In New York where the streets, railways and airspace are congested, water is often the best way to get around.
Kirk Moore’s March cover story, due out soon, is about a relatively new entry in the city’s tour boat market that offers a novel way see the sights. New York Media Boat has built a growing business in what it calls high-speed boat “adventure sightseeing tours.” The company got its start by offering TV news and film producers a low-cost alternative to helicopters to get close to the action. In a boat, you can stay on scene much longer, and at a much lower hourly rate. A former Coast Guard 26' Safe Boats response boat handles video producers’ needs.
For sightseeing tours, its workhorse is a Ribcraft 9.0 Offshore RIB, powered by twin Yamaha 300-hp outboards that can push a typical 2,000-lb. passenger load around at 24 knots. A typical 90-minute tour around Manhattan passes cruise ships, the Intrepid aircraft carrier museum, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty.
As Kirk wrote, New York Media Boat has carved out a unique niche, with its combination of an exciting ride, skilled narration, and close-in vantage points for passengers.
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Also in the March issue is Michael Crowley’s annual feature on diesel engines. Cummins built its two millionth X15 truck engine last year, and in September Cummins took this proven engine and tested it in the marine market when the first two X15 marine engines replaced a pair of 450-hp diesels in the Joseph M, a 65'×17' crewboat.
The article discusses other engines, including the first John Deere Power Tech 4045SFN85 production engine that went on a commercial dive boat in the San Francisco area. And MAN is currently taking orders for its new Tier 4 diesels with SCR units. MAN intends to “provide the most compact and adaptable T4 solutions in the market.”
Mike also writes about Cox Powertrain’s diesel outboards, namely its CXO300. The company says there is “no other true 300-hp diesel outboard” that meets Tier 3 emissions.
