Boat in build pics (2013 Fairline Squadron 78)

[jfm]

Do the Lumishores go through the hull or is it just their wires?

They are wifi Colin. Pete, the stem goes through the hull; 25mm hole

But if you're counting holes through the hull skin rather than seacocks then the total is way more than 15. Shafts, rudders, stabilisers, thrusters, trim tabs, hi-lo mech... And in the case of MapisM's boat about 100,000 nails

 

[toyachtauthority]

Here are the first pics I have of my new Sq78 in build. I hope the forum***8217;s appetite for boat build/refits can absorb more such pictures and I***8217;d be grateful for further ideas and comments from this forum on the mods that are planned.

Here***8217;s a quick history: my previous squadron 78 (build story on this thread, and I'll call her Match1 here because the new boat will also be Match and I***8217;ll call the new boat Match 2 here), was delivered March 2011 and I had a great 2011 season on her plus some early 2012 cruises. Then some folks came along and offered a nice price, so with emotional reluctance but commercial logic I handed her over to new owners on 4th July 2012. She***8217;s now in Sweden.

I then had to decide on a new boat. All the weighing up of pros-cons that we all do when choosing boats is too much to describe fully in this post, so maybe return to that topic another time. But in brief, I wanted a fast flybridge not a trawler, a mainstream production boat (easy to sell) with long range (that eliminated the otherwise very nice Princess 78 fly), I loved the Ferretti 750 except I couldn***8217;t live with its flybridge or inferior stabilisers, I thought hard about the lovely and customisable Sunseeker Y80 which has no significant negatives in my books, and then there was the devil I knew namely the Fairline Squadron 78. When I factored in the very high customer service (with a smile and with fun thrown in) from all the team at Fairline***8217;s dealer Essex Boatyards, the fact EBY is financially sound, the fact I like the Fairline factory team very much and know the boat in a technical sense very well as well as knowing how far they will go in customisation at reasonable cost, the balance tipped in favour of another Squadron 78 custom.

So Match2 went into the mould this month. Pics below. Not much detail to see yet, sorry, but exciting stuff for me nevertheless because I have been boatless all summer and been engaged in long tech discussions with Fairline about the spec of Match2. I even slipped a build slot to allow those discussions to continue. So to have something tangible now on the go seems quite a milestone for me. Match2 will be by some margin the biggest customisation Fairline have done, with considerably more mods than Match1.

I***8217;ll explain the various mods in stages if I***8217;m able to keep this thread updated but here***8217;s a quick list of some of the changes planned from the standard sq78, in no particular order. I say ***8220;planned***8221; because if anyone has mods to these mods please shout, hopefully in time to incorporate them into the build:

1. Cat C32 ACERT engines, 1622hp each. 2 x 22.5 kva Onan gensets, 100 amps each approx. Sleipner fin stabilisers like Match1. Double size watermaker (300litres/hour). Complete redesign of black tank system (I wasn***8217;t happy with Match1***8217;s)

2. Satin walnut interior with lots of wenge and all-wenge galley. Plus lots of white. So much darker more contemporary nightclubby interior look than Match1. No beige or cream or buttery colours anywhere on the boat. Curved furniture and panels deleted and replaced by squared shapes. Lots of furniture and cabinetry changes. A bit more wood flooring than Match1 and handmade carpets.

3. I***8217;m thinking of having white caulked decks. What do people think? Hate ***8216;em? Love ***8216;em?

4. Extra hull windows in crew cabin and forward guest cabin

5. Custom moulding for flybridge helm again, but different from Match1***8217;s. Also triple Recaro fly helm seats

6. Latest LED lighting, both above and below waterline . The whole boat will be LED; no incandescent lighting at all. This should reduce my battery drain when anchored in the evening sans generator. Downlighters will be the new Cantalupis, 115 off, that use the new Cree 85% CRI LED, which I hope will be nice. u/w lights will of course be Lumishore, 6 of their latest and greatest

