New boat for Bluff Coastguard

BLUFF COASTGUARD’S NEW vessel recently underwent sea trials in Christchurch before heading south to Bluff in time for her official launch on October 31.

Designed by Tim Barnett and built by Icon Custom Boats in Rangiora to a very high standard, she is 13m long with a 3.9m beam. Power is twin 509hp Yanmar diesels driving HJ322 Hamilton jet units controlled by Hamilton Jet’s Blue Arrow control system. Fully laden she weighs 12 tonnes and her top speed in sea trials was 40 knots. She carries 2000 litres of fuel which will give her a range of approximately 700 miles (20 hrs @ 35knts).

Electronics are Simrad, supplied by Advance Trident Ltd. At this stage the navigation gear is basic: a chart plotter, a broadband radar and a sonar unit. There are two Icom VHF radios and one SSB radio and all flood-lighting is LED.

Dashboards have been left uncluttered so crew can helm and keep lookout from the forward stations with minimal distractions. There is a survivors’ cabin up for’ard, one toilet and all access ways are wide enough to accommodate a stretcher. There is seating for four crew, with the helm to port, the lookout on the starboard forward station and the navigator to starboard amidships. The skipper or commander sits behind the helm.

With unpainted sides and equipped with just the basic gear, she is a work boat. The boat is meant to be simple to operate for Coastguard’s many volunteers: she is easy to drive with fingertip control of the helm and a beautiful ride.there is ample scope to add ‘nice to have’ things later.

Surveyed for up to 24 miles offshore, Barnett designed the boat to handle Force 7 seas. She has been tested in 52 knots of wind in large seas at speed and has exceeded all expectations.

Bluff Coastguard’s operational area extends from Waipapa Point across the bottom of the South Island and encompassing Stewart Island, its offshore islands and Fiordland.