Tom Wroe News

MetalCraft Marine (MCM) has announced an exciting strategic partnership has been signed between MetalCraft Marine and Bill Connor, President of Connor Industries and Stanley Custom Aluminum Boats. Mr. Connor will be President of MetalCraft Marine and MetalCraft Marine US Inc of Cape Vincent NY. Mr. Connor is a major contributor to the boating industry and sits on the Board of the NMMA and Toronto Boat Show. Both companies have great expertise in their respective markets:  large vessels up to 90’ for military, law enforcement, and fire/rescue, and smaller vessels from 14’ and up for specialty commercial work, and for recreational use. MCM and Stanley Boats are used worldwide in the energy business, in conservation, crew transport, and in public safety.

MetalCraft Marine Incorporated is a fully integrated designer and manufacturer of custom high performance fire, rescue, patrol, research, and other specialized work boats. The company is the North American industry leader in the design and manufacturing of high speed aluminum water-jet propelled craft. MetalCraft Marine designs and builds custom and semi-custom aluminum workboats, provides engineering and analysis using computer aided design, fit out of marine mechanical, hydraulic…

MetalCraft Marine Incorporated is a fully integrated designer and manufacturer of custom high performance fire, rescue, patrol, research, and other specialized work boats. Boats range from 24’ to 70’ in length and can reach speeds of 50 KT. Established in 1987, the firm is a leader in the design and manufacturing of aluminum water-jet propelled craft building over 600 hulls to date. Customers include the US Coast Guard, Navy, various cities and municipalities, the Panama Canal Authority, and several countries. MetalCraft designs and builds boats World Wide.

On the occasion of Metal Craft Marine’s 25th anniversary, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News ventured north, to the boat builder’s Kingston, Ontario headquarters, to discover the secret to its success. Metal Craft Marine is well regarded in maritime circles for designing and building high performance craft outfitted for the most demanding work conditions. While the company is diverse in its work scope and capability, its history lies in high-performance jet boats and its current core competency lies in the construction of tough fire boats and military boats for worldwide use.

A new generation of fireboat hit the water this June. The NFPA Class 'C' 37-knot speedster exhibited speed, maneuverability and control. She had high pumping capacity and the ability to recover more injured survivors at one time than boats twice her size. This original design by MetalCraft Marine's Tom Wroe, had its concept drawing sketched on a napkin late at night after a long business dinner, where members of the Occoquan, Lorton, Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department (OWLFD) added valuable operational input to the designer's pen. The procurement committee of OWLFD had spent two years educating themselves about what was available in the marketplace, including hull designs, propulsion alternatives, pumping systems and known sea rescue techniques.