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FPB SeriesA New Paradigm for CruisingDesign Objectives Heavy Wx Issues
FPB 64 On Deck FPB 83FPB 83 On DeckFPB 83 InteriorFPB 83 SystemsDrive Line PassagesHow Things Are Working Out
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The
FPB 64 Team
One of the reasons our designs have been successful over the years is the team approach we use to execute them. We seek out the best contractors, subcontractors, specialists, and vendors throughout the world, folks who are expert in many fields. Part of our job is to synthesize their knowledge and skills, as it applies to the unique world of long-term cruising. We've been doing this for almost three decades, and the team assembled for this project is the most experienced and efficient we have ever worked with. These vendors often work behind the scenes, receiving little credit for what they do. So, we'd like to take this page and introduce some of them to you. Todd Rickard We first met Todd Rickard two years ago, when we were in the Seattle area. Todd helped us sort out some inverter issues with Wind Horse, and we were impressed with the range of his technical expertise as well as his pleasant demeanor. As we got to know Todd better, we were also impressed with his range of real world offshore sailing experience, as well as his project management capabilities. At the time, we thought to ourselves, he'd be a natural for us, if we could recruit him. As the FPB 64 project matured on the computer, we began to discuss with Todd how we could work together, and in the end, Todd came aboard as Project Manager. Todd has been intimately involved in the process of design and specification, working with us through the thousands of questions which have to be answered when you are working on the ultimate cruising yacht. In this regard, Todd's experience commissioning new yachts and acting as an owner's agent for new builds has been invaluable. Todd has been sailing for over 20 years. Starting in small one-design class racing, then moving to offshore cruising, he has enjoyed many thousands of offshore miles. These include trips on the West Coast of the United States (including one with a Sundeer 60), Alaska, the Great Lakes, Mexico, Scandinavia, Europe and the Mediterranean. He has also done crossings of the Pacific and Atlantic. He began working as a rigger in the mid 1980s, and in 1992 founded Sound Rigging & Yacht Services, a premier outfitter of yachts in the Pacific Northwest. A 2004 merger of that business with Northwest Yacht Repair resulted in the present Yacht Masters Northwest, of which Todd is co-owner. In 2002 Todd founded The Offshore Store. His companies specialize in the outfitting and repair of offshore vessels. He has close relationships with many of the same vendors we use who specialize in products for the offshore cruiser. He has stepped back from his current duties in order to join the FPB Program. With his extensive experience and training (including ABYC Marine Electrical Certification) in gear and systems used in offshore cruising, as well as using and maintaining these systems at sea, Todd is uniquely qualified to help the offshore cruiser prepare for the real world of long distance voyaging. ... New Zealand New Zealand has an unmatched concentration of marine talent (along with offering wonderful cruising both locally, and a short hop north to the tropical South Pacific). There are less expensive countries in which you can build, but our experience is that for a high quality product, New Zealand is the leader in efficiency. You will see why when you check out the team below. Circa Marine & Industrial Ltd We first met Circa on our FPB 83 project. They had a reputation as the premier metal fabricator in New Zealand as well as a builder of complete yachts. Their execution of the FPB 83 Wind Horse certainly opened our eyes to just how fair an aluminum hull could be executed (and we have worked with some really good builders in the past).
That Circa is a complete fabricator, with a foundry, machine shop, and even their own computer-controlled laser cutter (shown above) allowing us to design to tighter tolerances with more complex metalwork than we were used to in the past.
They have a production line going building high-quality aluminum motor cruisers under contract to a Toyota Marine (and of course they did Wind Horse, the FPB 83 for us).
When we saw the extremely high quality standard they were holding, and learned how efficient these boats were to build in series, the mental wheels started turning. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to harness this capability with one of our projects," we thought.
