"Last Chance" & Aluminum Work Boats

Some of the relatively new marine designs to arrive on the St. Lawrence River are the all-aluminum work and dive boats, which we see on our waters. These utility vessels offer a range of uses, such as contractor or construction, vehicle transport on and off our islands, SCUBA diving, salvage, and fire and rescue. The aluminum vessels are built using welded construction and provide a range of customization for private and government purposes. These are rugged vessels that can hold up to tough use for island contractors, lumber yards, small ferry service, as well as patrolling and protecting our region. They can also be rigged for sporting use, such as for fishing and hunting. Being constructed of aluminum, they are able to navigate icy waters during the winter season, when fiberglass and wooden boats cannot be used safely.

One of the companies that manufactures these aluminum work boats is now headquartered in Watertown, NY, and was founded in Kingston, ON. MetalCraft Marine has had a presence in the North Country since 1987. They began operations in Clayton, NY, then moved to Cape Vincent, NY, and more recently moved their operations to a larger facility in Watertown. Their designs range in size from 22 feet all the way up to 46 feet. Their hulls can be configured in a number of ways for commercial and private applications.

On the River and the Great Lakes, the vessels are built of aluminum 5052 grade for freshwater operation. A different grade of aluminum is used in saltwater environments. The hull shape is a “deep-vee” so that they can handle the waves and chop of the waters in the Great Lakes region. The cockpits and decks are self-bailing, which is an important safety feature.

The village of Clayton has a dedicated 36 foot fire-boat built in 2003 by MetalCraft. The fire boat is named Last Chance. She is powered by a pair of Cummings 8.3 liter diesel engines that drive twin Hamilton 322 jet drives. She has a top speed of 37 knots or 42 miles per hour. Last Chance can carry a crew of eight, and is capable of transporting up to four patients. The fire boat has a Darley fire pump that can deliver 1,500 gallons of water per minute. That is lots of water for a vessel or structure fire. The boat is fitted with a 6.3 kw generator, and has a full compliment of electronics. This includes a GPS, chart plotter, radar, depth sounder, as well as a thermal imaging system suited for marine use (FLIR). And of course, Last Chance has marine radios and those designed for fire and law enforcement use.

We know that fire has been the long-time enemy of island hotels and cottages on the St. Lawrence River. So therefore, it is fitting that the village of Clayton invested in a high-speed fire-boat to combat the threat of fire that can claim our heritage. In winter, when thick ice is present on the St. Lawrence River, Last Chance is limited to lending aid. So, the Clayton Fire Department has an iceboat that can travel over the frozen River to help protect residents and property.

Three years ago, Last Chance came to the aid of Uncle Sam’s large steel tour boat Island Duchess when she struck a ledge near Sunnyside Island and off Ina Island in the Summerland Group. Island Duchess began to take on water through the hull breach, so Last Chance, as well as US Coast Guard and marine police vessels, came to the aid of the stricken vessel. They evacuated 130 passengers and provided pumps to keep the large tour boat afloat. Marine salvage experts were able to put a temporary patch on the hole in the hull and Island Duchess was sent to a yard in Kingston for permanent repairs.

Coyote Moon Vineyard has a wine named Fire Boat Red, which is dedicated to the Clayton fire-boat Last Chance. The late artist and co-owner of the vineyard, Mary Randazzo, painted Last Chance for the label on the Fire Boat Red bottles.

By Rick Casali

Rick Casali is a resident of Wellesley Island. During his youth, from 1947 to 1976, his parents had a cottage on Grindstone Island named The Orchards. Rick now splits his time between Stuart, FL, and the River. He worked for Columbia Gas System for 29 years and ran their Washington, DC office. Then in 2000, he started brokering boats and yachts, and he continues as a broker with North Point Yacht Sales. Rick and his wife Anne, cruise the River in a recently purchased 1968 Chris Craft 31 Commander, which they named Foxtrot. They also have a Seaway 24 named Miss Annie.

Rick is a member of our Over 20 Team. See 30 of Rick's other articles here.