Construction

RESPECT IS BUILT using Image Boats’ bulletproof approach to construction. Hull plates are 6mm thick and butt-welded, and a horizontal keel bar seam-welded to the plates forms an ultra-strong, stiff and watertight triangulated section running the full length of the keel. Four longitudinal bearers provide strength and stiffness, along with a series of transverse bulkheads, welded floors and five sealed compartments.

Respect has the reassuring combination of strength and reserve buoyancy. Topsides and cabin are 4mm marine aluminum; the cabin’s roof is in 3mm, reinforced so it can be walked on, and the deck is 4mm chequerplate alloy. The chine joints are seam-welded inside and out. A 500-litre fuel tank, 100-litre water tank and commodious underfloor locker provide plenty of range to explore remote places.

COMFORT ONBOARD

Respect is a launch in powerboat’s clothing. Her 2.8m beam is carried well forward and out to the chines, and the result is simple: space. The fully-enclosed wheelhouse and cabin has heaps of space and comfort for a trailerable boat. When we closed the door to the aft deck, we kept in the heat and could hear only a whisper from the twin Suzuki 200hp outboards.

Every Image boat is customised to the owner’s requirements – in Trevor’s case, he selected nearly every option.

The galley is to starboard, aft of the helm, and includes a full oven and grill, and a large Fridgetech 12-volt fridge. To port is the ingenious vertical pantry and a couple of transverse seats facing each other in a booth configuration. The backrest on the front seat is hinged at the bottom, allowing the seats to face forward or aft. A pipe berth to starboard in the forward cabin supplements the wide vee-berth; an in-fill converts them to a maxi-double.

Respect’s helmstation reflects Trevor’s passion for electronics and looks like it would be at home on a fighter jet. Centre stage is

the Garmin 7412 screen which links fish finder, chartplotter and GMR18 radar into a nice touch-screen interface. To starboard is the screen for the GHP10 autopilot which has a remote control that can be used from anywhere on the boat. The helmstation offers excellent visibility, sitting and standing, with good access to the dual throttle controls and the engine data readout. To cap off the technology, there is a large flat-screen television on the aft bulkhead, which is fed from a Tracvision TV3 satellite antenna on the aft section of the cabin top.

The skipper can lower or retrieve the permanently mounted Delta 10kg anchor from the helmstation using Lewmar Pro Series