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St. Lucie Sheriff’s
Office labels Twin Vee as ‘clear’ choice for new patrol boat
FORT PIERCE -- The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department had dozens of
choices last December when it decided to purchase a new patrol boat.
After a thorough evaluation of several boats built across the country,
however, the department decided that the best choice actually came from
a boat builder less than 10 minutes away.
Passing over many better-known brands in favor of a less costly, power
catamaran produced by Twin Vee Inc., Lt. Chris VanDeventer, commander
for the sheriff’s marine unit, said the choice was “very clear.”
“We looked at Pursuit. We had a Mako and we considered that. We also had
the Boston Whaler. But I also knew of Twin Vee so it was one of the
resources that we looked at,” VanDeventer said.
“We chose Twin Vee because of price and because it handled better,” he
said.
“There seems to be a lot more deck space (compared to other 26-foot
boats). It has a nice, roomy cockpit area. And it doesn’t have anywhere
near the amount of rocking of other boats,” he added.
What really set apart Twin Vee from competitors, though, was the ride,
VanDeventer said.
“The ride is very, very smooth in the boat. Going out the inlet on a
rough day, you’re really happy that you don’t get your teeth knocked
out.”
The 2005 Twin Vee boat, specially outfitted after the purchase, replaced
a 1999 Boston Whaler that was beginning to show signs of wear and tear
after frequent use by the department, VanDeventer said.
Twin Vee provided numerous modifications to the new patrol boat,
including an all-weather, Isenglass package for the center console,
altered grab rails and storage compartments, extra lighting fixtures and
twin, 200-horsepower outboards providing a 63-mph top speed.
“They made it very easy for us,” he said of Twin Vee. "They bent over
backward to accommodate us.”
The sheriff’s department has two full-time deputies assigned to marine
duty and two additional deputies assigned to on-water duty during the
summer months, VanDeventer said.
On holiday weekends, it is common for the department’s three boats and
two personal watercraft to be patrolling the various waterways in the
county, he said.
Where the Twin Vee boat has really made a difference for the department,
beyond the ride comfort for deputies, is with accessing areas known for
needing law enforcement but still difficult to reach because of shallow
water.
VanDeventer said several such places exist in the Intracoastal Waterway
where some boaters gather for parties with alcohol. Fights sometimes
break out and deputies are called.
Reaching the conflicts sometimes was difficult in the past because
deep-V monohulled boats previously used by deputies couldn’t make it
through the shallow water at low tide, often less than two feet in
depth.
“We don’t have the problem now with the Twin Vee. The deputies are
thrilled to be able to get in and out of those places without any
issues,” VanDeventer said.
Twin Vee, one of recreational boating’s fastest-growing manufacturers,
has also provided vessels to a number of governmental, educational and
research organizations, including the Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institute in Fort Pierce.
The reliability and durability of Twin Vee boats has also prompted
SeaTow operators from across the country to purchase the company’s power
catamarans and operate them in sea conditions sometimes forcing
monohulls back to port.
Manufacturer of power catamarans ranging in length from 10.5 feet to 36
feet, Twin Vee (www.twinvee.net) is among the Treasure Coast’s top
employers among boatbuilding companies with more than 100 workers.
For more information and a personal inspection of a Twin Vee, contact a
dealer near you by referring to the company’s Web site.
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