Molokai Strait 75 at Newport

The Molokai Strait   75 luxury bluewater expedition yacht Hercules is an examples of top-of-the-line everything. For the ocean adventurer, the Molokai Strait yachts are built with steel hulls and aluminum topsides, lots of displacement and fuel.

I first saw the 75′ Hercules at the Newport, Rhode Island, boat show in the fall of 2008 and it is an awe-inspiring yacht. But it’s not a yacht for the Newport cocktail cruisers. This is a full-on expedition yacht, with a hull designed for untamed oceans and safety features equal to the adventure.

The company produced a nice video on the small ship here:

Hercules, can often be seen at the bigger boat shows on the East Coast. Everything about this vessel fairly screams “ship.” Her bulk and solid presence even at the dock is impressive. The wide-open decks, massive freeing ports at the deck edge, and commercial-grade ship port lights and watertight hatches all add to the sense of safety and security.

Molokai Strait 75 bulbous bow

Like many yachts of this size, most of the accessory systems are powered by hydraulics.  That includes one of the two anchor windlasses, the thrusters, steering, stabilizers and the Nick Jackson LPW 2700 davit on the foredeck. The design makes great use of the fo’c'sle where a clever arrangement has cozy quarters for captain and two additional crew members.

Molokai Strait 75
Specifications

LOA              75′- 6″
LWL              60′
Beam            22′
Draft             7′
Displ.           266,000 lbs (light)
Fuel             6,620 USgal
Water          1,070 USgal

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC. All rights reserved.

Sunreed 70 Power Cat ONDIN Launching at Gdansk

Sunreef Yachts said today it has launched the second in the expedition series of 70 Power Catamarans; this one named ONDIN and sold to a Chilean couple who plan to explore Patagonia. The long-range yacht will depart the shipyard in Gdansk soon and make a transatlantic passage, followed by a Panama Canal transit and final leg south to Chile.

The extreme range of the Expedition version of the 70 Sunreef Power Cat is a function both of the extreme efficiency of its wave-piercing hull design, and its propulsion system, which features twin Volvo Penta 265 HP diesels, fed from tanks holding approximately 4,227 gallons (16,000 L).  Range is 7,000 NM on full fuel tanks at 10 knots. Not only is that more than sufficient for any transoceanic crossing, it’s sufficient to enable the captain to wait for the best price or quality to refuel.

Sunreef 70 Power Cat ONDIN Enclosed Helm Station

ONDIN features some changes from the first 70, JAMBO, which is currently in the South Pacific. You can read more about JAMBO and the whole 70 Power series here. Most significant is the modification of the giant flybridge to incorporate the helm station in a covered enclosure with direct access to the interior. The aft section becomes an open area for entertaining or outdoor dining with the addition of tables and seating. The standard interior helm station on the mezzanine level has been removed and the area converted to an entertainment zone with seating and LCD TV.[[Show as slideshow]]

Sunreef 70 Power Catamaran (Expedition Series)

Specifications:

Year:                                                     2010
Hull:                                                      Composite
LOA:                                                     21.45 m / 70.4 ft
Waterline length:                                 20.54 m / 67.4 ft
BOA:                                                     9.31 m / 30.5 ft
Draft max:                                           1,55m/ 5 ft
Light Craft Displacement:                47 tones
Full Load Displacement:                 65 tones
Generator:                                            28 kVa
Engines:                                               2 x Volvo Penta 265 HP
Fuel tanks:                                            2 x 8000 L
Fresh water capacity:                        1560 L
Range at 10 knots:                            7000 nautical miles on full fuel tanks
Bow thrusters:                                       yes
Guests:                                                    8
Crew:                                                         2

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC.  All rights reserved.

Sunreef Yachts 70 Sunreef Power Catamaran SEA BASS -- Photo Courtesy of Sunreef Yachts

 Sunreef Yachts said this week it will have the 70 Sunreef Power catamaran SEA BASS at the upcoming Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show next month.  This will mark the yacht’s American premiere.  It was launched last May and made its public debut at the Cannes Boat Show. SEA BASS is currently operating a charter yacht in the Caribbean and will be available for charter in the Bahamas following the show, via Sunreef Yachts Charter.

