130-passenger craft will be a unique gaming and event destination at popular casino.
SUPERIOR, Wis. (February 25, 2021) – Lake Assault Boats, a leading manufacturer of custom-built craft of all types, is delivering a 79-foot passenger vessel to Four Bears Casino located in New Town, North Dakota. The first of three separate modules is being transported this week to facilities near the casino for final assembly and outfitting. Once placed into service, the vessel will be docked on Lake Sakakawea where it will operate as a gaming and dinner cruise destination for Four Bears customers.
“With support from Fraser Shipyards and one of the nation’s finest naval architectural firms, this exceptional vessel showcases the many talents of the entire Lake Assault Boats team,” said Chad DuMars, Lake Assault Boats vice president of operations. “Once in service, Four Bears Casino will be home to a very appealing, all-new entertainment venue unique to the region.”
With an overall length of 79 feet, the steel hull craft features a 30-foot beam, three decks, a welded aluminum pilothouse and an insulated engine room. The vessel is powered by a pair of Cummins 330-hp engines enabling it to achieve a cruising speed of 10 knots, and carries up to 150 passengers and 30 crewmembers. It is outfitted to serve a wide range of events – and boasts a full dining room, bar service, a deck enclosure, recessed LED lighting, slot machines, gaming tables, eight restrooms, and much more.
“Constructing the vessel in three distinct modules – and then transporting them to North Dakota – presented logistical challenges our team handled without issue,” added DuMars. “We can’t wait to see it fully assembled and outfitted. Once in service, it’ll be an ideal destination for a Lake Assault Boats company-wide celebration!”
Four Bears Casino is situated on the Fort Berthold Reservation and owned by the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation). Opened in 1993, it was one of the first casinos in North Dakota. Lake Sakakawea is located in the Missouri River basin in Central North Dakota and is the nation’s third largest manmade reservoir, after Lake Mead and Lake Powell. The lake is a popular recreation destination for fishing, camping, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Photo caption: Lake Assault Boats is delivering a 79-foot passenger vessel to Four Bears Casino located on Lake Sakakawea in New Town, North Dakota. The craft is being transported in three separate modules to facilities near the casino for final assembly and outfitting. Shown here is the craft’s uppermost module.