Page 28: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1994)

RIBs, Skiffs & Other Small Workboats

Workskiff Debuts New Boat

Workskiff, Inc., manufacturer of tough skiffs for workboat and fishing applications, has intro- duced the new Workskiff 23, an outboard-driven vessel that continues the firm's work in develop- ing super strong boats for severe environments.

George Lundgren, designer of the boat and president of the Seattle firm, said that the new model was built for rough work. "The Workskiff 23 is trailerable and unsinkable," he said. "It offers a large, adaptable and self-bailing work deck. It has a hydrodynamically smooth hull for efficient operation with no external keels, chines or bottom strakes." The craft is constructed with 1/4-inch roll formed 5086 aluminum bottom and transom and 3/16-inch sides. As with all

Workskiff boats, the interior is uncluttered with ribs, although this larger boat has full-length, longitudinal side stiffeners for added strength.

Mr. Lundgren said the boat's deck provides a strong foundation for heavy equipment like reels, pumps, tanks, winches or other machinery.

While the Workskiff 23 is offered with a stan- dard console for steering, additional options are available. Center consoles are offered with or without windshields and "tee" tops, as is a for- ward deck with windshield. Pilothouse options include both walk-around and full-width, walk- through styles.

RTK Awarded MOD Contract

RTK of Poole, Dorset have been awarded a contract by the U.K., Ministry of Defense (MOD) for its 21-foot (6.5 m) Beach Raider, Large Rigid

Raiding Craft. The improved cathedral hull form gives a dry, soft ride with a high degree of static stability, according to the company. The craft carries eight fully-equipped troops and two crew who ride on ergonomically-designed seats of elastomer-coated foam to give a comfortable ride at high speed. Fitted with twin 140-hp outboard engines, the craft is capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots when laden and more than 40 knots light.

Carolina Skiff: Commercial

And Sport Applications

Carolina Skiff, Inc. is a small boat manufac- turer located in Waycross, Ga. Carolina Skiff,

Inc. offers the Carolina Skiff, a boat which the buyer is able to custom rig with the dealer to fit the buyer's needs. The Carolina Skiff is designed to meet the needs and demands of the commer- cial and sport fishermen who work the choppy and shallow bays and sounds of the Carolina coast. Carolina Skiff introduced its new line of

Jon Boats in April 1993. The Carolina Skiff J-

Models offer an inexpensive fiberglass alterna- tive to aluminum. J-Models are available in 12- foot, 14-foot and 16-foot lengths. The company claims the patented foam-filled box beam con- struction process gives you an unsinkable hull with a deck that is self bailing under most circumstances. Carolina Skiff has an expanded component accessory line. For the J-series,

Carolina Skiff has added a Rear Deck with Dual

Livewells and a new 12-inch High Pedestal Seat.

For the standard models Carolina Skiff has added a Short Rear Deck and a Rear Deck with Dual

Livewells. Carolina's Stick Steering Bracket and its Over The Transom Livewell are options that will fit all models.

Ambar Producing Aluminum

SOLAS RIB

Ambar, Inc. of Lafayette, La. is approaching the production stage for 23-foot (7 m) and 29.5- foot (9 m) RIBS using the company's Norwegian design. Ambar has contracted with Bollinger

Machine Shop and Shipyard of Lockport, La. to construct the RIBS. The design currently meets

SOLAS requirements and is expected to be on the market by June 1994. It features a single point lift, a foam filled collar and diesel driven water jet.

Bollinger Expands RIB Product

Line To Commercial Market

Bollinger Machine Shop and Shipyard, Inc., as the sole U.S. manufacturer and distributor of

England's Halmatic, Ltd. RIBS, has expanded its RIB product line from the military market to the commercial sector. According to Bollinger, the demand for "top quality RIBS" is the fastest growing segment of the market. Its most popu- lar 20-foot RIB has no encapsulated wood and all glass stringers. Bollinger has experience in building RIBS for the U.S. Navy Seals, evi- denced in Bollinger's commercial RIBS.

The 31-foot fiberglass Enforcer, designed by

Dave Sintes of Sintes Fiberglass Designs, Inc.,

New Orleans, and built by Bollinger, is, accord- ing to the company, versatile and capable of meeting the demands as an economical workboat.

The Enforcer was originally envisioned as a paramilitary craft for harbor patrols and fire/ rescue operations, but its rugged construction, handling and more than 50 mph top speed has earned it a home in the petroleum and charter fishing industries.

Almar Offers Versatile Rigid

Aluminum Inflatable Vessel

Aluminum Marine Construction, Inc. (Almar) has developed its RAIV (Rigid Aluminum Inflat- able Vessel) in response to international interest in a high speed, soft riding, unsinkable vessel.

Almar's RAIV is a combination of its heavy duty welded aluminum hull and a five compartment

MIL SPEC Cooley Polyurethane tube assembly.

The RAIV is offered from 16- to 35 feet. The 24 s 14-foot model. degree hull has a foam filled core and self-bailing deck with large scuppers. The RAIV can be used in oil spill response, as a yacht tender, tour boat or recreation boat. Characteristics include shal- low draft, maneuverability, stability and ease of operation, making the RAIV useful for Marine

Law Enforcement.

Steiger Craft's Stringer System

Built In One Piece

In 1990, Steiger Craft introduced an all fiber- glass stringer system. This stringer system is constructed in one piece and then is completely glassed into the hull. This system eliminates the need for any wood below decks. Each compart- ment formed by the grid becomes a separate water-tight area which is filled with foam flota- tion. No wood below deck means no rot, and because the all-fiberglass stringer system is con- structed in one piece it can never come apart.

Winninghoff Predicts A

Design-Driven Future

Winninghoff Boats, Inc. has been designing and building welded aluminum, commercial boats for more than 18 years. While the company has always emphasized suitability of design, the mar- ketplace is ever more demanding specialized de- signs for specific applications.

Mandates for improved performance and safety in an expanding range of applications, combined with technological developments in design and production, are leading customers away from stock hull toward semi-custom and custom hull, according to Winninghoff Over the past several years Winninghoff has designed and built 20 different Vee hulls in the 16- to 50-foot range.

Response Marine Develops

Smaller Fire/Rescue Boats

Since 1989 Response Marine, Inc. has devel- oped 20- to 35-foot fire/rescue boats and marine fire fighting systems. The company continues to offer new developments in jet drive and fast, outboard-powered fire/rescue boats with the goals of increased safety, performance and mission capabilities. Due to increasing municipal respon- sibilities and decreasing municipal budgets, there is a trend toward smaller vessel with better fire/ rescue performance, according to Response Ma- rine. This trend is well suited to Response

Marine's custom hull and outfitting packages.

RTK's 6.5 m Beach Raider 30 Circle 282 on Reader Service Card Maritime Reporter/Engineering News