Built to Save Lives: Meet 1000 Island Airboats

A rescue vehicle from this Badger State manufacturer earned statewide recognition in the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest.

Innovation doesn’t always announce itself with fanfare. Sometimes, it shows up quietly, engineered with purpose, built with care, and trusted to perform when conditions are at their worst.

That’s exactly why the Search and Rescue Airboat built by 1000 Island Airboats was named 2025’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.

The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest, hosted by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, celebrates the creativity and impact of the state’s manufacturing community. Nearly 150 products were nominated in 2025, with the winner advancing through a bracket-style contest decided by a public vote. The process invites residents to take a closer look at what’s being made locally, often by companies operating just down the road.

Manufactured in Marion, Wis. where this small company is located, the airboat is designed specifically for harsh winter conditions, where open water and ice collide and traditional rescue vehicles can’t safely operate. It’s used by municipalities and federal agencies to reach people who would otherwise be unreachable.

Company president Fawn Rogers says the recognition reflects both the innovation behind the product and the responsibility that comes with building it.

“It’s a unique product because [the Search and Rescue] is there to save lives, and it’s one of the only vehicles that can reach individuals in danger in precarious winter conditions, especially the ice. The first responders put their trust in the airboat that we build for them,” she said.

That trust is why Rogers describes the boat not only as a specialty item, but a necessity.

“It’s a game changer for some of these search and rescue municipalities, the fire departments, and the sheriffs.”

Each airboat is custom-built, shaped by how it will actually be used in the field. The manufacturing process is deliberate and hands-on, guided by feedback from first responders operating in unpredictable and often dangerous environments.

Behind every boat is a highly skilled team of people, who work closely together to build each vessel from start to finish.

The boats themselves are built from a network of domestic, and often Wisconsin-based suppliers. Fiberglass composite hulls and rudders are produced in the town of Two Rivers, while engine cages are welded in Freedom. Radiators and other fabricated components are also made in the state, and the boats are powered by U.S.-made GM engines.

Since relocating operations to Wisconsin in 2017 from Canada, the company has leaned into the state’s strong manufacturing base and close-knit supplier network, something Rogers says has made a meaningful difference.

“Manufacturing in Wisconsin has been good. Within 50 miles we can find multiple suppliers that are happy to help us with fabrication or parts that we need. Whether it’s welding on our cages, powder coating, canvas, or harness making, it’s all here in Wisconsin.”

The impact of those design and manufacturing choices can be seen in where the boats are put to work. 1000 Island Search and Rescue Airboats are used by agencies in Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New York, Wyoming, and Alaska, as well as agencies in Canada. Federal agencies have also turned to the vessels, including the United States Marshals Service, which operates one of the airboats in Anchorage, Alaska, supporting missions in remote and challenging conditions. The United States Coast Guard operates two of the boats with one stationed in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., and another in Marblehead, Ohio. Closer to home, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has purchased two airboats for use in rescue and patrol operations. From the Great Lakes to Alaska’s harsh terrain, the boats are trusted to perform where access is limited and conditions are unforgiving.

Being built in the United States also matters for another important reason. Federal agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard are required under the Jones Act to use vessels with domestically built hulls. Because 1000 Island Airboats manufactures its hulls in the U.S., the company is able to support critical government missions, from winter rescue operations to maritime and border enforcement.

It’s a reminder that where something is made can directly affect who it can serve.

When conditions are toughest and options are limited, this Wisconsin-made airboat is built to show up. And that’s what makes it the coolest thing of all.