For those of you into machinery check out just some of the equipment we have to play with as designers. That lathe is easily capable of doing our prop and rudder shafts in house. The middle device is for forming plate, and how about a multi-spindle drill. Not sure what we'd use this for, but it is cool they have one. Four years after finishing the metal work on the FPB 83 Circa provides the foundation upon which the FPB 64s are being built. For more information on Circa visit their website at http://www.circamarine.co.nz/. Kelly Archer Walk into most of the boat yards in New Zealand and you will find that many of their top hands have been trained by Kelly Archer. We consider him to be the finest custom builder on the planet. We first started working with Kelly in 1978. Since then we have done a variety of projects together over the years. This includes Kelly's assistance in getting the Sundeer project rolling in the 1990s at TPI, and most recently the execution of the FPB 83 Wind Horse.
What we enjoy the most about working with Kelly is the problem-solving process. He understands the tradeoffs between function, complexity, cost, and maintenance as the yacht ages. We're pleased to have Kelly acting as a consultant to us and Circa during the problem-solving portion of this project. Kelly Archer Boat Builders have a website at http://www.kellyarcher.co.nz/. Dave DeVilliers Dave DeVilliers is the marine engineer who takes our 3D model, and our engineering principles, details the metalwork and turns this into cut files which Circa uses to drive their computer-controlled laser cutter. He handled this for us on the FPB 83 project, and was so thorough in his execution, that both we and Circa felt it was worth waiting for him to have a clear spot on his schedule to do this again for us, rather than use someone less meticulous.
Here's a shot of our reviewing the structural details on the FPB 64. Dave is to the left in the foreground. Logan Cripps of Circa is also on the left in the background with Bruce Farrand of Circa to the right. Steve is right foreground. Dave is like most Kiwis (and marine engineers in general) and his projects span the globe in many categories of vessel, commercial, pleasure, military, small and mega sized. Check out Dave's website at http://www.devilliersyachtdesign.co.nz/. Marine Industrial & Electrics The guys doing the wiring, "Sparkies" as they are called in the trade, are a key part of a project like this. Marine Industrial & Electric are another neighbor of Circa in Whangerie, New Zealand. They have long experience in the design and execution side of the electrical system, and have recently finished a 50-foot (15m) pilot boat for Circa. The fact that they have the ability to work to the commercial requirements of classification societies such as Lloyds, American Bureau of Shipping, ABYC, Bureau Veritas, not to mention the New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority speaks volumes about their experience and skills. Although we always do our own systems layouts and specifications, it is great to have an experienced team of "Sparkies" with whom to discuss concepts, and execution. New Zealand Delivery There is one more big advantage to the FPB 64 project, that's delivery in New Zealand. As we said earlier, New Zealand is the best temperate cruising destination on the planet. And four-and-a-half to five days north lie New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga - the best tropical cruising in the world. Whangerei, where the FPB 64s are being built, lies midway between New Zealand's capital city of Auckland and the Bay Of islands. Both the Auckland area and Bay of Islands offer a myriad of lovely isolated anchorages, interspersed with small and medium sized towns brimming with interesting sights and things to do
The harbor has been rebuilt in recent years and has a wonderful ambiance.
Along with having lots of marine infrastructure, there are also a variety of restaurants within walking distance. That's Todd Rickard about to place an order for afternoon coffee.
Having sea trialed and gotten acquainted with new boats in many parts of the world, we can tell you with certainty that no better location exists. Here are a few web addresses in the area: Whangerei - where Circa and SMI are located is a favorite of long term cruisers looking for efficient marine infrastructure. http://www.whangareimarine.co.nz/index.html Bay of Islands - a short day cruise north of Whangerie, this is one of the premier Southern Hemisphere cruising destinations. http://www.bay-of-islands.nz.com/ Hauraki Gulf - fronting Auckland, a wide variety of cruising destinations, never more than a few hours from downtown Auckland. http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/Auckland/introduction/Hauraki/default.asp Tropical South Pacific - this website has a series of web pages devoted to this wonderful part of the cruising world. http://www.southpacific.org/ Having cruised extensively in this part of the world, the team at Dashew Offshore will be happy to add some perspective to what you can expect to experience in the South Pacific.
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