Twenty-seven year veteran pilot Frank Knowles chose Northwind Marine's 27' Extreme Task Force Aluminum-Hull Rigid Inflatable Boat (A-RIB). The rugged inflatable collar, increased safety, low maintenance 5,000 series aluminum, reduced travel time and mobility are a few of the reasons why. "One of the best features of the boat is the tube," said Knowles, the 61 year-old Panama City Bar and Harbors Pilots Inc. associate. "You get along side a ship and turn the boat into the ship and it will stick like glue to it. I put it up against freighters and don't have trouble getting aboard…in rough seas" Besides comfortable boat-to-ship contact while boarding, another advantage of the five chamber inflatable tube is its ability to absorb energy. This ability adds safety and performance. "In short chop the boat doesn't beat you to death," Knowles said. "I've had the boat out in 12 to 14 foot seas. The boat doesn't rock and it's stable in the trough. There is no way you can stick the nose under in a sea and have it go down. It's going to come back up. The boat from a safety standpoint is as safe as any 50' to 60' boat because the stability of the tubes." Due to the need for low maintenance, Knowles chose the 27' Extreme Task Force A-RIB instead of a traditional 40' to 50' fiberglass or steel hull pilot boat. "There is no paint on the boat except for the non-skid." For the regular 100 hour maintenance on the two 200 hp Yamahas, "I can put the boat on the trailer and take it in for service. I've had the boat for three years and spent less on this than one ship yard hull-out bill." Recapping a discussion with another pilot who owns a 47' crew boat, Knowles said, "You don't need them that big. I'll go out in anything you'll go out in with that forty-seven footer. I'll feel a lot safer and my ride will be a lot better then yours and I'll make better time than you will." Knowles said that for economy, he likes to run his twin two stroke Yamahas around 3,800 rpm and cruse at 30 to 35 mph. In rough water he said he slows down to 20 to 25mph. "Speed is just one advantage," he said. "I burn about 10 gallons an hour. My fuel is cheaper. My insurance is cheaper. I can put the boat on a trailer. If I fell off the ladder while boarding I would hit the tube instead of breaking my neck on a steel deck. "It's the best boat I've ever had. If I had to do it over I'd buy what I got. Everything is excellent on that boat: the craftsmanship, material, the way it was welded. I have no cracks anywhere on the boat. They used all the best materials when they built this boat. I don't think you could find a better built boat anywhere."

…Frank Knowles has worked on the water all of his life. He received his captain's licenses when he was fourteen, and when he was old enough, he joined the United States Coast Guard. For the last twenty-seven years he has worked as a pilot. If you would like to contact Frank Knowles please call Northwind Marine Inc. at (206) 767-4497 for information.

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