Aft Cockpit of the Sunreef Yachts 70 Sunreef Power Catamaran SEA BASS -- Photo Courtesy of Sunreef Yachts

The first boat in the 70 Sunreef Power series is the yacht JAMBO, which was built in an Expedition version (note the wave-piercing bows in photo below) for Laurent Bourgnon, the famous Swiss-born sailor and adventurer.  Bourgnon is currently in French Polynesia with his family on a five-year, round-the-world tour aboard JAMBO. He has outfitted the yacht with a high-efficiency drivetrain as well as wind generators and solar panels and calculates his range under power, at 8 knots, as 20,000 miles.

Port Bow Profile of the Sunreef Yachts 70 Sunreef Power Catamaran JAMBO -- Photo Courtesy of Sunreef Yachts

Sunreef Yachts builds an extensive line of luxury sailing and power catamarans. We wrote extensively about the company and its various yachts here on OceanLines.  We also have a nice photo gallery of some of Sunreef’s yachts here.

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC

Updated Profile of the New Pacific Expedition Yachts PE60

Pacific Expedition Yachts said this week it has sold another in its line of expedition catamarans; a PE60.  The PE60 is a PE55 with a five-foot extension to the aft end, which adds a tremendous amount of outdoor space, as well as extra waterline length to the hulls.  The same modification has been made to the original PE45, making it now the PE50.

The first PE60 ordered will be delivered this summer. It is a 3-stateroom version with a captain’s berth.  The newly ordered PE60 is a 4-stateroom “charter version with the extra captain’s berth.  Construction on the new yacht will begin shortly and delivery is expected in 2011. The company also plans to deliver its first Coastal Expedition (CE) model (a CE44) later this year.

New Pacific Expecition Yachts Facility in Astoria, Oregon

Pacific Expedition Yachts recently completed its move into much larger facilities in Astoria, Oregon.  PEY continues to host customers and potential buyers on visits to the new factory. Recent visitors came from New Zealand, the U.K., and Russian. The company hopes to have a customer-owned PE60 at boat shows beginning late this year or early next.

Copyright © 2010 by OceanLines LLC

Artist Rendering of New Kadey-Krogen 64' Expedition Yacht

Kadey-Krogen yesterday confirmed that it is proceeding with a program to build a new flagship for the company’s model lineup; the 64′ Expedition.  As first reported here in Oceanlines last November, the new boat is designed to combine the seaworthiness and classic lines of the Expedition series with maximum interior spaces.  We’ve included the latest illustrations of the design from Kadey-Krogen. They haven’t changed too much since the original back in November. The company has settled on a continuous-duty rated engine from John Deere. The following description is from the Kadey-Krogen press release:

“Until now, the largest model offered by Kadey-Krogen has been their 58’ but the company believes there is room and interest in their buying audience for a bigger model so long as it can still be handled by a couple. The 64’ Expedition is designed to be handled comfortably by two people, yet guests and/or crew can be accommodated with privacy for all as the 64′ is available with multiple cabin and head layout options.

The saloon of the 64′ Expedition is located where every Kadey-Krogen saloon can be found: forward through the welded aluminum weather-tight doors off the fully covered aft deck. The portside galley remains amidships, directly adjacent to the saloon, so those who are prepping and cooking are still a part of the conversation. The galley is well appointed with top-of-the-line stainless appliances including a four-burner Viking range, full-size Jenn-Air refrigerator, a super-quiet Miele dishwasher, a microwave/convection oven, and trash compactor. As a first for Kadey-Krogen, there is a separate dining room to starboard, opposite the galley. The design crew at Kadey-Krogen can also accommodate the “must-haves” of an owner and will ensure the 64’ Expedition meets the needs and expectations of its owners.

A wide walkway along the starboard side provides exterior access from the aft deck to the massive foredeck that is capable of handling a 17-foot tender and related equipment. For those that favor the looks of an expedition yacht but prefer to operate a vessel outside the pilothouse in fair weather, the 64’ Expedition is available with a flybridge. Kadey-Krogen vice president, Larry Polster, believes this new boat gives the company an opportunity to showcase how it can cater to cruisers who favor designs with maximum interior space without compromising handling, safety, or range. He also points out the architectural integrity of the design and says, “We don’t stretch boats. The 64’ is built using a dedicated mold and like the 55’ it incorporates three keels. Engineering aboard the 55’ was so well received that it was natural for Kadey-Krogen to extend those features and functions to the 64’.” Both Expedition models offer complete access to all machinery spaces from a single point of entry. Owners can move from the rudder post to the bow thruster through watertight doors in a machinery space boasting 6’6” of headroom. This feature makes the 64’ unique in class and size, setting the 64’ apart from its competitors.

