GOING BIGGER
When the owner of Coastal Cowboy went to designer Bill Upfold for a boat to replace his existing 16m Elite Pilothouse, he wanted only one significant change…it had to be bigger.
Coastal Cowboy is an Elite 18m Mid Pilothouse, designed primarily as a family orientated cruiser but also to cater for discerning charter groups as the vessel is under full MSA survey. Coastal Cowboy will be based in Tutukaka where the owner is developing a luxury lodge.
This is the second Elite to carry the Coastal Cowboy name for this owner, the first being an Elite 16m. While he was very happy with the original Coastal Cowboy, he wanted to update and get something bigger. The result is the 18m Coastal Cowboy which was launched earlier this year in time for the Auckland International Boat Show.
This is an owner who uses his boat with the first Coastal Cowboy clocking up 8000 nautical miles and 900 hours in 18 months of boating!
The layout is the same, but there has been an increase in the accommodation volumes, galley, saloon, dinette area and the cockpit. The engines were increased to the latest 715hp Cummins QSM11s and the top speed is now 28.4 knots with a comfortable cruise around 22 knots.
The displacement increased from 18500kg to 26700kg and in keeping with his desire to go further, for long periods, the fuel capacity was increased to 6500 litres. The primary tank is 4000 litres, with the remainder in reserve tanks, one amidships and one under the forward sole.
The hull form is an extension of the previous Coastal Cowboy although the flare forward has been increased and the hull is broader across the shoulders at deckline, providing more reserve buoyancy forward and a higher sheer. This was primarily done because the owner was intending to go offshore, with such destinations as Tonga and the Great Barrier Reef in mind.
Coastal Cowboy performs exceptionally well with modest horsepower and has excellent sea keeping qualities as was unquestionably proven with two Tasman crossings. Construction is a ply, balsa, GRP composite. The interior is finished in teak to a satin finish.
Built over 12 months by Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders in Auckland, Coastal Cowboy is Lloyd’s 15th Elite pilothouse, with two Elite sport fishers and a number of other one-offs.Â
Increased Space
With the increase in space forward there is now room for two genuine queen size beds in the two VIP cabins plus the shower and bathroom area is large. The head/shower area forward can be used as a private en-suite for the forward cabin or serves also for multi-use for both. Corian has been used on the vanity surfaces with oak used on the sole and in the entire boat, timbers are all to a satin finish.
Each cabin has its own entertainment system with DVD and TV.
Being a custom built boat, there is a variety of accommodation options available, including four single berths forward should you need to cater for a larger family.
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Interior living areas are equally spacious on Coastal Cowboy and due to the extra beam of the new boat, the TV and entertainment console are now mounted centrally on the rear bulkhead. Twin L-shaped loungers and ottomans make up the main saloon conversation area, with access port and starboard to the wheelhouse and galley respectively.
The layout of the pilothouse has again made use of the extra space, with a fully adjustable central helm station seat and starboard settee that converts to a double berth. This proved a very popular place for the off-watch person when crossing the Tasman.
The bridge is air-conditioned and there is a large sliding roof above the helm. There’s also another settee to port and access through sliding doors to the upper deck area where the tender and crane are situated. Access to the cockpit is via a port side stairwell.
One of the unique features of each of the Upfold mid-cabin boats is the aft area that features a large U-shaped galley with lower dining area. Everything such as the inbuilt fridge/freezer, dish drawer and convection oven are easily at hand in the galley.
The owners’ stateroom comes with its own en-suite, but like the forward one is also able to be shared and used as a day head for others aboard. The queen size double berth has full access around and the cabin is loaded with storage possibilities.
This area is a highlight of the mid-pilothouse design and utilises the space without cluttering any areas. An electric drop-down rear window opens through to the cockpit beside the wide door. The owner requested that maximum use be made of the 18m length, hence there is no aft boarding platform, in order to have a longer cockpit. Coastal Cowboy is a very social boat with its distinctive areas of use.
When Bill Upfold launched his first mid-pilothouse boat in 1986, it was to a mixed reaction. The 13.8m Samurai was somewhat different from the normal flybridge cruiser. Since then he has completed 34 more mid-pilothouse designs between 13m and 20m and although there are none in Australia as yet, the exposure Coastal Cowboy had at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show could change all that.
TECHNICAL SPECS
- Model Designation: Elite 18m Pilothouse
- Year Launched: 2007
- Designer: Bill Upfold
- Interior Designer: Parhurst Design
- Builder: Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders
- LOA: 18m
- Beam: 5.4m
- Draft: 1.3m
- Displacement: 26.7 tonnes
- Max Speed: 28.4 knots
- Cruise Speed: 22 knots
- Construction: Composite
- Fuel Capacity: 6500 litres
- Water Capacity: 900 litres
- Engine: 2 x Cummins QSM11 @ 715hp each
- Base Price: $NZ3 million (approx)
