Outfitting the Modern Workboat

MetalCraft Marine’s 10 Meter Interceptor model is a formidable workboat. Defined by the sum of its myriad parts, it really can be seen that ‘the equipment makes the boat.’ This month, we ask "What's in Your workboat?"

In a business where there is rarely any shortage of pretty boats, cutting edge designs and equally impressively performing workboat tonnage, it is also true that the real value to any design is cemented by the very equipment that makes it run. Typically, however, comparing apples to apples when it comes to selecting your next patrol, fire, SAR or pilot boat is almost impossible. Until now.
Kick the tires. Pop open the hood. Put this one up on the jacks. Spend a little time under the chassis. The MetalCraft Interceptor line has been around since 2013, proven time and time again, and the firm has more than 50 orders – coming and already delivered – of this versatile craft that comes in various sizes from 7 to 12 meters. Their newest entry, the Interceptor 10M is the first stealth-designed high-speed small craft for Navies, Coast Guards and Police agencies. It is maneuverable, rugged and reliable, and suited to a wide range of applications like search and rescue, special operations, and patrol.

Window Shopping
According to MetalCraft, the most critical aspect of any workboat for the prospective operator, is good application engineering. Putting the right equipment together is what MCM's design team is all about.

The latest addition to the MetalCraft Interceptor line is the 10M Fast Attack cabin model. MetalCraft partnered with a number of key OEMs to bring about a next gen ‘Modern Work/Patrol Boat.’ The boat features 6’10” in headroom in the cabin and 5’11” headroom to allow for helmeted crew heights and roll up Eisenglass sides or any version of metal sides/aft wall. The cuddy can be set up with twin berths, galley and head.

The Interceptor 10M standard configuration at a glance …

Under the Hood
So, what makes up this version of the 10M Fast Attack cabin model? Go ahead; check under the hood for yourself:

• Safariland provided a portable ballistic package as used by the USCG 11M Interceptor, which can be mounted in 8 minutes for crew protection or another option is a soft roll up panel with Eisenglass upper windows.
• David Clark supplied the 9100 Wireless comms system. The system installs very quickly and provides wireless crew communication as well as interfaces with VHF, Cell phone and emergency radio frequencies. David Clark offer a 3-5 year limited warranty on the system.
• The Wing inflatable D collar allows the operator to come alongside with control over side impacts by adjusting the amount of air pressure in the collar. It auto inflates and deflates making the boat road legal in minutes as you deflate while loading onto the trailer. Wing built the removable lift out port and starboard dive doors for dive or rescue operations. Wing Inflatable offers a three year warranty on their collars.
• The Imtra underwater lights are stationed at each dive door to help divers navigate in tepid water to the proper side in use, and they also help divers when coming alongside to adjust or change gear in the illuminated water. Imtra underwater lights offer a 60 degree down angle for their dive lights.
• The dive ladders socket and dive ladder are manufactured by Windline. The ladder is 48 inches long with rubber foot grips and floats in case it is dropped overboard. The ladder locks into the ladder sockets and are set at a 30 degree angle for ease of exiting the water with gear on. They are rated for 400 pounds.
• This version of the boat powered with twin BRP G2 ETEC outboards. As two stroke engines, they have an amazing burst of power when throttled up and offer auto trim or manual trim feature. The engine’s opening side panels permit easy access to water and fuel pumps and operators can change the oil while the boat is in the water. The G2 has amazing fuel economy at approximately 17-20% less than comparable four stroke engines and are 100 pounds lighter per engine for the same horsepower. The engine has the ability to be adjusted to run on lower or higher octane fuels, hence they are a great choice for areas where high octane fuel is not available. Perhaps the best feature of this two stroke technology is that the engines only require servicing every 500 hours. BRP offers a three year warranty on the entire engine.
• The boat has further auto trim with the Imtra Zipwake Interceptor trim tab system. The Interceptors adjust automatically to raise the stern and improve hole shot angle and reduce fuel in the process. The controller has a built in Gyro that adjusts the boat from side to side if the load and/or crew becomes unbalanced. The controller can be preset by the user or use auto settings based on vessel trim. MetalCraft reports good success with this system, something which they have added to boats of up to 70 feet in length.
• The lazarette box aft is a great storage area and is large enough to hold a Westerbeke 7.5 KW gas or diesel genset. Water pickups and exhaust system are mounted in the lazarette as well for ease of service.
• The large aft deck has full length deck tracks for the Shockwave S2 and crew folding Jockey seats. This allows the seats to slide into a configuration that is best suited for cargo carriage or best suited for returning enemy fire. The seats are easily removed if only clear deck is required. The cockpit tracking also has adjustable tie down sockets.
• The Seacross targeting software for radar/chartplotter screens allow touchscreen targeting for up to 50 targets by simply touching the suspect highlighted on the screen. Operators can select their own colors for the targets to identify them as they wish.
• Last, but certainly not least, MetalCraft has designed a fast and easy one man hingeable radar mast (Patent pending) that can be lowered in 9 seconds and raised in 10 seconds by one man, while underway. At long last, low bridges are not an issue.

Impressively Equipped, Off to a Hot Start
MetalCraft Marine was born in 1987 and has continually grown throughout the years, carving out a strong niche in the North American commercial boat industry. MetalCraft introduced the ten year hull warranty in 1987 for commercial boats and now, that standard is becoming a requirement on most government procurements. A GSA approved supplier since 1996, MetalCraft has specialized in world-class, high-speed fire and crew boats for over 30 years.

MetalCraft’s Interceptor Line introduced in 2013 … history at a glance

Source: MetalCraft

The Interceptor line has allowed MetalCraft to greatly expand its product range into the tactical and enforcement communities. The USCG Long Range Interceptor, an 11 boat contract for high-speed interdiction, enforcement, and SAR missions, started the transition into this new market. Since the LRI development, and the successful delivery of 19 9M Interceptors to two elite military groups, the line has grown rapidly in popularity and success. With fireboats at its very roots, the firm has continued to integrate fire systems into its Interceptor boats, allowing for greater mission capability. As the popularity of this type of hull increases – within MetalCraft and its many competitors – the need for multi-mission capabilities has also grown.

MetalCraft set out to build the most mission capable boat, that is configurable to meet the needs of a vast array of end users, yet was cost effective to customize and construct. The 10M Fast-Attack Interceptor, as exhibited at this year’s Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC), is modular, actively configurable, and, as noted above, is chock full of impressive equipment.

The 10M Fast-Attack Interceptor demonstration platform has been in the water since July 2018, and traveled from northern NY State where it was built, on to Brunswick Commercial and Government Products’ facilities for a number of upgrades, before heading to the 2018 Workboat show. There, in New Orleans, scores of potential buyers will kick the tires. And, within the pages of this edition of MarineNews, you’ve already beaten them to it.

This article first appeared in the November print edition of MarineNews magazine.