Anaheim, Calif., – October 2013 – (Marine NewsWire) Willard Marine, a 56-year-old builder of composite and aluminum boats, is supplying a 7-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RIB) for Na Pali Coast Hanalei Tours in Hawaii.
The aluminum-hull boat, which is being customized to meet the requirements specified by the tour operator, will be used for snorkeling and exploring sea caves, secluded beaches and ancient Hawaiian sites on the North Shore of Oahu. Na Pali Coast Hanalei Tours has been providing personalized tours of the region since 1974. The tour company is owned and operated by a local Hawaiian family.
“In recent years, Willard Marine has achieved a reputation as the leading supplier of aluminum boats for Hawaiian tour operators, ” said Ulrich Gottschling, president of Willard Marine. “We have increased our business in this sector by working with the tour companies to customize and finish the boats to meet their needs. Importantly, we also provide the complete documentation and data required to have these boats approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for use as passenger vessels.”
Willard Marine’s range of passenger boats includes fiberglass and aluminum-hull craft up to 54 ft. in length, including water taxis, cruise-ship harbor boats and tour boats. The company has also built a unique line of semisubmersible passenger boats for underwater viewing.
Willard Marine will showcase its boatbuilding capabilities at the 2013 WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, Oct. 9-11, in Booth 2343. Members of the press are invited to schedule interviews with the management team by contacting Jim Rhodes, +1 (757) 451-0602, orjrhodes@rhodescomm.com.
About Willard Marine
Headquartered in Anaheim, Calif., Willard Marine was founded in 1957, and is recognized as a leader in the design and construction of high-quality fiberglass/composite and aluminum boats for military, homeland security, commercial, law enforcement, SOLAS and other market segments. The company is privately held.
