Meet the New Wawasee Fireworks Barge Fleet
The new barges are an impressive local story.
Following a multi‑month selection process that considered more than twenty potential local, regional, and national partners, the WPOA Fireworks Barge Committee has formally selected Swiss Perfection of Syracuse, Indiana to build the new fleet.
The committee began with a broad field of prospective fabricators, narrowed it to twelve detailed reviews, requested six formal bids, scored each proposal, completed reference calls, and then recommended Swiss Perfection to the WPOA Board. The Board unanimously approved the committee recommendation based on quality, safety, value, and the company’s ability to deliver a long‑lasting barge system specifically designed for fireworks operations on Lake Wawasee.
Each barge frame is built from extruded aluminum sections with no welds, manufactured by Aluminum Insights, right here in Syracuse, Indiana. The weld‑free design provides strength, durability, and consistent performance over time.
Underneath each barge, Nautilus™ Dura Floats made from high‑impact polyethylene and filled with closed‑cell urethane foam provide exceptional buoyancy and impact resistance. On top, the working surface is McNichols® Fiberglass Grating, the same type of fire‑retardant decking used on ocean oil rigs, generously donated by the McNichols Family, Pier 690. This in‑kind contribution helped keep the total project cost comfortably below budget while providing a durable, fire‑resistant platform for the pyrotechnic crew.
In total, the 12‑barge fleet will cost $310,700, well under the original $350,000 budget approved by the WPOA Board.
Prototypes, Partners & the 12-inch Test
In early November 2025, two prototype barges were delivered to the lake for real‑world testing. Diamond Pier Pros moved the new prototypes across Lake Wawasee in sub‑freezing conditions, Main Channel Marina launched them for the first time, and Wawasee Boat Company provided year-round storage. Their support made it possible to safely stage the first full‑scale test of the new system.
On Veterans Day, November 11, the WPOA fireworks team and its professional pyrotechnic partner, Zambelli Fireworks, conducted a controlled test of a single 12‑inch shell from one of the prototype barges near the DNR launch area. All permits were in place, safety boats were on the water, and conditions were closely monitored throughout the test.
Historically, the Wawasee show has supported fireworks shells up to 10 inches. The successful 12‑inch test represents the largest shell ever launched over Lake Wawasee and an important proof of concept for the new fleet. The prototype barge performed as designed, and the 12‑inch shell rose higher, broke wider, and delivered a deeper, more resonant report than anything previously used in the program—a true preview of what Wawasee 250 will bring to the entire lake in 2026.
Following this test, WPOA gave Swiss Perfection the go‑ahead to fabricate the remaining ten barges, bringing the new fleet to a total of twelve. Fabrication will continue through 2025 and into 2026 in preparation for Wawasee 250.
View video from our NEW barge prototype 12-inch test launch!