Rovings
from Professional BoatBuilder magazine No. 147
Compiled by Dan Spurr
Greenline 33 Hybrid from Seaway
As noted in the last Rovings column, there were a number of boats on display at The International BoatBuilders’ Exposition & Conference (IBEX), more than the usual shrinkwrap competition demo runabout parked in front of the Louisville Expo Center. By far the largest, and attracting the most attention, was the Greenline 33 Hybrid (32′4″/10m) built by Seaway in Zgosa, Slovenia. The company avers the model is “the world’s first production hybrid and solar-powered boat.” And further, “Greenline is arguably the most awarded yacht in boating history.” That claim is based on 21 International Boat of the Year, Design, and Environmental awards, including 2011 Boat of the Year by Motor Boating magazine and the Miami International Boat Show, 2012 Boat of the Year by the Internautica International Boat Show (Portoroz, Slovenia), and PBO Green Award by Practical Boat Owner magazine in the United Kingdom. And more from the website: “Greenline 33 is the best-selling 10m boat in the world in 2010 and 2011.” Two hundred were sold in the first 18 months of production.
Making It Fit: Rick’s Method
Fitting a bulkhead, cabin sole, floor timber, or any piece of wood against the interior surfaces of a hull is a challenge for many marine-industry personnel. Even those possessing carpentry skills often have limited exposure to dealing with the curves and changing bevels so common in boat construction.
Rovings
from Professional BoatBuilder magazine No. 146
Compiled by Dan Spurr
Joystick Evolution
“We really like this boat.”
“What do you like about it?”
“We feel very comfortable running it and maneuvering it because it has a joystick.”
That recent exchange with clients who are looking for the right cruising vessel is typical of the impact joystick controls are having on the decision making of many would-be boat buyers. The fact that a boat may have been ill suited in a multitude of ways to their needs was, to them, secondary to the value of easy maneuverability and diminished anxiety over boat handling, especially at the dock. That explains in part why joystick controls have become an increasingly common option on custom and production recreational boats.
Rovings
from Professional BoatBuilder magazine No. 145
Compiled by Dan Spurr
Hines-Farley Makeover
Professional BoatBuilder No. 54 featured an article about the engineering and construction of the first Hines-Farley 63 (19.2m) sportfisherman, reputed at the time (1998) to be the fastest of its size and type, and certainly one of the highest quality—favorably compared to the iconic Rybovich brand. Paul Lazarus, then PBB’s editor, wrote the introduction; naval architect Lou Codega described the design and engineering; and Mark Atkinson’s photo essay of the shop showed the luxurious vessel coming together, including Corian countertops and joinerwork of koa, teak, quilted mahogany, bubinga, and kawazinga.
The Sea Bright 38
by Reuel B. Parker
The Sea Bright skiff is an American innovation that first appeared on the beaches of New Jersey in the early 19th century. Originally rowing and sailing skiffs, they were launched and retrieved between beach and breaking surf. The model proved to be one of the most seaworthy of all small craft, and it is still used today in life/rescue operations worldwide.
With the advent of the marine engine shortly after 1900, the skiffs grew in size and diversified in function, being used for commercial fishing, rum-running, and eventually for pleasure. The hollow “box keel,” peculiar to the Sea Bright type, allowed engine installation to be horizontal, promoting a low center of gravity and no power loss due to down angle in the drivetrain.
