MetalCraft Marine

The MetalCraft Marine FireStorm 46/48 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.

The FireStorm 46/48 is fitted with twin Darley pumps that produced flow meter results of 3600 GPM from two 1500 GPM pumps. High pump numbers are due to a unique MetalCraft Marine proprietary designed sea chest. This sea chest has an intake three times the cross sectional area of the main, can be inspected and cleaned while underway and provides a positive head to the pump. The monitor location is central to good design and is close to the center of buoyancy of the boat. This permits the helmsman to pivot the streaming at any angle. The boat's head never blows off its course. Simplicity is the key to the fire system, and is based on fire truck system design for ease of maintenance and repairability.

CBRN Options

This fireboat can be equipped with Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) options for advanced readiness. Click for more...

Portsmouth FD, Portsmouth, VA

FireStorm 46/48 Portsmouth FD, Portsmouth, VA
Max speed	42 MPH estimate
L.O.A.	47'
B.O.A.	12' 6"
Draft	27"
NFPA	Class B*
Pumps	Twin Darley @ 1750 GPM
Monitors	Twin Akron Conquest 3679 (bow & cabin top) two stern 2-1/2 inch handlines
Engines	Twin Cat C-12's 660 HP Diesels
Jets	Hamilton 322

Fire Systems

High pump numbers are due to a unique MetalCraft Marine proprietary designed sea chest.

This sea chest has an intake as large as a firefighter himself. It can be inspected and cleaned while underway and provides a positive head to the pump. It 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 under full streaming at any angle. The boat's head never blows off its course.

Simplicity is the key to the FireStorm fire system. Its fire truck-based designs promote easy maintenance and reparability.

All FireStorm fireboats pack a huge punch for their size, and their shallow draft gets them into the smallest of marinas and very close to shore.

* Some exceptions to the NFPA 1925 apply, based on individual specifications.

Hull Shape

The Firestorm operates on the Kingston hull design platform. This proprietary design features a delta-pad center planing flat. This provides additional lift resulting a lower trim angle through the pre-planing transition zone, "the hump".

Fireboats are about 25% heavier than a conventional patrol boat because of firefighting equipment and rescue gear. This can cause the planning hull surface area to be 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 heavier loads on engines reducing their longevity.

MetalCraft Marine's high-efficiency hulls offset the FireStorm's high gear-loads, providing additional speed and better fuel economy. MetalCraft Marine FireStorm fireboats give you speed and performance without compromising the equipment list.

Rescue Systems

The FireStorm-36 and 40 are NFPA Class 'C' fireboats but can meet NFPA Class 'B' pumping requirements and pumps more than 25% in excess of its pump rating. Items like the wrap around recovery deck, track system safety harness (patent pending), internal foam tanks and forward push knees are only some of the design features specific to the FireStorm rescue system.

While arriving on-scene faster than most large vessels, FireStorms offers a wide range of specialized rescue features for first or only response.

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.