Jet Boat Saves Lives in Philippine Floods

It started as a sales' call and turned into a rescue mission. In the end, a single boat helped save 1,200 people. SJX's specialized jet boat - semi-flat bottomed, strong aluminum sides, able to carry loads of more than 2,200 pounds - was put into action immediately after the late September typhoon that hit the Philippines.

It started as a sales' call and turned into a rescue mission. In the end, a single boat helped save 1,200 people.

SJX's specialized jet boat - semi-flat bottomed, strong aluminum sides, able to carry loads of more than 2,200 pounds - was put into action immediately after the late September typhoon that hit the Philippines. Subsequent flooding from Typhoon Nesat displaced more than 100,000 people and left 50 dead.

SJX, based in Orofino, Idaho, had sent demonstration boats to the Philippines just months earlier to show government officials how effective the boats could be in times of emergency. These jet boats - called the Muscle Jon - can operate in water as shallow as 4 inches deep, and have a specialized bottom coating along with a tunnel system for the jet drive that allows it to work in debris-littered water.

"In flood situations, our boats have to be able to operate in the midst of an unbelievable amount of debris and also be able to withstand hits by large items," said Steve Stajkowski, owner of SJX.

The boat used in the rescue operation was sent to the flood stricken area of Bulacan province, Stajkowski said. And while the boats are rated for 2,200 pounds, they can carry up to twice that in certain conditions. The one used in the rescue operation carried up to 15 people at a time, in addition to their possessions and the boat's crew.

Use of the boat drew thanks - and an apology - from the disaster management office from the Philippine city of Olongapo. The official noted that the jet boat had been hit by the roof of a house that had been swept by raging waters.

"This incident happened when the jet boat was tasked to rescue a pregnant woman and her family with four children," the official wrote, adding that the roof began dragging the boat down the river. "Fortunately, the operator successfully maneuvered the boat away from the roof, thus transporting its passengers to safety."

Typhoons are common in the Philippines and search and rescue operations are frequent. While SJX typically makes its jet boats for the recreation market, used for fishing, hunting and river camping, it more recently has found a niche in law enforcement and government. The company sold 24 boats to the military in Ecuador to be used to catch drug traffickers that use the region's vast waterways to avoid detection. Search and rescue is now another function for these unique shallow-water type jetboats.

"In 2007, we started designing boats for the military, for harbor patrol, for search and rescue," said Stajkowski. "There are a lot of rivers around the world that have black water - water that is so filled with mud and debris that you can't see what is underneath the surface, and more so in flood-stricken areas. These types of conditions are exactly why this type of boat was designed."

SJ-X Jet Boat expo at Olongapo-Subic

This boat is going where no boat has gone before.

It flies, rock jump, run on sand & heavy mud, yet it handles exceptionally well. The acceleration and braking power is just awesome. Tight turns and low clearances is not a problem... and man you should experience the "drifting" manuevers that this boat can do.

An SJX Jet Boat is a thrill ride on the water and a rugged utility vehicle for a very unique water environment. It is a watercraft that is in a class of it’s own designed for the important task of defending our shores and waterways.

The SJX is the most unique high performance jet boat available because of its unmatched power-to-weight ratio, fuel economy, tremendous payload, brutal acceleration, superb handling, along with its unmatched shallow water abilities. SJX boats are multi purpose, hunting, fishing, touring, and working jet boats that will get you and your gear where you want to go, even when others can't.

Its anti-narcotics/anti-terrorism potential is now being eyed by the police and military. Its search and rescue capability specially when requiring quick responses and rapid deployment is job obviously suited for this machine.

(Report by Ed Piano, Photo/video by Mark Orpiano)

What makes the SJX jet boats a step above the rest is the many "exclusive" features and components that are incorporated into each hull as standard equipment. Examples; Eight NEW extrusions designed/produced by SJX and only used by SJX. Interior Full Metal Jacket Bed-Liner coating (SJX is the only boat MFG to use this high quality bed-liner material). Every component of the interior is coated with FMJ not only for its tremendous durability, but for very effective noise damping resulting in a much quieter, comfortable, and more durable boat. In addition the entire sub-floor structure has ZERO skip welding, an expensive, labor intensive production process that comes as standard equipment in every boat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUzsklE84HU

This boat is deployed in riverline environments across the globe where the most extreme conditions exist. Due to it's versatile design and rugged construction SJX is able to provide, troop transport, close fire support, re-supply, shallow river rescues, law and boarder enforcement, and illegal drug interdiction.

Overgaard Jet boat team with SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza and Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce President Danny Piano.

Overgaard, a Subic Bay Freeport Zone registered company, in partnership with SJX Jet Boats, manufacture and sell the SJ-X 2170 and SJ-X WL WC Jet Boats.

To introduce these impressive jet boats into the Philippine market Overgaard is holding an Aluminum Jet Boat Expo this month. The event will be attended by Steve Stajkowski, the founder and President of SJX Boats. He will be visiting from the USA for the Expo and will be giving a thorough presentation of the jet boat capabilities along with demonstrations in and around Subic Bay.

In order to arrange an appointment time during the Expo please contact Ross Bendix on +63 939 2066 239 rossbendix@overgaard-ltd.com or Doops Tan on +632 913 4694; +632 913 4824 doops@overgaard-ltd.com