Commercial Boats

North River Boats, Inc purchased ALMAR (Aluminum Marine) in 2001 with the goal of expanding North River's product line to include the specialized, commercial and military vessels that ALMAR designed and developed and built during the previous 20 years. Launched in 1975 with an aluminum boat based on the design of a prominent riverboat racer, the first boat, the Almar Jetline, quickly became the riverboat design benchmark in the Northwest and Alaska. As the need grew for an offshore hull, the Sounder line was developed, with hulls ranging from 17 to 38 feet in length. Almar developed one of the first aluminum hull RIBs for the U.S. market, in the late 80's. Almar's version of aluminum RIBs is called RAIV (rigid aluminum inflatable vessel). Today the RAIV series incorporates, either fully inflatable collars or hybrid foam fender collars, for vessels up to 45' long.

The first RAIV series, designed for use in offshore Hawaiian waters, influenced changes in the Sounder model. In response to increasing requests for a softer ride with more power, Almar adapted the RAIVs deep 24-degree bottom to the Sounder hull and added a wide, flat chine in the early 90's. The step-chine Sounder was the result, and fast became the overwhelming choice for high-speed patrol and rescue craft. Almar had also developed high-speed landing craft that proved to be a popular design for many government agencies and commercial interests who had a need to move equipment over the water to unimproved landing sites. Today, North River Boats is continuing the Landing Craft product line with vessels up to 45' in length with cargo capacities up to 15,000 pounds, at planning speeds. Over the years Almar and North River have been avid promoters of the advantages of diesel jet propulsion and all models produced today, Sounder, RAIV, Landing Craft, are all designed to utilize Hamilton Jet propulsion to it's well known advantages of shallow draft, efficiency, high speed, load carrying and excellent low speed control.

With North River's large and modern aluminum boat building facility in Roseburg, OR the company will continue to grow with more models being introduced and larger vessels being constructed. All design work is carried out in-house using the latest AUTO CAD design program with full engineering and Naval architecture back up.

Today, North River Boats custom designs vessels for many different clients - from Charter fishing boats to the U.S. Navy's requirement for patrol and fleet protection vessels and local, state, national and international governments. North River Boats has extensive experience with the complex paperwork and formalities involved in Government contracting. North River Boats has already developed many designs that can be utilized to meet certain specifications or, if needed, the vessel can be custom designed to meet specifications.

From dive boats to landing craft to rigid inflatables, no two customers' needs are alike. And neither are the custom all-welded aluminum boats we design and build. Each vessel is unique, because it's fashioned for the way you plan to use it. We can customize 17' to 45' aluminum vessels to exacting specifications for nearly any purpose, without sacrificing structural integrity, finish detail, strength, seaworthiness or durability.

Now the only question is, what can we do for you?