The innovative three-keel design by Kadey-Krogen allows the Expedition model to have greater fuel efficiency than other keel forms. Each of the skegs to port and starboard is counter-faired, with the trailing end specially shaped to rotate water flowing into the propeller in the opposite direction of the propeller rotation resulting in greater operating efficiency.

The balanced, easy to propel hull form combined with continuous duty 231hp John Deere engines gives the 64’ a range of 3,000nm at 9 knots. Supporting equipment in the engine room includes fuel polishing, oil exchange, and fire suppression systems; hydraulic stabilizers as well as bow and stern thrusters; chilled-water air conditioning; and a universal power converter—all are standard.

Like all Kadey-Krogens, the hull is built using vinylester and isophthalic resins, knytex mats, and US-made Cook® UV-protected gel coat to protect the vessel’s gel coat. Critical areas of the hull will be reinforced with a special impact-resistant fiberglass mat containing Twaron, the same fiber used to give body armor its “bullet-proof” capability. Twaron is an aramid fiber that is five times stronger than steel and up to 60% lighter than ballistic steel. This strong yet light fiber helps maintain a moderate displacement-to-length ratio that is a signature of Kadey-Krogen engineering and again results in better fuel economy.”

Some more of the latest renderings, including an alternate white hull.

Artist Rendering of the New Kadey-Krogen 64' Expedition with White Hull

Krogen 64' Expedition Main Deck Rendering

Krogen 64' Expedition Pilothouse Deck Plan

Krogen 64' Expedition Mid-Ship Deck Plan

Copyright © 2009 OceanLines LLC

Pacific Expedition Yachts PE-55 Catamaran

Pacific Expedition Yachts is a new builder, based on the coast in central Oregon, building long-range, self-sufficient power catamarans that are, compared to the traditional monohull trawler, a horse of a different color.  Actually, although the base color is white, you can have them in almost any color.  The new Expedition line of twin-hull motoryachts features sophisticated hull design and construction, utilizing Kevlar fabrics and resin-infused Nida-Core, as well as vinylester resin and expoxy.  The hull designs are built for ocean-going stability, huge volumes of living space, and the efficiencies necessary to move that volume easily and at lower cost.

The company was founded by industry veterans Patrick Meyer and John Shaw in late 2007 but already has several yachts in various stages of production.  The company’s business offices are in Oregon City, south of Portland, while the production facility is in Toledo, near Newport, on the cenral coast.  John and Pat keep a blog updated on the status of new models and production here.  The PE-45 was the first into production, but perhaps the most illustrative of the company’s vision is the PE-55, which offers tremendous size as well as good flexibility on interior selections to allow owners a moer personalized living arrangement.  The basic PE-55 specs are in the table below.

The 55 offers a saloon and galley that measure 20′ by 14′, which would be a good-sized living room in any house.  Unlike many cats, however, the PE yachts offer a unique forward section with a raised helm forward and to starboard and “sky lounge” across a central passageway to port.  This raised forward section also allows the owner’s stateroom to be on the main level and take advantage of the full beam.  There is access from the helm to the open aft deck and from there up to the flying bridge.

The main salon features a large entertainment area to port with the galley to starboard, along the bulkhead.  There is a large, raised countertop separating the galley from the rest of the salon, with room for bar stool-dining.

As an ocean-going vessel, the PE-55 has very high freeboard all around, with wide side decks and high bulwarks forward.  The cat hulls have a special, z-shape bow designed to slice through the chop for added stability and efficiency.  The hulls are semi-displacement and can reach up to 20+ knots, powered by twin Cummins 430hp QSB5.9 diesels.  With 2,000 gallons of fuel aboard, the range can vary several hundred miles to trans-oceanic, depending on the cruise speed.  The three main models currentlyi in the PE line, a 45, the 55 and a 65 use the same hulls.  In fact, two of the first PE-55 owners have decided to extend their boats to 60′ with an extra 5′ in the aft cockpit.

