The FireStorm high-speed aluminum fireboat represents a new generation in fireboat technology. It is a culmination of years of study and research into high volume pumping systems and their effects on a small boat's stability, controllability, dynamic loading and righting moments.
MetalCraft custom-designs and builds every boat to customer's specifications.
| Occoquan Woodbridge Lorton
Volunteer FD |
|
|---|---|
| Speed | 42 MPH |
| L.O.A. | 27‘ 3 ” |
| B.O.A. | 10' 8"‘ |
| NFPA Class | C * |
| Pump (rated) | 1000 gpm Hale |
| Flow meter results | 1260 GPM from main, 1600 GPM flow from two monitors |
| Monitor | FireFox Remote Akron Conquest |
| Engine | Twin Yanmar Diesels 315 HP each |
| Jets | Hamilton 322 |
The unique
MetalCraft Marine proprietary designed sea chest (Copyright 2001) allows for the
large pumping capacity. This sea chest with an intake as large as a firefighter
himself, provides a filtered water source to the pump while self draining with
the boat on plane.
The monitor location is central for further range and is close to the center of buoyancy. This permits the helmsman to pivot the boat around a high thrust load at full stream while running a low engine rpm, not unlike a towboat. Operators are amazed at the boat's control while at full-stream in any given angle thereby, never allowing the boat to be blown off course.
Simplicity in design was key to the fire system. This truck design theory allows for a consistent ease of performance, maintenance and reparability.
* Some exceptions to the NFPA 1925 apply, based on individual specifications.
These systems were designed with the input and insight from the O.W.L. Fire Department Boat Team of Fire Fighters. MetalCraft Marine would like to thank these men for their contributions and their affect on the future of fireboat design.
The FireStorm operates on the Kingston hull design platform.
This Kingston hull form is a proprietary design that features a delta-pad center
planing flat, which provides the additional lift required to offer a low trim
angle through the pre-planing transition zone, "the hump".
Fireboats carry approximately 25% more fire and rescue gear than a conventional patrol boat. This normally causes the planning surface area to be very marginal or even too low in the water to plane at all. A heavy boat with a small water plane causes exaggerated high bow planning angles and heavy loads on engines reducing their longevity. With this hull design, MetalCraft has proven you can get speed and performance without compromising the equipment list.
This high efficiency Kingston hull (copyright 1987) offsets the FireStorm's
high load condition, providing additional speed and better fuel economy.
* Some exceptions to the NFPA 1925 apply, based on individual specifications.
FireStorm 36
Crash Stop (0:08 sec)
FireStorm 36
Turn Demo (0:17 sec)
FireStorm 36
Pumping Demo (0:11 sec)
FireStorm 36 and 40
Showing Off (4:21 min)
Miami FireStorm 50 at night
from flashproductions (3:09 min)
FireStorm 50
Pumping Demo (0:52 sec)
FireStorm 36
Milwaukee FD (4:28 min)
Fairfax VA
News Clip (2:11 min)