Wrangell sightseeing tour company and water taxi service Muddy Water Adventures has added a new vessel to its fleet. The 52-foot landing craft- dubbed The Dropship- is now their largest vessel.
While it can only carry six passengers right now, company owner Zach Taylor said it will greatly expand their cargo carrying capacity.
Right now, there’s really no other boats in the area that can move bigger vehicles like that or bigger cargo. The state ferries doing their best, but like we all know, it’s just it’s been reduced and reduced and reduced. So there’s definitely a niche there that I think needs to get filled.
Taylor purchased the vessel in Homer back in May but left it docked up North due to big seas and said he’s happy to finally have it home.
He did not disclose the price, but the vessel is practically brand new, fabricated just last year. It features three Honda 250 motors, allowing it to get up to around 30 mph with no cargo.
Although there are some small products to finish and some upgrades he’d like to do for comfort -like finishing the galley and the bunk below deck- the Dropship is ready to start moving stuff now, and customers are lining up.
I’ve got a bunch of calls already for Petersburg. Going way out different hunting places. Going to Zarembo. Got a couple callers for Ketchikan, a couple callers for Juneau. So there’s stuff to be moved.
Taylor, who is also the assistant fire chief for the Wrangell Volunteer Department said that this also expands their capacity for Search & Rescue operations for Wrangell and neighboring communities.
This will be a primary search and rescue vessel. So that’s nice to have the lights and the ability to drop the ramp. You know, you get whatever’s going on. We’ve got another big boat that in a storm or bad weather can go out and help people.
Taylor purchased the vessel after selling their high-speed catamaran this past March.
