Dock Buzz

2014 ShowBoats Design Award For Superyacht Tenders

An iconic Maine-based builder wins a well-deserved award.

By Capt. Ken Kreisler

If you’re an anything–that-floats watcher as I am, you’ve certainly seen your share of dreamboats underway, at anchor, or tied up in a dock or along side a pier. One of my favorite sightings is when, in my humble opinion, the beautiful, green-hulled, Feadship-built Sea Owl comes into view.

The uber beautiful Sea Owl, yet another Feadship masterpiece. Photo Credit: Kees Torn

So, it was not too much of a surprise to this nautical scribe that the 2014 ShowBoats Design Awards in the superyacht tenders category is Fledgling, the Hodgdon Yachts-built, Andrew Winch designed tender to Sea Owl.

Sea Owl, launched in 2013, is designed by Winch in collaboration with De Voogt Ship Design. She is 203’/62m in length, has a beam of 40’03”/12.20m, draws 12’4”/3.7m, and is powered by a pair of MTU 16V 4000 M53R diesel engines.

Ed Roberts, Hodgdon’s Director of Sales & Marketing commented, “Hodgdon Yachts, and its in-house engineering team, is proud to share the limelight with winner Andrew Winch Designs in receiving the coveted Showboats Design Award for the best Limo Tender.” Observations were also made as to how the tender’s design emulated that of Sea Owl’s beautiful lines.

Due to weight requirements necessary for use aboard Sea Owl, Hodgdon took special care in the Fledgling’s engineering and construction using infused epoxy carbon fiber, ensuring a strong, solid build.

Elegant and sophisticated by any standard, Fledgling is a perfect match for Sea Owl.

The tender features the exceptional craftsmanship and sophisticated systems engineering that Hodgdon is so well-known for. Outside, a defining characteristic of the Winch design is a well-executed compound curve teak clad transom. Inside, guests are greeted with teak wood finish, separate head and washroom, and luxurious leather seating for eight. Systems highlights include NEMA 2000 systems integrated iPad in the salon, electrically retracting glass moon roof, electrically retracting glass aft bulkhead, hydraulically lifting roof, and lithium-ion smart battery system among many more items.

Comments by the judges included not only wanting to own such a vessel but that, on its own, it would make a wonderful day boat as well. Air conditioning and charging and docking stations for phones and iPads are a nice touch, as is the 40-knots top speed.

SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 27’10″+/8.5m
LWL: 24’6’+/7.49m
BEAM: 9’0″/2.75m
DRAFT: Drive up: 1’7″+/0.5m; Drive down: 3’3″/1.0m
DISPLACEMENT: 101,191 lbs/4,590kg
POWER: Volvo D6/400-hp DuoProp Outdrive
CAPACITY: 8 guests/2 crew
BRIDGE CLEARANCE: 5’2″+/1.59m
TENDER BAY CLEARANCE: 6’11″+/2.13m

Further information on the Hodgdon custom tenders, including video, can be found at http://www.limotenders.com or at http://www.hodgdonyachts.com

ABOUT HODGDON: Having started in 1816 during the era of clipper ships, Hodgdon is America’s oldest boat builder. Still family owned, today this East Boothbay, Maine company has evolved into a leader in advanced composite construction while maintaining exceptional skills for world class traditional and modern interiors. The company’s divisions include high-end superyacht interiors (up to 80M), custom sail and power yacht construction (up to 60M), defense contracting and custom superyacht tenders. The company currently employs over 150 employees, most of whom are skilled and highly skilled labor. Hodgdon is a fifth generation family run company still in the heart of Maine’s famed Boothbay Region