text: Industry-Leading Research Vessels
  Munson Boats builds world class survey and research vessels to meet your specific requirements. For over 35 years we have designed and manufactured highly customized boats for the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Environmental Protection Agency, universities, and private research organizations.
  Whether you're performing hydrographic surveys, testing for contaminants or collecting samples, you can be assured that you are operating a vessel with over three decades of proven performance and customer satisfaction – a boat that is incredibly practical, stable and seaworthy.
  Learn more or scroll to browse our Survey and ResearchVessels
  Arlington, VA: Leidos maritime tests and develops their advanced maritime data collection systems using a Munson Research model. The expansive wheelhouse offers an enclosed head compartment and workstations for four technicians. AC power for the 60,000 BTU air conditioning systems is provided by a Cummins Onan 19 kW genset. A hydraulic sonar derrick and a sealed bow deck moon hole allow experimental sonar systems to be tested. The wave breaker encapsulates the sonar head while stowed.
  Chatham, MA: Monomoy Island is a remote, 8-mile-long spit extending southwest from Cape Cod that is only accessed by boat. The US Fish and Wildlife Service selected this 38' Munson to transport personnel, full size vehicles, skid-steer loaders and ATV's. The vessel is USCG Certified for 20 passengers providing sightseeing tours for school field trips and tourists. Outfitting includes flip up deck seats, cabin heater, flood lights, tow post, side door, dive ladder and trailer.
  Power: Yamaha 300 hp x 4
  Yellowstone Lake, WY: Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration uses their 38' Munson to explore the depths of Yellowstone Lake, a large volcanic crater. The lake bottom contains hydrothermal vents with microbes and geology that are similar to what is found in the deep ocean. The 2-ton deck crane is used to deploy an underwater robot with sampling and filming capabilities for studying this extremely unique environment. The cabin is outfitted with a large workstation, head, air conditioning, and CPU rack. Twin Hamilton Jets with Blue Arrow controls and JET Anchor provides station keeping to set a single GPS point mooring for hands free operations while conducting deep water research.
  Speed: 20 mph, light ship
  Sanibel Island, FL: SCCF (The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aqutic resources on Sanibel and Captiva in the surrounding watershed. This Munson 32' catamaran provides exceptional stability for their marine water quality research and sea turtle rescue. The boat is outfitted with a Maxilift M110 knuckle boom crane, side dive door with removable ladder, Roll Control tank rack for 8 bottles, stern A-frame for towing research trawl nets, engine guard, jack plates, 2 tow bits and a walk-around wheelhouse with seating for 6.
  Power: Suzuki 250 hp x 2
  Seattle, WA: Research Support Services, Inc. provides technical expertise, boat support and research diving services to environmental consultants and engineering firms. The R/V Carolyn Dow is outfitted for the full range of near-shore sampling, surveying and diving operations. The a-frame travels the full length of the forward deck and can be folded for highway transport. A moon hole through the deck allows loads close to 2 tons with the a-frame oriented vertically.
  Fort Lauderdale, FL: The Broward County Public Works division is responsible for administering the county's Seaport Engineering and Construction Program. Their 30' Munson is used as a hydrographic survey vessel. Outfitting includes twin Dometic 120VAC Dura-Sea 15,000 BTU Air Conditioners, fixed aluminum engine guard, Onan QD5 5,000-watt diesel generator, large cabin incorporates port side survey workstation with 120V outlets, Universal Sonar Mount (USM). The 8 ft 6 in beam makes this boat easily trailerable.
  Beam: 8.5 ft (2.6 m)
  Power: Mercury Verado 225 HP x 2
  Salt Lake City, UT: The State of Utah Division of Natural Resources operates this 30' Munson as a fisheries research trawler for conducting biological assessments. The 1-ton hydraulic A-frame and two 1000 lb. hydraulic deck winches are used for net retrieval as well as towing a hydro-acoustic tow fin. Additional outfitting includes a 3" pipe davit, large swim step, heated cabin with hydro-acoustic workstation, 2000 watt inverter, Garmin 6212 radar/plotter/sounder, autopilot, and triple axle gooseneck trailer.
