Engine pods made of 1m marine grade aluminium take twin 130hp Honda four stroke outboard engines and also provide access for a boarding platform and ladder. Fuel is supplied from twin 180 litre aluminium tanks and Hydrive hydraulic steering from Southern Cross Marine completes the performance package.

Midnight Express achieved a top speed of 34 knots during sea trials.

Fitted within the spacious wheelhouse is an extensive electronics package which includes Koden radar, Garmin plotter, Icom VHF and a Coursemaster autopilot. A walkway all round the wheelhouse allows fishing from any point on the boat.

A toilet is accessed from the main deck.

A full set of marine grade 316 stainless steel 28 mm rails fabricated by Cheetah Marine meets the MCA Code of Practice and the boat is fitted with all the necessary safety equipment to pass the Survey for 12 persons.

The 6.2m Cheetah is powered by a single 90 hp extra long shaft Honda four stroke engine which pushed the boat to well over 20 knots on the delivery voyage to Guernsey despite rough sea conditions caused by a force 6 easterly wind. Steering for this boat is also Hydrive hydraulic and the hull is protected by keel and chine bands.

Cheetah's order book remains healthy, with six commercial fishing boats at 6.9m or 7.4m on order. Due for delivery soon are a netting boat for a customer in Devon and potting boats for Guernsey and North Wales.

Under development is a brand new 7.9m hull designed to maximise load carrying and with even greater stability from a hull which will be able to take a range of power units from twin 50 hp outboards up to twin 225hp outboards. The latter configuration will achieve a top speed of 45 knots.

There are already two orders for the new 7.9m model. One is a commercial fishing vessel for the west coast of Scotland which will be powered by a single 90hp Honda outboard. This vessel will have a Yanmar 1GM powered Spencer Carter hydraulic power pack installed to run the three-quarter tonne slave hauler.

The other 7.9m Cheetah will indeed be powered by twin 225hp Honda outboards in a complete package which includes a three axle, six wheel fully disc braked trailer and will still weigh in under 3,500kg.

Over the last five years Cheetah Marine has been developing custom trailers for the boats it builds and now has models that 6.2m and 6.9m Cheetahs can be driven directly onto. As Cheetah's designer Sean Strevens explained to MJ , 'This makes recovery really easy and safe and to my mind is a significant breakthrough in boat use. For anyone who wants to work from different harbours this is a great step forward.'

MJ Information No: 18308