Luxury speedboat built for export

A new boat built in Belize has been launched today: the Eco Jet 18. According to owner of Eco Craft Limited, Stephen Thompson the boat is one of a kind and every Belizean should be proud of what is made in Belize.

Stephen Thompson, Eco Craft Limited

“It’s an eighteen-foot, single logged, mahogany built round-about which was in style in the 1930’s and it has a jet drive. As far as we know it’s the first jet drive boat built in Belize.

We have been working on it off and on for a year. It was built out of three layers of one-eighth inch mahogany with the highest technology available right now. Probably this is one of the highest technology boats of this type right now.”

Eco Craft Limited not only built the Eco Jet 18, but they also build fishing boats and they are working on a new design. Thompson says that while he is proud of his company’s products the people who really need to be commended are his workers.

Stephen Thompson

“The whole launching is not for us, for me or for the company, it’s for the workers. We operate almost invisible in Belize. We build things and ship them out and these fellows don’t get the recognition they deserve for the super workmanship that they perform. And every Belizean should be proud of what they are doing right here because you can build a world class product in this country. They can compete with anyone anywhere.”

The Eco Jet 18, which Thompson says is a rich man’s toy, costs about eighty thousand dollars and my ride on it is one I will never forget. Hyacinth Latchman for News Five.

The Eco Jet 18 was built by master boat builder Charlie Alamina.