Passagemaker Lite hull #1 is under construction at Moondance Yachts in
Capetown South Africa. The 48'6" (14.8m)
cedar-strip-planked Ataraxia will be used for Southern and Atlantic
ocean-crossing and as a full-time liveaboard home for her owners, a European
couple currently living in South Africa.
Ataraxia is the latest in the Passagemaker Lite design series, a modern
lightweight fuel-efficient restatement of the classic fast seaworthy long range
power cruiser. Ataraxia will reach her hull-speed of 9.2 knots using less than
half of her installed 130 horsepower; short coastal cruises will be done at 10+
knots, and ocean crossings at 8+.
At 48'6" Ataraxia is a Passagemaker Lite 46 plus, the
"plus" indicating increased length for added interior volume over the
original 46' design. She is built of fiberglass sheathed Japanese Cedar
strip-planking on NC cut station molds. The deck will be sheathed plywood over
laminated African mahogany beams for a warm, traditional interior.
All major structural members, keel, floors, engine stringers, and clamps are
laminated African mahogany.
The arrangement includes a large owner's cabin with a centre line
double berth in the bow. Just forward of the pilothouse is the split
head, with wc to port and a large shower and sink to starboard. The
pilothouse has helm station forward to starboard, with bridge deck access
immediately aft. Access down to the main saloon aft is just to starboard of
centre line, and the entire port side is a large raised settee with table and
bookshelves behind. Main fuel tanks are under the pilothouse. Down
three steps aft of the pilothouse is the large wrap-around galley to port and
the guest cabin/office to starboard. Aft of this is the full width main
saloon with L seat and dining table to starboard and two swivel chairs
opposite. The aft bulkhead has a watertight door with window into the
engine room, and a curved stairway up to the afterdeck.
The afterdeck has a stair down to the swim platform and steps port and
starboard up to the boatdeck forward over the saloon. On centre line in
the aft deck is a large (48" wide and 30" fore & aft) hatch
opening into the engine space. Immediately under this hatch are the twin
engines and v-drives, easily available for engine checks or maintenance without
disrupting the ship's interior. The boatdeck is roomy enough to carry a
12' hard boat on centre line, lifted on and off with the mast and boom
forward. Forward on the boatdeck level is the outside command bridge,
which can be enclosed with plastic curtains and hard or soft top. This
area includes an outside seating area, helm on centre line, doors to the
sidedeck P and S, and the ladder down forward into the pilothouse. All
the way forward is a secure well deck for anchor handling with a massive chain
locker below and forward of the watertight collision bulkhead.
Roll attenuation and comfort at sea are real concerns throughout the
Passagemaker Lite design. Heights above waterline are minimized, as are
weights. The pilothouse is low and amidships for minimal motion, the main
saloon and galley are very low for the same reason. Weights are
centralized where possible; the largest single weight in the boat is the fuel
load, which is positioned down low amidships, as is the water storage.
While the owners of this first Passagemaker Lite have chosen to install passive
paravane stabilizers, other options are available. These include provision
for the inclusion of active hydraulic fins, and bilge keels show some promise
without the worries of other systems. But bilge keels will never reduce
roll as much as the paravanes will with equal or less drag.
Ataraxia's owners are experienced sailors, having lived aboard and
cruised the Atlantic in their previous boat,
an aluminum sloop. Reasons for choosing the Passagemaker Lite include
increased interior volume, better privacy between spaces, an attractive
interior space (pilothouse) with a view, the opportunity to use modern
technology in construction and systems, higher cruising speed with less fuel
consumption, and efficient use of fuel over long distance ocean cruises.
Some background information:
The
idea to built our own Passagemaker started more than a year ago; we
wanted a yacht in which we both would feel comfortable to live on, but
as well to sail with. Due to our affinity with the Nordhavn range, the
idea started to built a passagemaker.
The design we've chosen
is different compared to the Nordhavn, but based on a few very
interesting design ideas. The Nordhavn is certainly a great little ship
to live on but the idea of carrying a tanker size load of fuel with us
did frighten us a bit considering the raising price of diesel.
Not be limited to coastal passages:
we want to be able to cross over to Salvador without refueling, or
perhaps go to Australia. The Passagemaker Lite 49 has a calculated
range of 8,000 NM when cruising 7 knots this with 3000 liter of fuel.
The consumption rate of the
Passagemaker has a lot to do with the ability to get this range . You
can buy a lot of diesel for the cost of mast, rigging,
sails, winches...: probably can go around the world for that money.
Nothing is more expensive than going form A to B with so-called "free
energy" Of course we will miss the romance of sailing but that's why
there is place on the aft deck for a serious sailing dinghy.
Theoretical calculated consumption
Speed Knts
| Hp required
| Lt/hr | Range w 3000 liters | |
| 6.8 | 11.7 | 2.65 | 8743 | |
| 7.5 | 17.5 | 3.97 | 6427 | |
| 8.16 | 25.7 | 5.83 | 4765 | |
| 8.8 | 39 | 8.86 | 3380 | |
9.5
| 53.8
| 12.23
| 2641
|
|
10.2
| 70.2
| 15.93
| 2173
|
|
10.9
| 93.6
| 21.23
| 1750
|
|
Sound proofed engine room:
The Passagemaker has reserved the whole back as a separate engine room,
which is quite easy to soundproof and is already separated with a large
bulkhead.
Large outside area:
on our sailing yacht we loved sitting in the cockpit, but we're not
always able to, due to a lack of shelter there. We still wanted the feel
of sitting in the cockpit and the Passagemaker has a great flybridge,
that is not too high and neatly sheltered. Even when the winds are
howling, we can as an option sit at the back. She features as well an
easy accessible swim platform, which I can use to dive from.
Light inside:
living below deck for so many years is sort of ok, but we really wanted
to be able to sit and look outside. The pilot house will no doubt
become the center of a lot of parties. But as well the salon in the
back has a lot of windows from which you can look and see outside. The
open galley in the salon was on our wishlist ever since we saw our
first trawler. We both like cooking and talking, so having the galley
in the salon was a requirement. The size of the
shower and heads is luxurious and we no longer need to crawl into a
berth. Lockers will be easier accessible, with more hanging space as
well.
Office cabin: Our
passagemaker lite is a 48ft 6 instead of the originally designed 46ft,
reason is that we wanted an extra cabin. This one will be used as an
office so that we will be able to continue working during our trips.
The office can also be used as an extra cabin when it is not reasonable
to have our friends to drive home in their cars or for the additional
crew during long passages.
For further info see;
www.passagemakerlite.com
www.tadroberts.ca
Passagemaker Magazine, August 2002
Professional Boatbuilder #81, Feb/March 2003
Maine
Boats & Harbors #76, Autumn 2003