Author : Barry Thompson
Photos by Chris Lewis
Boudica is the first mid pilothouse sport fisherman from designer Bill Upfold and features a larger and more purposeful fishing cockpit than all of his previous boats of this similar design. Where the emphasis was always on comfortable cruising with no concessions for anything else, the new Boudica has a big leaning towards gamefishing, but still manages to maintain a high profile cruising aspect.
Mid pilothouse designs are not traditionally regarded as serious sport fishing boats, but in Boudica, Upfold has managed to blend the best of both worlds and present a well balance, functional sports motor yacht.
There were a number of interesting sport fishing innovations built into the design from the outset, such as doing away with a full boarding platform in favour of a transom step and 35 deg transom angle below the waterline. This is to aid backing up and stops the transom pushing directly against the waves and copious amounts of water flooding the cockpit.
The style has also noticeably changed with an extra wing or spoiler across the cockpit which also serves as an ideal placement for cockpit lights and speakers. It has also had a noticeable impact on reducing the ‘spray suck back’ into the cockpit, by breaking the vortex of the air across the rear deck area.
The cockpit lockers have been raised off the sole to provide deep ‘toe rails’ under, so as fisherman can more comfortably brace against the side coamings when stand up fishing. The pronounced step in the sheer provides lower coaming heights than normal and as this boat is used for gamefishing a custom made Elite chair takes pride of place in the centre of the cockpit.
The sliding double transom doors are braced below the cockpit sole so that when backing up they will take plenty of force against them without buckling in. There’s also enough space to haul the dinghy back aboard when away cruising. A second set of steering controls in the cockpit can be used when the fishing action hots up and the cockpit is complete with bait station, freezer and large lazerette.
Boudica retains the traditional Upfold drop window on the rear bulkhead which provides a convivial flow through effect from the dinette to the cockpit. The raised levels are such that you can set up a second table in the cockpit adjacent to the main dining area if you need to accommodate a few more guests. It also gives you better side and stern visibility when dining.
The U shape galley forward is finished with Avonite tops, fully insulated vegetable chiller, gas hob, convection microwave and oven and Fisher & Paykel dishdraw. The rear sole is solid teak planking throughout.
Opposite the galley, Boudica features a combination day head and en suite for the rear guest cabin, with access from the main companionway as well as the stateroom. The queen size double berth runs athwarthships and stowage areas are provided in drawers and a hanging locker. Like the rest of the boat most of the joinery is teak with panels and door fronts accented in burred elm which has been superbly executed with exceptional attention to detail by the team at Lloyd Stevenson Boat builders
Like Joandra and previous Upfold boats of this style the raised central lounge area is a focal point of the vessel. Huge wrap around leather settees either side provide comfortable relaxation, although in some similar boats the owners have chosen to replace one of the loungers with twin tube chairs.
The entertainment system is neatly hidden away in the central control area beside the stairwell which leads through to the bridge. A single screen runs the TV, DVD and video and there is dehumidifier at hand to help keep everything damp free. The open atmosphere continues through to the saloon with a large servery from the galley and the lack of a fixed bulkhead. Unlike some aft cabin pilothouse style boats that have a reputation for being closed in, this arrangement allows guests to indulge equally in everything from gamefishing to watching TV or simply relaxing in the comfortable surroundings. The highly polished dark teak panelling and trim is offset with cream leathers and hood linings.
Boudica’s other accommodation areas are all forward with two large cabins, one an owners stateroom the other a twin berth guests cabin. The guests cabin has upper and lower singles, plenty of storage areas and a translucent deck panel to let in light via the main saloon. The berths are offset and tuck back under the sole of the saloon, making excellent use of the available space. There is also engine room access closed off by a watertight Weaver door.
The owners cabin features a queen size island berth with ample access either side, twin hanging lockers and shelf space. Egyptian style fabric on the built in seats adds a nice touch and the quality aspect is again provided with the burr elm insets in the cupboard and drawer facings. The deck head panelling radiates in a pattern to the outside of the cabin to further enhance the quality image. The upholsters are to be highly commended for there workmanship on all the soft furnishings aboard Boudica.
Both cabins share an ensuite with access from the companionway and the forward cabin and like the cabin opposite has an opaque panel above letting in natural light from the saloon. A washer/dryer unit has also been stowed away in this area and is conveniently mounted under the port side settee of the saloon.
Upfold was one of the first Kiwi designers to make use of the enclosed pilothouse style and it is an area on this vessel that has come in for special attention. The owners were quick to realise that this was somewhere where a lot of time would spent, especially while long distance cruising or waiting for the strike of a gamefish. Central to the area is a large console that incorporates a Seamation plotter, Furuno gps/fishfinder and Furuno radar and is at the right height so it doesn’t impede your visibility forward. The standard Cummins instruments have been replaced with black and white Faria gauges that are recessed into the lower panel.
The double helm serves a number of purposes. Firstly as a standard helm seat, secondly as a place to stand when looking out through the cabin top –when the full width sliding sunroof is open naturally – and also hinges forward to reveal a table beneath. There is also a large lounger settee for guests on the starboard side, a smaller one to port and the whole area is fully air conditioned.
A sliding rear door opens to the upper aft deck where a central seat provides a neat outdoor area to relax or keep an eye on the activity below. A curved stairwell takes you through to the cockpit.
Many of the innovative features aboard Boudica Have come from collaboration between Stevenson and Upfold, who’s long standing relationship, has seen them complete many successful projects.
As the owners were looking to save whatever weight they could in the construction, Boudica was built using Durakore on the hull bottom, with foam and glass on the topsides. This according to builder and co-owner Lloyd Stevenson saved over 440 kgs compared with other similar hulls of the same design. Upfold has retained the same basic hull lines as his previous 16m mid pilothouse designs, although the hull is 600mm longer and like all the previous boats runs silent chines, a fine forward entry and flattens off to a shallow 12 degree deadrise aft. Displacement is 16800 kgs and Boudica is built to full MSA survey specifications to Class 5.
Power is a pair of Cummins C series producing 450hp @ 2600 rpm and returning a maximum speed of 27 knots and cruise of around 21 knots.
Boudica joins over 30 custom design Upfold boats on the water and presents a new style of pilothouse that has easily transcended the boundaries between sportfishing and cruising. It’s a damn good compromise.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Name of Boat: Boudica
- Design Name: Elite 16m
- Builder: Lloyd Stevenson
- Designer: Bill Upfold
- LOA: 16 m
- Beam : 5m
- Draft: 1.0m
- Displacement: 16.800 kg
- Max Speed : 27 knots
- Cruise Speed: 21 knots
- Construction : Durakore/composite
- Fuel Capacity: 2200 litres
- Water Capacity: 1300 litres
- Year Launched: 2000
- Power: 2 x Cummins CTA/450hp
- Cost of Vessel: $NZ1.5M
