Elite Marine design has been approached buy an existing Elite owner to develop this long range cruising power boat.
The criteria was for a vessel that was capable of comfortable and safe extended ocean passages but retaining the functionality required for inshore and coastal cruising.
The beam to length ratio has been kept low as opposed to most traditional full-bodied passage makers so as to produce a hull that is more fuel-efficient and sea kindly.
The hull form is round bilge forward developing into hard chine in the aft sections that allows the vessel to attain higher cruising speeds from moderate to low horsepower, this hard chine will also aid stability.
The entry has been kept fine for excellent head sea performance but with the forefoot wasted away to remove any bow steering tendencies in following seas. Construction is a solid GRP bottom up to the spray rail with cored GRP topsides. Superstructure is from plywood, foam and fibreglass composite.
Powered by a single main engine turning a large diameter propeller on deep reduction and backed up with a wing engine with feathering propeller that will run most of the auxiliary equipment such as hydraulics with a back up system PTO on the main engine. Fuel quality is always a concern for offshore cruising powerboats; this has been addressed with a fuel polishing and filtration system. Fuel capacity is 6000L and will give the vessel a range of approx 2000nm
Accommodation consists of a forward guest stateroom with double to port and settee berth to starboard. Two occasional bunks that will double as dry stowage for extended cruising when not used for accommodation are adjacent to the laundry just ahead of the main companionway stairs to the wheelhouse. The master stateroom amidships is full beam below the wheelhouse and contains a queen size bed, ensuite and office/ workstation.
The wheelhouse has purposely been located close to amidships to reduce the affect of movement; this area is the focal point of the vessel as it also contains the saloon, which has a large, raised “L” shaped seating area with pilot berth aft for off watch crew when offshore passage making. Twin sealed pilothouse doors access the Portuguese bridge and side decks.
Aft and down four steps is the galley and dinette, the galley features a full array of domestic equipment and large refrigeration capacity. Once again careful consideration was given to the location of the galley in that it needed to function well at sea hence it being located aft and low in the vessel.
Above the aft cabin is the boat deck to house the main tender which is launched and retrieved with a hydraulic davit. The vessel is now out for quotation and expressions of interest in this truly unique design are welcomed by the designer.
Elite Marine Design Ltd info@elitemarine.co.nz +64 9 5308501