7. Exactly same internal staircase as Match1. This was a total success and I wouldn't dream of not having it. This time all the welds will be ground out and polished though. Plus, a redesigned external staircase in similar more modern design with LED downlighting etc to funk it up

8. Twin/double conversion in both twin cabins. Match1 had this in one twin cabins not both, and on reflection I should have done both so as to accommodate all combinations of guests. Match2 will therefore have 4 x guest cabins, of which 2=doubles and 2= twins or doubles. Plus a tweaked crew cabin that will be fitted out to "owner area" standard in walnut, and can be 2 x single beds, 1x double, or (new idea) wood-partitioned to make two separate single-bed cabins (sharing one shower room). Plus a 3rd ***8220;jump seat***8221; bed in the laundry for kids or if an extra guest turns up. So, maximum 11 beds and as much convertibility as can be done, I think.

There***8217;s loads more detail but that***8217;s a quick summary of the main items. I***8217;ll get some more pics in a few weeks. It***8217;s meant to be finished about March 2013. I***8217;ll try to keep the build/launch/sea trial story updated. I***8217;d be grateful for ideas on things to include in the build because I really do plan keeping this boat for a few years (3 maybe? Haha!) rather than chopping it in after a season. That***8217;s the plan anyhow, ahem. And please give me your love ***8216;em/hate ***8216;em thoughts on white caulked decks

Anyway, here are pics***8230;

Hull moulding 9th October with first layer of mat on the gelcoat***8230;

Hull moulding 19 October

Pictures below show the custom additional bow cabin windows (3 not 2 each side) ***8211; the first profile pic shows the finished look. These and all the windows are frameless and bonded ***8220;auto style***8221; to flanges in the GRP moulding

This next pic shows the deck moulding, just gelcoated

Hard to see so I***8217;ve market it in red, an additional crew cabin window is going in transom. To help you get your bearings the square tube coming to the foreground is the passerelle tunnel..

Bow thruster tunnel integral to the hull moulding...

This next pic shows stabiliser holes moulded in, using GRP moulded tube (like bowthruster tunnel) as a former, instead of cutting a hole afterwards as they did on Match 1. They've learned some shortcuts. I think Match2 is about the 6th Squadron78 built with fin stabs (Match 1 was the first, and fwiw 3 boats have been built with Seakeeper gyros). This pic also shows the hull thickening around the stabs

More hull moulding general shots:

That***8217;s all the pics I have for now. I***8217;ll try to update this as the build progresses and hopefully it will get a bit more glamorous

Enjoyed the pics more than the read.. . Keep updating..

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Do the Lumishores go through the hull or is it just their wires?

The poverty spec surface mounted SM100 Lumishore u/w lights I had fitted last year only required a 10mm hole for the wire. Very easy fit and very satisfied with their performance especially considering reasonable price

 

[coliholic]

They are wifi controlled ......... and they go through the hull

There's me trying to be a smartarris and you're all a step or five ahead of me.

Rearrange these words; dick, clever, petard and hoist

 

[MapisM]

TAnd in the case of MapisM's boat about 100,000 nails

LOL, not sure if they reach 6 digits, but there's plenty of them for sure!
I wouldn't call them 'through hull', though, 'cause they are all planted into the frames, which are also a structural part of the hull.

Anyway, I agree that there's a big difference between a seacock, which is constantly 'attacked' from salt water, vs. u/w lights etc.
The latter, if made with a proper material and well installed, arguably are even stronger than the bit of grp which is cut out...

 

[petem]

LOL, not sure if they reach 6 digits, but there's plenty of them for sure!
I wouldn't call them 'through hull', though, 'cause they are all planted into the frames, which are also a structural part of the hull.

Anyway, I agree that there's a big difference between a seacock, which is constantly 'attacked' from salt water, vs. u/w lights etc.
The latter, if made with a proper material and well installed, arguably are even stronger than the bit of grp which is cut out...

