"Best Yacht" Projects
Best Coastal Voyaging Motor Yacht Under 40 Feet - Planing Hull
Designer : Tad Roberts
The mission of the "Best Coastal Voyaging Motor Yacht Under 40 Feet, Planing Hull" project, (BCVMY40P) is to create a boat to safely and reliably cruise coastal waters while being dimensionally configured for the Great Loop in North America, while providing comfortable accommodations for a couple and occasional short term guests.
BVCMY40P shown with optional Flybridge
This yacht is to deliver exceptional value to buyers through innovation in concept development, design, engineering, builder selection, equipment sourcing, sales process, delivery process, commissioning process, maintenance process, after sales service process and best practices that are not constrained by legacy ideas.
Design and Build Considerations
The BCVMY40P group agreed the boat should have a top speed of 17 knots (19 mph) while striving for a "sweet spot" cruise in the vicinity of 12 knots (14 mph). This speed range was selected to promote fuel efficiency while increasing the range covered by a "day" of voyaging.
Max.
Length 40 Ft, LWL 37 Ft, Bmax 14 Ft, Bdwl 12 Ft, Displ 21,000 lbs*
Fuel economy is a priority in the skilled design of the hull, structural engineering, power train selection, and weight control during construction. The BCVMY40P will be built using advanced composite techniques and materials proven to provide superior toughness and durability while minimizing weight.
The BCVMY40P is being built to CE Category B offshore, ABYC, CE standards.
The BCVMY40P will be offered as standard with a basic and well founded feature set. Buyer customization is embraced. Buyers can add features, equipment, machinery and tailor the decor to their liking. Customization will be handled in an "open book" pricing and decision making model that allows for highly informed buyer involvement throughout the process.
Designer Tad Roberts comments:
"The BCVMY project is unique in that this design has been
shaped right from the beginning by direct input from the owners group.
Usually a designer is working for one person with their particular
experience and requirements. In
this case we have an active group of perhaps 10 folks, some with extensive
experience in a number of different previous yachts.
The synthesis of all this input is a fine balance…but several factors
soon overrode all other considerations.
The primary motivation for the BCVMY project is the
establishing of value through building the design owner’s really want, at a
price that they understand and approve of.
Quality and safety, sea keeping, comfort, ease of maintenance, and
economical operation all became important factors in shaping the design.
While the speed, length, and anticipated weight drove much of the
hull design, economics and usability override the temptation to add tricky
features to the deck and interior.
Spaciousness through simplicity might be a guiding factor.
The initial layout is intended for long term use by a
couple, with space for occasional guests.
The rather large forward stateroom and split head could easily be
re-configured to create two double cabins with a shared head.
The deckhouse and cockpit are all on one level and offer multiple
arrangement possibilities for day living in a bright space with 360 degree
visibility. An optional flying
bridge with outside staircase is anticipated.
Tad Roberts.jpg)
About Tad Roberts
Growing up in a family of boatbuilders,
architect/builders, artists, and sailors, it was only natural that I should
start drawing boats at a young age. I began professional practice 28 years
ago in 1982 in Victoria, BC. In
1987 I moved to Boothbay, Maine and joined the office of Bruce King.
Over the next 14 years I became principal designer; working on a
diverse range of projects including the creation of large custom sailing
yachts Sophie, Alejandra, Hetairos, Antonisa, Cecile Marie, and
Scheherazade. I also successfully widened the practice to include
powerboats, which BKYD had not previously produced: Under my direction the
design office produced several spectacular successes including Liberty,
the Talaria 40 and Talaria 44, and the Hinckley Picnic Boat.
A number of these yachts became
design icons, with the Picnic Boat being judged by Yachting Magazine as one
of the 10 Best Boats of All Time.
In 2001 I returned to coastal BC and opened my own studio on Gabriola
Island. Here I have continued to
develop modern boats; both power and sail, with strong ties to traditional
styling values. Current projects
run from a 17’6” wooden daysailer to a 98’ aluminum hydrographic survey
vessel.
* All specs are approximate and subject to change
Accomodations
The BCVMY40P group has endorsed a layout geared toward a couple as the primary crew with accommodations for occasional short term overnight guests.
Participate in the "BCVMY40P" Project
If you would like to participate in the design, specifications and build of the "Best Coastal Voyaging Motor Yacht Under 40 Feet Project" please visit the discussion group on Yahoo. Everyone is welcome and all ideas are encouraged in the quest for finding new ways to radically improve value for boat buyers and boat builders. Updates are also available on Facebook.
If you would like to suggest a "Best Yachts" project, click here.