New build Princess F55 flybridge

[rafiki_]

A busy weekend. We’re sorting out the coding for our commercial charter work and had Martin Pitillo on board Friday to do the technical inspection / survey. Even though I knew what to expect it’s still quite an involved process. Unfortunately the lift at Sealift Haslar was cancelled due to high winds. It’s the second time this has happened now, we had a lift cancelled when selling the P50. Thankfully Princess have managed to blag us a quick lift and hold on Monday and Martin is able to attend. Although it’s a new boat he still needs to see the underside to make sure there is no damage etc. which is fair enough.

We also had to do a stability test which was undertaken today. We put a message up on the Solent Facebook group, offered tea, coffee, cake and biscuits which was enough to encourage a friendly bunch to rock up and be used as ballast. You can use weights / water filled containers but it’s hard work. If you can get enough bodies this is quicker.

we’re coding for 12 guests plus 3 crew which means 15 times 75kg. In the end we had about 16 people’s worth of weight. The boat heeled over 4 degrees with everyone on one side. I think I’m right in saying the allowance is 7 degrees plus an allowance for extra freeboard which in our case means we could have passed at 10 degrees of heel so well within margins.

So Monday we come out of the water briefly.

Motley Crew?

 

[henryf]

Interesting. Just out of curiosity, is there any tankage requirement as pre-condition for that test?
I mean, like tanks empty, full, one side empty and one full, or whatever?
Even without knowing the exact capacities for fuel and water, that's bound to affect stability much more than 15x75 Kg...

Not as far as I’m aware. We could have topped up the water tank to give more low down central weight but didn’t. We are comfortably within tolerance.

I can’t envisage a time when we would be on charter with a single full tank and a single e

 

[henryf]

I’m coding Maia at the moment Henry. The rules haven’t changed but the application of them seems to have got stricter. Yes it is involved.

Yes they have definitely tightened up on things. I think Cheeky Rafiki has had an influence amongst other things.

Whereas before a surveyor could use professional judgement I think that has changed. Considerations like recovering a man overboard, fire suppression specifics and so on.

I actually like running a coded boat as it gives me confidence that we’ve got the necessary equipment on board to deal with situations more effectively.

 

[henryf]

That’s amazing !....imagine if JFM needed to code his new boat...he’d need the whole forum

He will still only be doing it for 12 guests and 3 crew I presume. Once you get over 15 persons on board things become a lot harder, certainly here in the UK. I know in Thailand you see all sorts of crazy numbers but for UK coding it’s essentially 15 max, 12 of whom can be passengers unless you want pain.

 

[Elessar]

Yes they have definitely tightened up on things. I think Cheeky Rafiki has had an influence amongst other things.

Whereas before a surveyor could use professional judgement I think that has changed. Considerations like recovering a man overboard, fire suppression specifics and so on.

I actually like running a coded boat as it gives me confidence that we’ve got the necessary equipment on board to deal with situations more effectively.

Practical recovery of unconscious MOB is interesting. I have a passerelle that swings through 180 degrees and can lift 300kg. That and a sling does it.

I presume you use you bathing platform? I don’t know how I would have done it on my last boat where the unconscious bit wasn’t applied and the ladder was fine.

The challenge I’m having is a 1m high guardrail when stood on the bottom step up to the fly. Hand rails for both hands and shallow deeps steps make it a super safe flybridge compared to many but it’s not good enough!

 

[henryf]

Practical recovery of unconscious MOB is interesting. I have a passerelle that swings through 180 degrees and can lift 300kg. That and a sling does it.

I presume you use you bathing platform? I don’t know how I would have done it on my last boat where the unconscious bit wasn’t applied and the ladder was fine.

The challenge I’m having is a 1m high guardrail when stood on the bottom step up to the fly. Hand rails for both hands and shallow deeps steps make it a super safe flybridge compared to many but it’s not good enough!

Yes. The bathing platform makes it much more simple. To be fair we could have probably done something with the passerelle / crane but lowering the bathing platform is easier.

