utility tender
Pictured here is a Willard 7 meter RHIB setup for Navy use.
The utility tender is our workhorse and an important part of our safety gear. The boat needs to be reliable, easily maintained, and stable in adverse conditions. Our utility boat must have a diesel engine since it will be fueled by Fir's tanks, and an inboard drive. It needs to be quick to cover bays and rivers with a shallow draft that we can beach. Finally, we would like to outfit this tender with sensors to map uncharted waters surrounding the mother ship.
After due diligence we selected a 2004 Willard 7 meter RHIB. The boat was initially configured for the U.S. Navy with a 5.9 liter Cummings diesel engine and inboard drive.