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Change Your Lifestyle at Seawork
01 Mar 2006
Roger Dixon-Spain has opted for a major change of lifestyle, selling up below the border and purchasing farmland overlooking a bay on the Island of Lismore, northeast of Oban. From here he will build a new business operating a multi-purpose workboat, serving the local community and tourists in a variety of roles.
Choosing a stable, versatile vessel is of critical importance and he has opted for a 7.9m Cheetah catamaran currently under build at Cheetah Marine. The Isle of Wight based builder has delivered no fewer than 15 of its 7.9m Cheetahs since the model was introduced in 2003. They have been deployed for hydrographic survey, diving, commercial fishing, harbour patrol and other duties.
Roger Dixon-Spain's Merlin will be fitted out with twin 90hp Honda four stroke outboards and twin 160 litre under deck aluminium fuel tanks, giving both range and redundancy on the long trips the vessel will make between islands and to the Scottish mainland.
The vessel will be MCA coded category 3, able to carry eight passengers up to 20 miles from safe haven. Providing locals and tourists with an alternative to long ferry crossings, Merlin will offer rapid transit speeds and delivery to ports of call convenient for clients.
Merlin's completion date should enable it to appear on the floating pontoon at Seawork 2006, just before the builders personally undertake a five day delivery voyage to Scotland.
More than 170 Cheetahs have now been built and the recent purchase of a factory on the Isle of Wight has enabled Cheetah Marine to have five boats under build at one time. In addition to Merlin, the builder is currently working on a 6.2m harbour patrol boat for the Chichester Harbour Master, a hydrographic survey boat for Ensieta of France, a 7.9m research vessel for Bangor University in Wales plus 8.4m and 9.95m boats. Various other craft are on order.
MJ Information No: 21600
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