Bob Beck News

Superior  Wis. fire, patrol, and rescue craft builder Lake Assault Boats, part of Fraser Industries, has named Banner Fire Equipment, Inc. – of Roxanna, Illinois – as its sales and service dealership for Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and portions of Illinois. “Adding Banner Fire Equipment to our dealer network is great news for fire departments and law enforcement agencies in the region that have protection areas with on-the-water responsibilities,” said Bob Beck, director of sales and marketing at Lake Assault Boats.

Superior, Wis.based patrol, fire and rescue craft builder Lake Assault Boats has opened a 14,800 sq. ft. repair, service and maintenance facility in Portsmouth, Va. Marine industry veteran, Smokey Glover, along with his team of five highly regarded and experienced technicians (all formerly with Willard Marine) will lead and support the operation.The full-service operation will focus on repair, overhaul and maintenance services. The team can be dispatched on an as-needed basis to locations anywhere around the globe.“We are beyond excited to add a large and well-equipped hub facility…

However readers might define “normal”, 2020 was anything but. But the business of rigid inflatable boats (RIB) has been going at full throttle.Matthew Velluto, Director of Business Development and Marketing at RIBCRAFT USA, based in Marblehead, Mass., described a business moving steadily ahead, though it’s had to weave and bob at times during 2020. “We’ve been able to stay open throughout 2020, with no disruptions on our side,” though he acknowledged hiccups further down in the company’s supply chain. He explains that the business was deemed to be “essential”.

Willard Marine, a manufacturer of aluminum and fiberglass commercial and military boats, will present at the High Speed Boat Operations (HSBO) Forum in Lisbon, Portugal from May 4-6. The HSBO Forum, gathers professionals from around the world to discuss new development, research, technology, operational procedures and equipment for high speed boating. Willard Marine Director of Sales, Bob Beck, will present Operational Risk Management procedures and a method to evaluate risk using a customary U.S. Coast Guard model. Beck will also discuss procedures used by the U.S.

Willard Marine, Inc. (WMI), a manufacturer of composite and aluminum boats for 57 years, announced the appointments of Bob Beck Jr. and Renée St. Lawrence to its sales team. Beck joins the WMI Sales and Training team with more than 24 years of experience in the U.S. Coast Guard where he held several ranks and also acted as the Supervisor of Coast Guard Units managing personnel, budgets and maintenance contracts. Upon retiring from the Coast Guard, Beck joined Zodiac as the Coast Guard Customer Support Manager and Director of the Maritime Training Academy…

Zodiac of North America, Inc., manufacturer of military inflatable boats and rigid-hull inflatable boats (RIBs), announced three essential staff changes. Vice President and General Manager, Steve Seigel, has been promoted to President and General Manager of the Military and Professional products business. Bob Beck has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer, and T.J. Tracy has been promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing. In the next twelve months, the Zodiac Military and Professional business intends to add more U.S.

The Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) has become an invaluable part of 21st century Coast Guard cutters. "Often the mission of the cutter is to get a RIB and its crew on scene for interdiction, rescue and other missions," said J.J. Marie, president and CEO of Zodiac of North America, headquartered in Stevensville, Md., a leading manufacturer of RIBs. RIBs have been used on cutters for many years, especially the large Legacy Class of vessels. Those RIBs were attached to the ships via davits and lowered in the water and recovered and stowed on deck. Fast-forward to February 2003, and the start of the Deepwater program, a $20 Billion, 25-year program to upgrade the Coast Guard's land, sea and air assets. The first part of the program was to renovate and upgrade the 49 Island class, 110-ft.