The story of the first 11m Cheetah dates back to 2001, when Cheetah Marine was approached by the Friends of the Dolphin, a non-profit making charitable organisation based in Poole. The aim of the charity is to give free trips to disabled persons of all ages and disabilities who, due to the lack of suitable facilities, are unable to use the normal pleasure craft operating in Poole Harbour. Dolphin III, a 9.95m Cheetah, was the third boat since 1975 to be purchased by the organisation. After six successful years in service, Friends of the Dolphin again approached Cheetah Marine to build a larger, updated model.

With a beam of 3.7m and deeper, high volume semi-symmetrical planing hulls, the new model is considerably larger than the 9.95m. The hull is available in a choice of lengths from 9.95m up to 11m depending on the customer’s requirement.

The new 11m series has been designed for any commercial or leisure operation where a large internal space is required and features a spacious wheelhouse with additional space forward of the dash and down in the hulls. The wide wheelhouse is available in a choice of different overall lengths to suit each client's intended operation. With Cheetah's experience in fitting and integrating specialized survey systems, along with additional space for berths and live aboard facilities, the new 11m promises to make an ideal craft for the hydrographic survey industry.

The new Dolphin III has been specially designed and built to take passengers of all ages and disabilities, in particular those that are less mobile and in wheelchairs. The wide spacious deck provides excellent stability in even the roughest sea conditions, with a safe and comfortable ride as standard. Wheelchair access is via one of two inward opening doors at deck level on both port and starboard side. On the outside deck, a large overhead canopy offers protection from the elements without hindering the view or experience from the deck. Passenger seating for 12 runs up both the starboard and port gunwales with storage under and there are wheelchair anchoring locations embedded into the deck.

Dolphin III crew have opted for the medium length wheelhouse with a separate wheelchair accessible toilet compartment accessed from the aft deck. Inside the main wheelhouse is a starboard side galley featuring cooker, sink and kettle behind the helm suspension seat, with additional bench seating on the starboard side. The wide dash has been fitted out with various electronics including the Garmin 550S and Sailor VHF.

As a requirement of the Friends of the Dolphin crew, who are all elderly volunteers, Cheetah have removed a section from the central dash to allow easy access forward, where a large hatch provides access onto the foredeck and to the anchor locker located in the bow. Back inside, two small staircases lead down into the port and starboard hulls where two Sidepower bow thrusters have been fitted to enable easy docking.

Cheetah Marine has fabricated a complete set of stainless steel safety rail, both on deck and around the bow.