Mmmm, I know that being critical of u/w lights will make me look like a luddite / bore, and I'm sure they are well made, but how will they fare after being in the water for 10 years or so and perhaps having suffered a few knocks? But it sounds like a large modern shaft driven boat has so many holes in the hull that a few more won't make much difference. Also, one has to consider that my rather limited boat owning experience (yes I did own a boat once!) was with sterndrives where this greatly minimizes the number of through hull fittings (apart from the two big holes where the drives go). In fact my Targa 30 probably only had three or four through hull fittings (u/w lights hadn't been invented then)! I do like the sound of Deleted User's surface mounted jobs with the 10mm holes. EME, if you really want to impress me, you'll need to power them using "contactless energy transfer" though the hull as well as wifi!

 

[Elessar]

Mmmm, I know that being critical of u/w lights will make me look like a luddite / bore, and I'm sure they are well made, but how will they fare after being in the water for 10 years or so and perhaps having suffered a few knocks? But it sounds like a large modern shaft driven boat has so many holes in the hull that a few more won't make much difference. Also, one has to consider that my rather limited boat owning experience (yes I did own a boat once!) was with sterndrives where this greatly minimizes the number of through hull fittings (apart from the two big holes where the drives go). In fact my Targa 30 probably only had three or four through hull fittings (u/w lights hadn't been invented then)! I do like the sound of Deleted User's surface mounted jobs with the 10mm holes. EME, if you really want to impress me, you'll need to power them using "contactless energy transfer" though the hull as well as wifi!

The thick and solid lumisures stuck into the hull with polyeurathane sealant worry you more than the rubber gaiters that kept your boat afloat?

 

[benjenbav]

All this discussion of holes in the hulls of boats has made me wonder what sort of shaft seals Match 2 will have.

I confess, I'm only familiar with the old sort which basically allow water to penetrate absorbent packing which then lubricates and cools the interface twixt shaft and tube and which needs to drip a little and be tightened up every now and again.

Basically it works. But Match 2 must have something much more high tech, surely?

 

[jfm]

The thick and solid lumisures stuck into the hull with polyeurathane sealant worry you more than the rubber gaiters that kept your boat afloat?

Yup! You gotta accept the use of glue at some point in your life. The layers of fibreglass in the hull are held together with glue, and the glass strands that contain the tensile strength are also glued together. The engines are totally attached to the hull with glue; do not let the bolted engine bearers fool you. The windscreen that keeps you alive in a storm is glued in. If it all goes tits up, check how the seams in your liferaft and LJ are made. And remember how the wings in that airbus that took you to the boat in the first place are held on. All of these things are glue, but 1000x more reliable than a rubber gaiter

The Lumishores are actually attached mechanically becuase they are through bolted, and the glue mostly functions as a sealant

 

[jfm]

All this discussion of holes in the hulls of boats has made me wonder what sort of shaft seals Match 2 will have.

I confess, I'm only familiar with the old sort which basically allow water to penetrate absorbent packing which then lubricates and cools the interface twixt shaft and tube and which needs to drip a little and be tightened up every now and again.

Basically it works. But Match 2 must have something much more high tech, surely?

I'll check but i think they're just the ordinary Tides Sureseal dripless rubber lip seals BJB. And there is a spare one or two threaded on each shaft so you can discard an old one and slide a new one into place without undoing a shaft. The longest time I've run these for is on my old Sq58, 800 hours, and they didn't need replacing during that perios so the spares were fully intact when I sold her. The Med is fairly grit-free water of course

 

[benjenbav]

I'll check but i think they're just the ordinary Tides Sureseal dripless rubber lip seals BJB. And there is a spare one or two threaded on each shaft so you can discard an old one and slide a new one into place without undoing a shaft. The longest time I've run these for is on my old Sq58, 800 hours, and they didn't need replacing during that perios so the spares were fully intact when I sold her. The Med is fairly grit-free water of course

Thanks. They look good. If you do discard one do you just cut it off and slide up the spare?

