The Village of Riverside Department of Fire/Rescue recently accepted delivery of a new boat that is utilized for rescue and recovery operations on our waterways. The new boat is a 13 ½ foot inflatable rescue boat manufactured by Wing Industries. This boat is replacing a 20+ year Zodiac inflatable rescue boat. Both boats are similar in design and function. The new boat has an Evenrude 30hp impeller jet drive motor with electric start, which will allow the boat to operate in shallow water.
During the annual capital planning process in the Fall of 2016, Chief Buckley notified the Village Board that the older Zodiac boat was showing signs of aging and deterioration. The Board authorized the replacement of the boat as part of the 2017 Budget. After significant research and meetings with various vendors, the Wing inflatable rescue boat was selected as the replacement. The new rescue boat will serve the Village of Riverside and the members of the Fire Department for many years to come.