The lower deck staterooms — “lower” may be a bit unfair since they sit at virtually main-deck level in-part, under the raised pilothouse level – are amidships and continue the absolutely unique layout approach.  They each have room for a queen-size bed with side table, with the head of the bed near the centerline and the foot outboard.  Step down from the bed to a settee against the outboard hull bulkhead and turn to enter the en-suite head with shower stall.  There is plenty of storage space and the accommodations rival those of the master suite aboard any monohull of a similar length.

Of course, the master stateroom forward is even more sumptuous with room on either side of the full queen island for nightstands with drawers, as well as large, cedar-lined hanging lockers.  There is also a work desk and a love seat and the en-suite head features shore-size heads and fittings.

One of the best advantages of catamarans are their suitability for entertainment al fresco while anchored.  Although the PE-55 stands high out of the water, curved stairways aft lead down from the main deck to the water level for swimming and other watersports.  A davit can lower any kind of small boat down from the upper deck, where there is also plenty of room for sunning and entertaining.  The flybridge will undoubtedly be where most choose to drive the vessel; the huge, panoramic space with seating for plenty of the captain’s guests especially inviting.

The Pacific Expedition cats will be exciting to watch as they are delivered and enter service over the next several months.  To truly appreciate some of the unique features of these cat designs, have a look at the special image gallery we put together at this link:

Image Gallery Page

Copyright ©  2009 by OceanLines LLC

First Nordhavn 75 EYF is Rolled Out of Factory Prior to Launch

Pacific Asian Enterprises said it is launching its new Nordhavn 75 Expedition Yacht Fisher (EYF) this week at the company’s new factory in Xiamen, China.  Nordhavn 7501 is shown in these photographs moving out of the South Coast Marine facility in preparation for launching.

First Nordhavn 75 EYF is Prepared for Launch

Initial launch will be followed by tank testing and sea trials and the company expects both 7501 and 7502 to be on a ship leaving China Dec. 20 for the States.  PAE is determined to get the first 75 EYF ready in time to debut at the Miami Boat Show next February.

You can read more about the 75 EYF here and here.

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines

Kadey-Krogen's New Krogen 55 Expedition

While obviously intended to fit the gap in the product line between the Krogen 48 North Sea and the biggest model, the Krogen 58, the new 55 Expedition combines significant design elements from either end of the spectrum.  She incorporates the 360-degrees of visibility from the pilothouse, a hallmark of the discontinued Whaleback 48, as well as the three keels in her hull, taken from the 58.  Each of the skegs, to poort and starboard, is counter-fairs such that the trailing end is shaped to import a rotation to the water flowing into the propeller that is contrary to the propeller rotation, says Kadey-Krogen.  The company says this count-rotation cancels the prop-induced flow rotation, thereby improving forward thrust.

Krogen 55 Main Deck Plan

The 55 Expedition is a classice Kadey-Krogen full-displacement yacht, intended to cover long distances in luxurious comfort.  She’s not the heaviest of her class, but with approximately 6,900 pounds of ballast, she displaces about 88,000 pounds at half load.  Her 1,880 gallons of diesel will take her 3,000 miles at 8 knots, or, as the company says, from Annapolis to Antigua nonstop at 9 knots.  The 55 is powered by twin John Deere 6068TFM M1, Tier 2 diesels, rated at 158 BHP at 2,400 RPM.

Pilothouse Layout of the Krogen 55 Expedition

The boat draws 4′-10″ at half load and was designed with an air draft that will allow reaching the Great Lakes via the Hudson River and Erie Canal system.  Height above DWL, not including the mast, is 17′-7″.  While cruising those canals, the boat can hold 140 gallons of black water and 140 gallons of gray water.

The Krogen 55 Expedition is built to handle serious ocean water.  Her hull is reinforced at the stem and stern bottom with an aramid fiber similar to Kevlar ™.  Watertight crash bulkheads are also incorporated to increase safety at sea.  The list of standard equipment on the 55 is extensive, and includes stainless steel applicances by Jen-Air, Miele, Viking and GE.  A Northern Lights 16kW generator is included as is a bow thruster and stabilizers from ABT.

Extra nice touches included in the $1.895 million base price, are a standard fuel polishing system, Nautical Structures Euro 1,200 lb. lift capacity davit, with auto rotation, and two wing control stations.

Light-color hull rendering of new Krogen 55 Expedition

Copyright ©  2008 by OceanLines