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by a pair of Caterpillar 3126 turbo- charged diesel engines. The engines each provide 470 hp, for a combined 940 hp per vessel. The tremendous amount of power for this size of boat may seem exces- sive, but in view of its mission — to carry 11 people and 3,200 lbs. of cargo at a top speed of more than 45 knots — the outfitting is under- standable. The engines are coupled to Kamewa FF280 water jets through ZF reduction gears. The boat's navigation suite consists of Furuno radar, GPS and depthfinder, ICOM VHF and a Ritchie compass. Using the Cat 3126 to start, there were a series of fuel systems and timing adjustments to meet the performance specifications in terms of speed, acceleration range and reliability requirements. This was all accomplished using Caterpillar off-the-shelf parts, a key factor in ensuring that the engines could be supported by Caterpillar's worldwide dealer net- work. One of the key suppliers which helped garner United States Marine the contract to build the NSW RIB project was the hull's tubes, supplied by Demaree Inflatable Boats (DIB). DIB was founded by owner Dave Demaree more than 15 years ago, and including related work, Demaree has been in the inflatables business since 1973. DIB is supplying 11 sets of tubes for every six boats, which includes spares. DIB's unique tube attach- ment system allows the tubes to be changed out from the front and back, in just 20 minutes. Prior to this contract, DIB had earned some military work, but the brunt of its business in the produc- tion of whitewater business. The NSW RIB boats have not simply caught the eye of United States Special Operation Command (USSOCOM) and indus- try trade publications. United States Marine and all sub-suppli- ers in the project were recently honored at the Pentagon for work on the NSW RIB, as it was the recipient of the 1998 David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award in the category of Test and Evaluation. "It is an honor to share with the NSW RIB Program Office being chosen to receive the Packard Award," said Larry Ellis, presi- dent of United States Marine Inc. The ceremony took place in early May in the Pentagon Courtyard. The award was named in honor of the late David Packard, a for- mer deputy secretary of defense during the Nixon administration. Packard was the founder and chairman of Hewlett-Packard Co., and chairman of the Presidential Commission on Defense Management. The NSW RIB program encom- passes an order for 72 boats, 12 of which have been delivered. The entire program — as currently pro- cured — is slated for completion in 2001. For more information from the following companies referenced in this story, please circle the appropriate number on the Reader Service Card in this edition: Caterpillar 27 Demaree Inflatable Boats 28 Kamewa 29 United States Marine 30 Over four decades Renold Hi-Tec Couplings, formerly Renold H01SET Couplings, has been an innovative world leader in rubber-in- compression and rubber-in- shear couplings. RENOLD RENOLD POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION 512 West Crescentville Road, P.O. Box 4G64E CINCINNATI, OHIO 4524E-0646 Phone: (8001-850-8141 - Fax: (5131-346-7523 internet: www.renold.com generators, compressors and special industrial appli- cations. A Renold Hi-Tec Coupling can provide com- plete control of torsional vibration, fail safe opera- tion, severe shock load pro- tection, zero backlash and noise attenuation. Call Renold Hi-Tec Couplings today for details on "the complete solution". Formerly RENOLD H0LSET Couplings RB Range General Purpose. Available in shaft-to-shaft or flywheel-to- shaft configurations. Maximum torque: 30,258 Ib-ft. DCB Range Designed for marine propulsion, power generation and reciprocating compressors where long life, fail safe operation is essential. Maximum torque: 4,073,760 Ib-ft. MSC Range Innovative new design for diesel drive and compressor applications. Provides low linear stiffness, control of resonant torsional vibration, and radial removal of rubber elements. Maximum torque: 276,585 Ib-ft. The broad range of Renold Hi-Tec Couplings are preci- sion designed for long life and low maintenance in marine propulsion, diesel June, 1998 Circle 237 on Reader Service Card 93