INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Brunswick Commercial and Government Products
SOTECH 2009 Volume: 7 Issue: 9 (November/December)
.jpg)
Brunswick Commercial and Government Products
Q: Could you start with a company profile?
A: Brunswick Commercial and Government Products [BCGP] is a subsidiary of Brunswick Corp., the world’s largest manufacturer of powerboats. BCGP has been providing high-quality craft to commercial and government customers for over 40 years.
Q: What are some of your products?
A: We offer Boston Whaler fiberglass boats from 17 feet to 37 feet with a number of different options to ensure that the final product meets the customer’s needs. We also have a line of Impact inflatable ribs from 15 feet to 40 feet that can also be customized to almost any specific mission.
Q: What makes these boats stand out? Why are they different or the best in the market?
A: Boston Whaler boats are built using Unibond construction, which provides more than 2 1/2 times the flotation required by the Coast Guard. Cut it in half or shoot it up, it still floats. The fact that these boats are unsinkable makes them perfectly suited for the tough military environment.
We have a separate manufacturing facility that is totally dedicated to the needs of our customers. Our boats are built from the ground up with engineering- selected laminate and heavyduty components. In other words, these are not fishing boats with gun mounts attached, they are specifically built to withstand years of tough conditions.
Q: How are Impact RIBs particularly suited for the military?
A: Impact RIBs are especially well suited to the military environment due to the reduced weight and lower susceptibility to damage. Like the Boston Whalers, these are not recreational boats in disguise; they are constructed with durable materials and heavy-duty components to ensure that these boats hold up for military use.
Q: What kind of position do you hold in the market sector?
A: We are the number-one fiberglass small boat supplier to the U.S. military and FMS. We are technologically advanced in supplying superior products that meet and exceed the customer’s mission requirements. We also have a large customer base in law enforcement, fire rescue and other commercial applications.
Q: Are you a fairly new player in the military or established?
A: BCGP has been providing boats to the military since the Vietnam War. Boston Whaler began a dedicated business for military craft in 1982. Since then, we have provided boats to all branches of the U.S. military and foreign military organizations as well.
Q: What’s an example of your success in the military, and what are some of your goals over the next year?
A: We currently have over 200 of our riverine combat craft in Colombia supporting the war on drug trafficking. We have also supported the USCG since the late ’80s. USCG PSU is currently operating sixty 25-foot Guardians in their fleet. These craft have been the mainstay since 9/11 and have been deported worldwide to support the war on terror.
Q: How are you positioned for the future within the military?
A: We are continuing to expand and introduce new models for the Boston Whaler brand with the introduction of our 37-foot Justice with triple outboards. In May of this year we began building our Impact line of inflatable RIBs, which is in direct response to demand from our military customers. We continually look for ways to offer new features and options that will support our customers’ unique missions. ♦