VOYAGER
We Proudly use a Zodiac Rigid-hull Inflatable Boat (RIB) built and made in the USA. Named “Voyager” after the first Star Trek TV series with a female captain, we thought it only fitting to name the vessel in its honor as it is under the command of an equally intrepid female captain.
This 18.1ft boat is specifically rigged out to allow quick stowage of safety equipment as well as pinniped and orca, and whale observation gear before launching anywhere in the State of Washington. The boat lives on a trailer at the Aquatic Research Conservancy, and is always mission ready for quick deployment in fresh or saltwater.
Made with an inflatable buoyancy tube and a rigid hull, these boats combine the advantages of traditional inflatable boats – security, stability, portability, and ease of use – with those of rigid-hulled boats – comfort, agility and speed.
Its unique combination of a very low center of gravity, a deep-V hull and added stabilization of the tubes which gives the rigid hulled inflatable speed and sea-crossing capacities without compromising comfort or safety.
The Zodiac boat has an exceptional weight / area-below-water ratio, giving the boat a load-bearing capacity such that it can carry considerable loads.The buoyancy is distributed on the sides, the center of gravity is very low: this makes it much harder to capsize the vessel.
The buoyancy tubes of Zodiac boats have several compartments, separated by waterproof partitions. Thanks to its important air reserves, the boat keeps its ability to float and stays conceptually unsinkable when fully loaded, even with a deflated compartment. Zodiac boats were brought into American popular culture in the late 1960s and are commonly used by the United States Military.
They were ubiquitous in the popular television documentary series, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.