(BREMERTON, Wash.) — Inventech Marine Solutions (IMS), manufacturer of Life Proof Boats and F.A.S.T. Collar
Systems, has been selected to enter the production phase of the CB-OTH V for the U.S. Coast Guard. The contract is for up to 200 boats over a potential 10-year period, with a total contractual value of $103 million.
The selection came from a two-phase selection process; Phase 1 was a technical, past performance and price proposal which resulted in four competitive contracts awarded. The Coast Guard ordered a demonstration vessel from each contract that went into the Phase 2 testing and evaluation. The demonstration period with all four selected boats was conducted over three months at multiple locations in collaboration between the U.S. Navy and
Coast Guard.
“The IMS boat has a number of noteworthy design features that provide mission effectiveness benefits (range that exceeds the threshold, good joystick placement, room for multiple stokes litters, removable tow post design),” stated an excerpt from the post-award written debriefing from the Coast Guard. “The contract presents supportability benefits with an engine that has an overhaul cycle that far exceeds the required minimum hours between overhaul, structure design that meets life-cycle cyclical loading criteria at 29 knots, a data logger to provide troubleshooting information, an extended radio warranty, familiarity with USCG technical data requirements, a radio enclosure, exceptional maintenance access, and improved engine mounts.
“IMS exceeded the expectations established in the Phase 1 evaluation delivering a boat that in many situations performed more capably than proposed,” the Coast Guard said. “The performance of the boat during the in-water demonstration event was noteworthy in that it averaged 30 knots in SS3, the highest of any of the boats, while eliciting comments from the operators that it was the most comfortable and capable.”
F.A.S.T. (Foam Air Stabilized Technologies) is a key element of Inventech Marine Solutions. Its foam collar technologies utilize brand-specific materials, and a construction design utilizing heat welding of polyurethane material along with a proprietary UV-stable stitching thread for heavy material construction. The foam collar provides buoyancy for safety.
The IMS-delivered vessel utilized HamiltonJet and its new HJX29 with AVX Express controls. IMS found the
controls to be intuitive, simple and very responsive during set-up and testing.
Specifications
Length: 25 feet 6 inches
Beam: 8 feet 6 inches
Weight: 6,785 lbs (lightship)
Speed: 40 knots/46 mph (performance weight condition)
Speed at SS3: 30 knots/34.5 mph (performance weight condition)
Engine: Single 480-hp Cummins QSB 6.7
Fuel capacity: 86 gallons
Observed fuel economy: 10.8 gph at 28 knots
– Inventech Marine Solutions