  Beam: 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
  Power: Mercruiser 8.2L 380 hp x2
  Propulsion: Bravo 2 sterndrives
  Columbia River, WA: Colville Tribal Fisheries operates their 30' Munson for assessing the Upper Columbia White Sturgeon Recovery Project. White Sturgeon are the largest and longest living freshwater fish in North America. They can weigh over 1500 lbs, reach 20' in length, live for more than 100 years, and are becoming endangered. This specialized vessel is outfitted with a large live well, A-frame with two hydraulic winches, two lifting davits, two side doors, and three control stations.
  Power: Mercruiser 8.2L 430 hp
  Propulsion: Bravo 3 XR sterndrive
  Moss Landing, CA: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories operate R/V Sheila B. in the shallow waters of Elkhorn Slough as well as open-ocean, ranging from Pt. Lobos to San Francisco Bay. The removable seating atop the cabin is ideal for visual surveys of birds and mammals and a hydraulic actuated bow door allows easy transfer of gear, personnel and divers. The cabin area provides good weather protection and includes a head enclosure.
  Power: Mercruiser 150 hp x2
  Propulsion: Mercruiser Bravo 2 sterndrives
  Louisville, KY: The Louisville District Army Corps of Engineers performs hydrographic surveys in the Ohio River to monitor water quality. A multi-beam sonar head is lowered through a moon pool in the aft deck during surveys. The wheelhouse contains an expansive computer work station used during data collection. Twin Honda 6500W generators provide AC power to the survey equipment and roof mounted air conditioners.
  Bay City, MI: The discharge of pollution into Detroit's Lower Rouge River is now controlled by Michigan's wastewater permitting program. Contamination, however, may still be in the river's sediment. The EPA Research Vessel Mudpuppy II is a shallow draft vessel specifically designed for studies to determine the nature and extent of contaminated sediment in the Great Lakes basin. Features include an Onan 17 kW genset, removable sampling tables, and a Maxilift 1,100lb crane.
  Clewiston, FL: US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is the second largest civil works district in the U.S. They commissioned Munson to build a landing craft that would allow them to load a Polaris Ranger onto the boat while on a trailer. Outfitting includes 2 side dive doors, push knees, D-Rubber port and starboard on the gunwale, T-top, removable flip out bow dive ladder, portable Honda generator, auxiliary bow steering station, joystick control system and seating for 6.
  Speed: 52 mph, light ship
  Tampa, FL: Tierra owns and operates one of the largest and modern geotechnical drilling operations in the State of Florida. Tierra operates their Munson as a Geotechnical Drilling platform for wet drilling conditions (bayous and canals). A 7200lb. roll-on/roll-off stand behind drilling rig that rests on reinforced deck plates is deployed through a moon pool deck opening. A hydraulic transom jack with 8 inches of vertical travel allows access to shallow water sites.
  Power: Yamaha 50 hp
  Propulsion: Outboard (20" shaft)
  Speed: 8mph, light ship
  Tumwater, WA: The Washington State DNR Aquatics program operates this Munson as a dive support craft in Puget Sound, the Columbia River, and outer Washington coast. With dive tank holders, electric anchor windlass, removable bow door dive ladder, large foredeck storage compartments and a 30 gallon pressurized fresh water washdown system the boat is able to support large dive teams for extended periods.
  Lake Roosevelt, WA: The Lake Roosevelt White Sturgeon Recovery Project is a multi-agency project that is responsible for assessing the white sturgeon population in Lake Roosevelt. The project has surveyed the white sturgeon population in the reservoir and the Columbia River above Lake Roosevelt. The Spokane Tribe uses their Munson to survey the Sturgeon population. Special features include a hydraulic system and a 3 inch davit with pot puller.
