At first glance the 1100 Impact from Brunswick Commercial and Government Products looks like another of the muscular rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that have come to dominate the industry’s patrol sector.
But over the gunwale and inside, there is no tube bulging into the crew space – just a solid, flat fiberglass gunwale that the Edgewater, Fla.-based builder calls the D-Collar after the cross-section of hybrid foam. “When the Coast Guard pulls up to a $600,000 Sea Ray they don’t want to scratch the hull,” said Jeremy Davis, director of sales for BCGP. The D-Collar design keeps that soft touch for routine boardings, with more room and maneuverability for the crew on deck, he said.
“We’re making a big program in the Middle East for 30 of these. They will be designed for offshore intercept,” Davis said. “Interdiction boats, with quad engines and shock absorbing seats, that changes the whole dynamic of these boats.”
Measuring 31’4”x11’6”x21” with a 30” high transom, the 1100 can carry up to 18 people or 5,521 lbs. Engine packages can range from 600 hp to 1,050 hp and four outboards, with a maximum engine weight of 2,400 lbs. and fuel capacity of up to 450 gals. It was first introduced at the 2011 Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) and was updated for the 2015 model year.
The company’s demonstration boat at MACC in early June at the Coast Guard’s Baltimore yard was equipped with a trio of Mercury Marine Verado 350-hp outboards, with a cruise speed of 38 knots at 4,000 rpm and a top speed of 65 knots. With a 300-gal. tank the range is 300 nautical miles. LED navigation lights and Lumishore underwater lamps illuminate night operations. On deck are four Shoxs shock-mitigating seats. The helm has a Raymarine Hybrid Touch multifunction navigation display, with an IP 200 marine camera and Icom M4240 VHF radio.
Alongside the usual throttle handles, the pilot also has a Mercury SmartCraft joystick digital control for close in maneuvering during boardings and docking. “We can do a four-man or six-man cabin. We can do twin inboard diesels jet propulsion,” Davis said.