Re: the flybridge rail situation I’m hoping our Bimini frame provides a solution. With the Bimini up we have a protective cage which is exceptionally safe.

 

[Elessar]

He will still only be doing it for 12 guests and 3 crew I presume. Once you get over 15 persons on board things become a lot harder, certainly here in the UK. I know in Thailand you see all sorts of crazy numbers but for UK coding it’s essentially 15 max, 12 of whom can be passengers unless you want pain.

I’m doing 12 inc crew. Usually 10+2 but can flex.

 

[jrudge]

Coding seems a strange world ( I have never coded one).

To lift a brand new boat and to think that the surveyor knows more about the boats stability than the manufacture seems daft.

There are regs like porthole covers , front hatch face backwards etc but in the real world how many boats have ever had issues with these things ? I have never heard of one and there are far more non coded boats than coded.

It also surprises me that the manufacturers do not offer coding as an option. The surveyor at the factory can do their tests once for the whole series of boats. They can look at the boat in the factory. The factory can install the front hatch backwards when they fit it along with a set of stickers.

 

[henryf]

To be fair to Princess most items already comply to the coding regulations, front hatches hinging from the front would be a good example.

I do understand that having paying guests on board places extra responsibility on both myself and the boat. The stability test was carried out in the trim that the boat will be used.

There are a number of different coding organisations so the factory can’t really get involved. The supplying dealer could and had we asked for specific adaptions during the build I’m sure they could have been catered for providing they didn’t impede on the CE or ISO requirements for that specific item. There are a huge raft of ways Princess the factory have to conform to international standards.

Whilst Princess are good guys there are plenty of other manufacturers who aren’t so all boats being coded have to be judged by with worst offending builders. You can’t just say oh yea, Princess are fine you don’t need to check them.

I actually take comfort from running a coded boat.

 

[Greg2]

Coding seems a strange world ( I have never coded one).

To lift a brand new boat and to think that the surveyor knows more about the boats stability than the manufacture seems daft.

There are regs like porthole covers , front hatch face backwards etc but in the real world how many boats have ever had issues with these things ? I have never heard of one and there are far more non coded boats than coded.

It also surprises me that the manufacturers do not offer coding as an option. The surveyor at the factory can do their tests once for the whole series of boats. They can look at the boat in the factory. The factory can install the front hatch backwards when they fit it along with a set of stickers.

You might be surprised, particularly on the point about knowledge of the builder and surveyor,

Ours boats at work are coded and unless a builder has previously delivered a coded boat they are not necessarily up to speed on requirements. There is a cost involved in getting to the coding standards and each individual boat has to go through the process so no shortcuts for a model. Sure, the construction standards can be consistent but each boat has to go through stability tests etc to get the ticket.

As an example we are currently working with a builder of RIBs who have never coded one before and our surveyor has had to provide a lot of guidance to help get them on track. To be fair, they are all over it but it is new to them and they are making modifications to meet the standard.
.

 

[henryf]

Having had the lift at Haslar Sealift cancelled on Friday due to strong winds we were very grateful to the service team at Princess for getting us a quick lift at Swanwick on Monay as the lads had their lunch. No one in Portsmouth was able or willing to do the quick lift, in this case Princess were able to speak directly to the yard team and their efficiency meant it was possible.

A few things to check, the structure integrity of the hull, things like the diameter of underwater fittings then some measurements with a view to coming up with a tonnage certificate for registration. No matter how many times you have a boat lifted your backside still clenches as it's dangling

 

[jfm]

Nice pics. I see you have those little cupping strips on your props. Haven't seen those for a while though they have been around for years.
Looking very good. 911 font for the name

 

[henryf]

Nice pics. I see you have those little cupping strips on your props. Haven't seen those for a while though they have been around for years.
Looking very good. 911 font for the name

My goodness me nothing gets past you does it

Yes, I’m just in an airport at the moment but I’ll make a post on the name.

