Vessel Use:
Carry eight persons for personal/pleasure coastal use or ocean.
Design Philosophy:
Safety, durability, simplicity, accessibility and visibility.
Design Criteria:
Allow a couple to safely cruise the Intra-Coastal Waterway from Connecticut to the Mississippi River and to be able to stay aboard for several days to several weeks.
Attain a cruising speed of 20 – 25 knots and a top speed of 30 – 35 knots on a single engine.
“The Best of Both Worlds.” Sharp entry, shallow draft
Cruise at “trawler” speed of 5 to 7 knots.
Have a sharp entry in the bow with considerable reserve buoyancy to provide excellent sea keeping ability in heavy seas.
Have a wide beam which would make her stable and provide the internal area to accommodate the necessary living amenities.
Have a pilot house to provide protection from the elements and be air conditioned for operation in a tropical climate.
Have a cockpit large enough for fishing or entertaining.
Why Aluminum?
Aluminum was chosen for construction due to its durability and the ability to achieve the desired features, which are not available in production fiberglass boats. Aluminum is also lightweight, compared to fiberglass, which allows for propulsion by a single outboard.
Features
Bow rail is 27″ high which is at about mid to upper – calf, therefore, providing security and balance when going forward to work lines and fenders or the davit for launching or retrieving the inflatable.
a tall bow rail and wide side deck provide easy and safe access to the front deck for docking and anchoring.
Side decks are wider than most which allows for safer and more comfortable access to the fore deck.
Hand rails on the full length of the top of the pilot house overhead.
Hand rails inside on the pilot house overhead which go forward from the pilot house door to the helm and navigation station.
Windshield is West Coast style which cuts down on sun glare and allows the mounting of the communications equipment overhead where it is readily accessed from the helm or navigation stations.
Pilot house sole is 3″ above the cockpit sole to deter water that may come aboard from entering from the cockpit.
Cockpit has large freeing ports to quickly drain any water that may come aboard.
Hot shower water is from two five gallon Sun Showers.
Has a teak flag staff, American flag and a socket in the pilot house aft overhead for display when under way and in a lazarette rod holder for display when not underway.