 

[jfm]

Thanks. They look good. If you do discard one do you just cut it off and slide up the spare?

Exactement! (though as a matter of geometry the sliding is actually downhill )

However, said spare is rubber or some fancy polymer, and is say 6yo, and has sat cooking for say 2000 hours in a slow cooker also called an engine room. For the same reason you should never keep your spare impellers and belts in the engine room, it might not be as supple as when new. The manufacturers don't comment on this, afaik. Anyway, I've never had to face the problem...

 

[Trundlebug]

I'll check but i think they're just the ordinary Tides Sureseal dripless rubber lip seals BJB. And there is a spare one or two threaded on each shaft so you can discard an old one and slide a new one into place without undoing a shaft. The longest time I've run these for is on my old Sq58, 800 hours, and they didn't need replacing during that perios so the spares were fully intact when I sold her. The Med is fairly grit-free water of course

Where is the "pressurised cooling water supply" fed from? I can see the pipe inlet in the photo; is that hooked up to the seawater system somewhere?

It does look an elegant and simple arrangement, I'm a real fan of dripless shaft seals.

I have a Volvo Penta dripless type on mine, but only suitable for low speed displacement plodders. Planning to replace it this winter after 8 yrs service. It only failed then because I forgot to "burp" it after going aground trying to get up the tidal Gt Ouse to Denver in early April. Carried on the whole season afterwards and only remembered late in September when it started dripping

 

[jfm]

Where is the "pressurised cooling water supply" fed from? I can see the pipe inlet in the photo; is that hooked up to the seawater system somewhere?

I should know better but haven't looked hard enough or remembered well enough. I think the water supply is tee'd off the engine seawater cooling circuit. Others might know better - VolvoPaul?

 

[petem]

The thick and solid lumisures stuck into the hull with polyeurathane sealant worry you more than the rubber gaiters that kept your boat afloat?

The difference is that those bellows have been fitted to 100,000's of boats and with proper use and maintenance are reliable. The u/w lights are relatively new and therefore unproven over time. BTW, it's not just the glue that could be a point of failure, it's the unit themselves - unless they are constructed from some inert / indestructible materiel that will not be prone to electrolysis or impact damage. But hey ho, JFM will be on Match 20 by then and it will be for the likes of Vas to fix it!

 

[Mr Googler]

. But hey ho, JFM will be on Match 20 by then and it will be for the likes of Vas to fix it!

 

[vas]

But hey ho, JFM will be on Match 20 by then and it will be for the likes of Vas to fix it!

that'd be surely my pleasure

not sure if I'll be able to afford to run a s/h sq78 though

and even more, boatyard where MiToS lives will only shift up to 50tons and NOT with stabs, but I'll think of something...
I'm sure with my mask and fins and the right size waterproof spanner I'd remove the stabs in the water and then bring her on the hard the oldfashion way

V.

 

[vas]

Aft deck drain 1**


Item **, don't ask, too hard to explain

I cannot believe nobody picked this one up yet!
J, please explain why would the aft deck have a below water drain???

V.

 

[Elessar]

For the same reason you should never keep your spare impellers and belts in the engine room, it might not be as supple as when new. The manufacturers don't comment on this, afaik. ..

learn something new every day

 

[petem]

that'd be surely my pleasure

not sure if I'll be able to afford to run a s/h sq78 though

and even more, boatyard where MiToS lives will only shift up to 50tons and NOT with stabs, but I'll think of something...
I'm sure with my mask and fins and the right size waterproof spanner I'd remove the stabs in the water and then bring her on the hard the oldfashion way

V.

And we'll thoroughly enjoy seeing you document the rebuild!

Actually I'm half expecting EME or JFM to tell me that the lights are formed from a piece of solid kryptonite or gold at the very least and will still be pristine in a 1000 years time!

Pete