Our P50 had the little strips fitted and they lasted 11 years perfectly. My understanding is they are like gurney flaps on a race car spoiler. I’m guessing Princess embrace them.

 

[henryf]

More info on the VEEM strips here:

Interceptor technology

 

[paradave]

Excuse my ignorance but why can’t they spec a prop that does the job without needing stick on strips?

 

[Parabolica]

Yes. The bathing platform makes it much more simple. To be fair we could have probably done something with the passerelle / crane but lowering the bathing platform is easier.

Having done MOB training in January at sea in Majorca, lowering the platform is unlikely as you will need the engines turned off to do so and i expect then, that by the time it has lowered enough you’ll have passed each other by.

Now if you’ve first hooked them, and managed to tether them safely out of harms way you might get away with it.

However, as i was taught, careful control and a considered approach (into current/tide), to come alongside of the MOB at a snailspace with current assisting and the engines running but in neutral and a capable person with a boat hook is the answer of course. However, If you are alone on the boat and the MOB is potentially unconscious too, then thats a whole different conundrum to deal with of course as you have to ensure you are not put at risk of being pulled in too.

Maybe a harpoon from the safety of the cockpit would suffice….?

I’m taking my teenage sons out to Majorca this week so will try this and report back as to how it went

 

[Bouba]

Having done MOB training in January at sea in Majorca, lowering the platform is unlikely as you will need the engines turned off to do so and i expect then, that by the time it has lowered enough you’ll have passed each other by.

Now if you’ve first hooked them, and managed to tether them safely out of harms way you might get away with it.

However, as i was taught, careful control and a considered approach (into current/tide), to come alongside of the MOB at a snailspace with current assisting and the engines running but in neutral and a capable person with a boat hook is the answer of course. However, If you are alone on the boat and the MOB is potentially unconscious too, then thats a whole different conundrum to deal with of course as you have to ensure you are not put at risk of being pulled in too.

Maybe a harpoon from the safety of the cockpit would suffice….?

I’m taking my teenage sons out to Majorca this week so will try this and report back as to how it went

What about if you have fin stabilizers? It would make rescues easier on a steady boat but put the swimmer at risk...are you expected to turn them off in a mob situation ?

 

[Parabolica]

Not having them on my boat i had neither considered or discussed that situation to be honest.
But in consideration I would say yes, turn them off as theres too much risk of injury to the MOB. A gyro of course would be fine though and help the whole situation but it still doesn't change the fact that engines usually have to be off for a platform to lower and this is not a quick process. Similarly if you missed your MOB and then had to raise the platform again in order the restart your engines to be able to make another attempt. It all takes a lot of time that depending upon the circumstances, the MOB might not have.

Btw, I wasn’t trying to be controversial, more just wanting to a perspective that i felt needed considering as these things are very important, god forbid that any of us find ourselves in this situation.

 

[Elessar]

Having done MOB training in January at sea in Majorca, lowering the platform is unlikely as you will need the engines turned off to do so and i expect then, that by the time it has lowered enough you’ll have passed each other by.

Now if you’ve first hooked them, and managed to tether them safely out of harms way you might get away with it.

However, as i was taught, careful control and a considered approach (into current/tide), to come alongside of the MOB at a snailspace with current assisting and the engines running but in neutral and a capable person with a boat hook is the answer of course. However, If you are alone on the boat and the MOB is potentially unconscious too, then thats a whole different conundrum to deal with of course as you have to ensure you are not put at risk of being pulled in too.

Maybe a harpoon from the safety of the cockpit would suffice….?

I’m taking my teenage sons out to Majorca this week so will try this and report back as to how it went

This isn't about reality its about coding.

In reality, in weather that's bad enough to lose someone overboard from a motorboat, you don't stand much of a chance of getting someone back on board. That's when I'd launch the smaller liferaft.

Apart from in a marina, or when transferring to/from a dinghy, how many people have had a real MOB from mobo?

 

[tico]

thanks jfm for predicting the question.... I had guessed that they were some form of cupping.