72: of Marine News Magazine (November 2017)

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BOATBUILDING and government sector. By 2001, the demand for Boston

Whaler Commercial & Government Products boats be- came overwhelming and the business was incorporated and moved into its own manufacturing facility. Shortly after the move, the company became Brunswick Commercial &

Government Products (BCGP).

Over time, the company has many times expanded the product line to offer more choices for commercial and govern- ment buyers. In 2009, for example, the company launched a line of Rigid Hull In? atable Boats (RHIBs) known today as the Impact family, offered in 6.5, 7.5, 8.5 10, 11 and 12-me- ter variants. In 2013, the company began offering custom build aluminum cabin boats, the Sentry line.

More recently, the ? rm’s 31’ Vigilant model has been in- troduced and is in production. But, BCGP’s leading-edge innovation isn’t limited to just the hulls. For example, BC-

GP’s version of ‘DP’ and “joy stick” navigation promises to revolutionize boathandling for recreational and com- mercial marine operators alike. With a simple and instan- taneous system of technology that allows even the most novice of boat handlers to easily berth or position a mid- sized workboat, the device opens up new possibilities for the recreational market, while providing important tools for the municipal and military markets.

Currently, BCGP has built one boat using their Mercury

Joystick Piloting Option (JPO) with Skyhook. That vessel is being used as a demo unit to introduce the concept to cus- tomers, as well as to receive feedback from the marketplace.

At the same, it is also true that all the manufacturing capabil- ity and innovation in the world simply isn’t enough for the

Edgewater,Florida-based BCGP. That’s because, along with 60 years of continuous quality operations, the ? rm recently also marked a major safety milestone. Boasting 10 years without a lost time incident, the ? rm announced in April that BCGP’s employees have worked 1,817,000 hours with- out a lost time incident and maintained a recordable inci- dent rate of zero in 2016. BCGP was also recently presented the Sustained Safety Performance Award from their parent company. This special designation is an acknowledgement

BCGP’s line of multi- of manufacturing facilities with outstanding safety records, purpose workboats is where the highest levels of safety performance are consis- broad and deep.

tently achieved over extended periods of time.

The 31’ Vigilant at a glance …

LOA: 31' 3" / 9.5 m Weight capacity: 4300 lbs / 1951 kgBoat weight: 8800 lbs / 3392 kg

Beam: 10' 7" / 3.2 m Max horsepower: 700 hp / 522 kW Transom height: 25" / 64 cm

Draft: 20" / 51 cm Min horsepower: 500 hp / 373 kW Person capacity: 14

Deadrise: 20° Max engine weight: 1400 lbs / 635 kgFuel capacity: 291 gal / 1102 L

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