  Power: Mercruiser 320 hp
  Propulsion: Bravo 3 Sterndrive
  Lake Tahoe, CA: In 2008, UC Davis senior researchers observed large populations of clams in some nearshore areas in the southeast corner of Lake Tahoe. Scuba-diving scientists are unrolling long rubber mats across the bottom of Lake Tahoe to quell the clam invasion. UC Davis uses their Munson to support these dive teams and transport the rubber matting material to infestation sites. Special features include dive bottle storage and bow mounted dive ladder.
  Fuel: 125 gallons
  Lacey, WA: The Washington State Department of Ecology use this boat is use as a shallow-water hydrographic survey and research vessel in Puget Sound, the Columbia River, and outer Washington coast. The wheelhouse features a workstation with room for computers and survey equipment. An enclosed head can accessed from the main deck. Survey transducers can be deployed via the moon pool on the aft deck.
  Glacier Bay, AK: Glacier Bay National Park is a highlight of Alaska's Inside Passage. It is home to rugged mountains, wild coastlines, and deep sheltered fjords The National Park & Preserve Service conducts a comprehensive program of scientific research and monitoring to ensure that Glacier Bay's natural and cultural resources are adequately protected. The wheelhouse features forced air cabin heat, a galley cabinet and sleeping for two.
  Nespelem, WA: The Colville Tribe selected the Munson 26' for their research of diminishing Kokanee (a common freshwater fish found throughout much of the world). Outfitting includes an aluminum gill net drum, Kolstrand bulkhead hydraulic line hauler, Kinematics Marine bow roller, T-top roof, secondary bow helm and lift-out side door.
  Coeur d'Alene, ID: The Coeur d'Alene Tribal Fisheries Program mission is to restore, protect, expand and reestablish fish populations to sustainable levels. Coeur d'Alene operates multiple Munson boats including this 26'. The newest Munson includes storage shelves incorporated into the port and starboard gunnel, bow locker with integrated step, wrap-around T-top, no bow door and a Ritchie compass.
  Model 26-43 Specifications:
  Beam: 8' 6" (2.6 m)
  Olathe, KS: Garmin International operates trailerable hydrographic survey vessels. Each boat features a foredeck moon pool with a derrick designed for deploying the latest high power survey transducer. A Kohler 5EKD 5kW gasoline generator provides power for survey equipment and cabin air conditioning. A Garmin 7212 plotter/radar/sounder navigation suite includes an autopilot system.
  Model 26-23 Specifications:
  Lake Roosevelt, WA: Created in 1941 by the Grand Coulee Dam, Lake Roosevelt stretches 150 miles and is Washington's largest lake. The Lake Roosevelt Fisheries Evaluation Program (LRFEP) monitors fish populations, limnology, and water quality. Their 26' Munson is outfitted with a hydraulic gill net roller, hydraulic davit, side dive door, tow post and engine guard. The outboard motors are installed on hydraulic jack plates to facilitate shallow water operations.
  Model 26-39 Specifications:
  New York, NY: The US Army Corps of Engineers New York District is responsible for the water resource development, navigable waterways and environmental remediation projects for 400 miles of coastline, 8 major river basins, Port of New York and Long Island. Their 25' Munson is outfitted with a 600 lb capacity hydraulic A-frame and 8000 watt 480V 3-phase generator for powering a P-3 underwater vibracorer for collecting core samples of underwater sediments.
  Model 25-13 Specifications:
  Kansas City, MO: The US Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City District manages 500 miles of the Missouri River. Their 24' Munson is used as a hydrographic survey boat with aft moon pool and derrick for deploying a 45 lb. Reson 8124 multibeam transducer at survey speeds of 12-15 mph. Additional outfitting includes a Honda 6500 watt generator, 1000 watt inverter, air conditioned cabin with 3 work stations, motor guard, and triple axle trailer.
  Model 24-37 Survey Specifications:
  The space you need and more
  Survey & research vessels often require additional space for specialized instruments, computers, scientific equipment and tools. At Munson Boats,