Sinbad Set to Sail with Coastal Cat

‘Coastal Cat’ has been designed and built to the requirements of Lloyds Special Service Craft Rules and also to meet the requirements of the MSO for the licensing of a P5 passenger craft. Coastal Cat also has load line which is unusual for a vessel of its size. The main dimensions are 10.00m LOA with a beam of 4.4m and a draught aft of 1.2m. The 11 ton vessel has a fuel capacity of 4,360 litres and will carry 12 passengers.

The catamaran was constructed from 8mm 5083 H111 marine grade aluminium and each hull is divided into four watertight compartments. The frames run longitudinally with transverse bulkheads. Each compartment has a separate access, fitted with a Baier flush mounted deck hatch for which Mooney Boats is now a distributor. The hull formation has a fine entry forward developing into medium dead rise single chine hulls aft. The main deck has stepped in bulwarks 200mm from outside of the main hull. Three removable guardrail doors have been provided to port, starboard, and aft of wheelhouse to allow for crew changes. There is also a stepped bow rail forward to allow for crew changes. Two rows of heavy ‘D’ fendering have been provided on both sides and the bow and stern are also protected.

Internally the vessel has been fitted out to a very high standard. Acoustic and fire insulation has been installed, with A60 to the engine rooms as per instructions from the MSO. Comfort insulation is fitted to the wheelhouse bulkheads and ceiling whilst sound insulation is fitted in both void spaces under wheelhouse.

The interior of the wheelhouse is lined with an Inexa panelling system whilst the ceiling received a Dampa system. The console is of marine formica faced plywood and finished in solid oak Series 11 Harwood windows and doors are clamped in aluminium frames and glazed with 8 and 10mm clear toughened safety glass. The wheelhouse has a galley sink and seating for six around a demountable table.

The W H electronic equipment was supplied by Barry Electronics Ltd. Other electrical systems on the vessel are quite substantial, with a 3,000 watt sine wave inverter which gives the vessel the option of running 220 volt power for computers when undertaking survey work, a market being targeted by Sinbad. The vessel also has 24 volt and 12 volt electrical sockets supplied in the wheelhouse.

There is a removable hatch on the aft bulkhead of the wheelhouse which allows the survey team to sit inside in comfort whilst monitoring their equipment. The moonpool can be covered when not in use with a purpose built aluminum section which fits in to comply with the hull shape.

For crew comfort, the vessel is fitted with a flat screen television and a sound system. Hot air blow heaters are piped around the wheelhouse windows to keep them from steaming up on damp days. The floor has been lined with oak laminated decking and a Nor Sap 1000 helm seat has been fitted for the Captain.

The vessel is fitted with twin Volvo Penta D 4 180 main engines developing 180 hp at 2,800 rpm and coupled to ZF 63A gearboxes of 2.52:1 reduction which in turn drive four bladed Sureseal. propellers. Rudder blades and shafts are stainless steel. The exhaust system is wet piped through to discharge on the transom. Electronic engine controls have been fitted and a wander lead supplied which allows the vessel to be controlled away from the helm position. The hydraulic steering system is power assisted.

The deck is fitted with a two ton capstan which was custom built by Mooney Boats. The builder needed to keep the vessel light so the capstan was made from aluminium. A 500 kg rotating lifting davit was also fitted. Four lifting lugs on deck are provided to facilitate lifting the vessel by crane. A demountable mast contributes to the vessel being road transportable.

Other electrical fitments include a remote control search light, three window wipers, a foghorn, and all navigation lights required by the MSO. The vessel is also fitted with a CO2 system for the engine rooms and all other fire fighting and life saving equipment required by the MSO.

Each watertight compartment is fitted with a remotely operated 24 volt electric bilge pump and a high level bilge alarm. A manually operated bilge pump is also fitted in accordance with the MSO requirements. There is a Gusher 30 hand emergency fire pump and, in the port engine room, a Jabsco 1.5” electromagnetic deck wash pump. An audio/visual bilge alarm system is installed in wheelhouse.

The vessel is painted with an approved Jotun & Clarke paint system and cathodic protection is by MG Duff.

On sea trials earlier this month, Coastal Cat achieved a top speed of 14.8 knots.