Sea Tow Services International, Inc. proudly announces the Sea Tow 30th Anniversary Boat Building Project, taking place this summer at its Sea Tow Treasure Coast location in Jensen Beach, Florida.
Sea Tow’s marine assistance vessels, which boaters know by their trademark yellow hulls, face constant wear and tear while responding to boaters caught in all kinds of weather conditions, as well as during towing and salvage operations. These boats must be rugged, durable, fast, and efficient in order to provide the superior on-water assistance that Sea Tow members and other boaters expect. All boats utilized by Sea Tow locations across the country are purpose-built for everyday challenges. However, Capt. Ryan Pratt of Sea Tow Treasure Coast, is building his own custom 24-foot Sea Tow vessel at his Jensen Beach, Fla., facility.
“I build out every one of my boats myself, with the help of my team; I like to have control of the process and understand all the systems of the boat. This is the fifth one we’ve done,” said Pratt, “Equally important, the project allows us to outfit the boat with the very latest equipment and electronics from a wide variety of marine manufacturers, as well as innovations that we have developed over the years.”
More than a dozen sponsors are providing cutting edge accessories and equipment, including Mercury Marine (twin 150 FourStroke outboards), CPI Marine (tubes), SeaStar Solutions (hydraulic steering/Optimus 360 joystick control), SIMRAD (Structure Scan sonar, Broadband 4G radar, autopilot with iPhone control), Bluesea Systems (electrical components), FLIR (thermal imaging), Shockwave (shockmitigation system), Marine Rescue Technology (406 EPIRB detection & tracking), Rigid Industries (LED lighting), Novabraid (dock and tow lines), Magic Tilt Trailers (custom aluminum tandem torsion axle trailer), David & Clark (wireless communication headsets), and Marine Propulsion Technologies (multiple nozzle venture system).
The project boat is based on a Willard 730 fiberglass hull manufactured by Willard Marine of Anaheim, Calif., which builds RIBs (Rigid Infl atable Boats) for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. “These hulls are designed to handle rough seas and waves. They are maneuverable, strong, and perform well,” Pratt said.
Once the project boat is completed, Capt. Pratt will take the vessel on a nearly 500-mile shakedown cruise to Harbour Island on Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
Follow the progress of the build at boatbuild.seatow.com.
SPECIFICATIONS
Sea Tow Treasure Coast’s Williard 730
Innovative equipment and systems featured on the Sea Tow vessel will include:
- Mercury 150 FourStroke outboards. The lightest 150-hp outboards in the world, they will give the Sea Tow boat speeds of up to 42 knots, combined with excellent fuel efficiency.
- CPI Marine tubes. These mil-spec tubes will extend the vessel’s beam by 32 inches, adding stability under way as well as forming a protective collar.
- Optimus 360 by SeaStar. This joystick steering system will provide 360-degree maneuvering capabilities when coming alongside a vessel in distress, docking, and in other low-speed situations. The system’s SmartCylinders and actuators allow the driver to steer each of the outboards independently using the joystick control.
- Shockwave ICE2 Shock Mitigation System. The center console seating unit is suspended 12 inches off the deck. There is shock mitigation on three different axes. “The distance from your arm to the throttle always remains the same,” Pratt explains. “It’s new technology; as far as I know, the system has only been installed twice before in North America.”
- Multiple Nozzle Venturi System. Installed around the propellers, this system by Marine Propulsion Technologies will improve the vessel’s operating performance, maneuverability and stability.
- Rigid Industries LED Lighting Panel. Mounted on the boat’s transom, this panle uses different colored lights to alert swimmers in the water of the status of the motors — in neutral or in gear.