Due to mooring restrictions at Lymington, he specified the 32/10 with the same 10ft by 10ft wheelhouse as the 36/11 demonstrator.

The vessel is powered by twin 205hp Perkins Sabre M215C marine diesels supplied by Finning (UK) Ltd. The 5.9 litre, straight six units are fitted with Twin Disc MG5050A 1.8:1 reduction ratio gearboxes driving conventional Clements 1.75in propeller shafts and four-bladed 22in by 22in bronze propellers for speeds to 22.5 knots.

Cruising at 18.5 knots (2,100rpm), the skipper reports fuel economy as low as 7 GPH.

Private Venture features a flush, sealed and self-draining cockpit deck which continues around the bow area, providing 430sq/ft of working area within the 96ft perimeter. The wheelhouse is finished with the helm position to port, the galley behind and a large 'U'-shaped seating area to starboard.

Electronics consist of Raymarine radar, plotter, fishfinder and autopilot, a Garmin plotter, and DSC radios by Sailor and Icom.

South Boats has completed design work for the 'new generation' South Catamaran 36/11 and 45/14 and is ready to start work on the new 36/11 mould tools upon arrival of a laser cut MDF plug kit.

Two new 36/11 single piece tools are due to enter service in the middle of this year and will dramatically increase production from five or six to 25 hull mouldings per annum.

This will enable a complete hull, including framing, deck beams and beam shelf, to be ready for dispatch every five or six weeks per mould tool for South Boats, other yards or owners to complete. Two single piece 45/14 tools will be started as soon as 36/11 plug construction is completed.

South Boats has also commissioned the design of a 31ft GRP RIB that will be marketed into both the commercial and leisure sectors.

Powered by a Yanmar 6LYA 440 hp diesel engine coupled to a Hamilton 274 waterjet, the new design will sprint to 45 knots and promises to deliver South Boats' usual excellent seakeeping.

The first South Boats RIB, Son of Nipper , will be commissioned in time to participate at seawork2004 in June.

MJ Information No: 19217