Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Boat Building

All vessels are designed and constructed with commercial use in mind, specifically for the Pacific coastal waters. Through annual high season uses, all vessels have had some changes and modifications to enhance their working life span. These changes have increased their average commercial use by several years and reduced their overall operating cost, thus producing very dependable equipment when the operation demands are high. Easy access and inspection to maintenance areas make these vessels maintenance friendly.

  • Shoreboat/Watertaxi, FRP
  • Nautilus Sales, FRP
  • Glass Bottom Boat Sales, FRP

WILLARD MARINE INC.

Willard Marine Inc. Constructed by Willard Marine, Inc. of Anaheim, California, for Island Enterprises, Inc., of Catalina Island, California, is the nation’s first semi-submersible 49-passenger vessel, completely built in fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP). To be operated from Catalina Island, the launching and delivery in May 1999 coincided with the beginning of the high tourist season and will also support the weekly Island visits by cruise ships.

Island Enterprises Inc. President, Jeff Stickler, states that “this new addition to our fleets a state-of-the-art attraction for underwater viewing, including a Hollywood type high-tech underway program on a large Plasma flat screen with surround sound and 18,000 watts of Halogen lamps for night viewing. Also unique are the fish feeding mechanisms which disperse fish food with torpedo-like action at each of the 28 large, 26-inch diameter underwater windows.”

The principal statistics for the vessel are 65 ft LOA, 16.5 ft BOA, 6.3 ft draft, and 203,000 lbs displacement including 123,000 lbs of ballast. Coast Guard certification is for 49 passengers plus one operator and one crew member. The design is by Alan Andrews Yacht Design, Long Beach, CA. Additional technical information and drawings available to firms with potential requirements. If you are interested in further information, [email protected]“>Click Here!

The 65-foot fiberglass semi-submersible underwater viewing vessel was launched on May 10, 1999. After sea trials and U.S. Coast Guard inspection, the Nautilus motored to its home port of Avalon, Catalina Island, California on May 25, 1999. The fiberglass mold will be used to build sister ships.