ACB gets government dollars for watercraft

Bellingham Business Journal, Sept, 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Aug. 4 that included $1.5 million for the Whatcom County-based Aluminum Chambered Boats.

ACB would use the appropriation, which still has to pass through the U.S. Senate and be signed by the president, to construct a multi-mission watercraft that combines advanced electronics for communication with effective, lightweight armor.

"We think we have something totally new that's going to change the ballistics world," said ACB CEO Larry Wieber. "It's a big opportunity for Bellingham and our company."

Wieber said Rep. Rick Larse has worked tirelessly for nearly a year on the project. Sen. Patty Murray has also been instrumental, he said.

The concept used for the new watercraft is based on composite panel technology ACB President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Metz designed years ago. Metz said preliminary testing on the composite panel technology defeats armor piercing rounds, allowing for the armor in military boats to be incorporated into the design of the craft rather than bolted on afterwards. The technology will allow the watercraft to remain lightweight, maintain its performance level and maneuverability.

ACB plans to take the technology to other sectors than military.

"It's the start of many innovations that we're going to do in how you build watercraft," Metz said.

Commercial and recreational boats could also benefit from the new construction design, he said. Within the next 12 months, Metz said ACB will be rolling out designs incorporating the technology and will work to make it available to other boat makers.

Both Metz and Wieber said this part of ACB could grow to be as large as its boat-building division.

"We're excited," Wieber said. "This is a huge step forward."