Seahunter collaboration
With its latest boat, Workboats.nl, a partnership between KD Workboats and Post Workboats, claims it has developed the ultimate vessel that can be used for an extremely wide range of applications: the Seahunter.
Its remarkable handling characteristics, its makers’ claim, make the vessel perfect for applications such as offshore, the seismic industry, rescue and salvage companies and other nautical sectors.
“The Seahunter design is based on the Tornado 8.50,” explains Klaas Post, owner of Post Workboats. “The RIB is highly manoeuvrable, extremely fast and has excellent handling characteristics. The aluminium Seahunter combines the advantages of both the Tornado and of an aluminium vessel. The hull is made of 5 mm marine grade aluminium. To achieve optimal strength, this is welded in full to produce an extremely strong vessel. In contrast to a RIB (rigid inflatable boat), the Seahunter has a special D-fender instead of an air-filled tube. An air-filled tube can leak in certain circumstances, while the special fender we use will never lose buoyancy under any circumstances. This is currently the best fender that is available anywhere in the world.”
CUSTOM FENDERING
The Seahunter is available in a fully-equipped standard model, but can also be fully customised, for example with a dive door in the side, an adapted number of seats and more or less storage or work space. “The fender is also an important component,” says Post. “Fender Innovations, the company that supplies this product, manufactures it from one piece. It is based on a foam core with a closed-cell structure. This material does not take up water so that the buoyancy remains intact under all circumstances. The foam core is wrapped with a reinforced technical fabric, which is in turn coated with a layer of special polymer. The structure is extremely light and strong.” The fender is available in various models. “Possible options include a ballistic fender up to NIJ4 class, which is bullet proof, or specially impregnated fenders that can withstand heat up to 200°C and are used for fire fighting vessels. Furthermore, the damping characteristics can be set up exactly as desired and of course it is also possible to combine different damping characteristics into one fender.”
CONTAINERABLE
The dimensions of the boat, 8 by 2.30 metres, were chosen so that the Seahunter can be transported in a shipping container. “This is particularly important for organisations in the oil and offshore industry that operate globally,” says Van Veen, owner of KD Workboats. “You can easily put the containers on a ship for transport. But the Seahunter can also be transported very well on a trailer. This makes the Seahunter excellent for use as a rescue or salvage vessel.” The handling behaviour is also very important for this. “The water effectively flows off the hull, keeping the boat dry even at top speed and with two and a half foot waves. And if water does get into the vessel, it is absolutely no problem because the cockpit is completely self-bailing. The deck is treated with the same material that is used to finish the fender. Therefore, water, oil or lubricants will never cause slippery surfaces.” The standard Seahunter model is 8 m long with a 200 hp motor, available from €99,000 plus VAT.
Workboats.nl is a partnership between KD Workboats and Post Workboats. These companies each have over thirty years of experience in the maritime industry. Workboats.nl specialises in the development and production of fully equipped vessels for rescue and salvage companies, the offshore and the seismic industry and other nautical sectors. Customers can rely on worldwide 24/7 service.
By Jake Frith
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS SEAHUNTER 8 M
Length: 8.00 metres
Beam: 2.30 metres
Draught: 1.00 metre/0.50 metre trimmed up
Maximum speed: 100 kilometres per hourOperational range: 500 kilometres
Weight: 1,100 kg
Motors: max. 300 hp engine power
Passenger capacity: 9 people
