Sea Trials

A Personal Matter

Always taking its custom work seriously, Jarrett Bay brings it to a new level with this 64-foot Carolina beauty.

By Capt. Ken Kreisler

Photos courtesy of Jarrett Bay

This Jarrett Bay 64, Builder’s Choice, is the fourth personal statement from this builder for the owner and delivered by company president Randy Ramsey and his crew of fine craftsmen.

“If I felt any better about this boat, I’d be triplets,” remarked Jarrett Bay president Randy Ramsey, his words flavored and seasoned with that most appealing and special North Carolinian cadence. “You see, this is the fourth boat we built for the Huddle family and well, when you have established that kind of relationship, it not just about the job.”

Indeed, Builder’s Choice, one of the latest to splash at the company’s sprawling 175-acre marine park right off the Intracoastal Waterway in Beaufort, North Carolina, is more than another beautiful custom build from Mr. Ramsey and his veteran crew of designers, fabricators, technicians, workers, support staff and all the others that have helped put Jarrett Bay in the rarified air of this particular sector of the industry.

With this particular boat, and given the Huddle’s involvement as their exclusive contractor in the early days of Jarrett Bay’s growth, the project was all very personal. “This was about family,” said Ramsey. “And we set out to deliver a beautiful and functional boat.”

INTERIOR

That personal touch is quite evident inside Builder’s Choice and the attention to detail and excellent fit and finish shown by Jarrett Bay’s on-site Crystal Coast Interiors that was provided here is exceptional.

The main salon aboard Builder’s Choice is exactly what the owners were looking for.

No matter where one looks, the hand picked black walnut motif stands out and is in beautiful contrast with the light colored couches, each with plenty of storage space beneath, found to either side. And a beautifully crafted Release table, not only expands for additional surface area, but also opens up for extra storage below. With the Huddles, that most likely will be used for fishing related items.

The island galley is forward and to port with a dinette just opposite. The veneer work found throughout and well, the eyes don’t lie; everything matches perfectly. For weight saving, honeycombed Nomex is used with all the doors and cabinets.

Given her profile as a no-nonsense, tournament boat, she has abundant rod, reel, and fish equipment storage. Here, a hallway closet shows off some of her wares.

In the living accommodations, reached via a centerline stairs from the salon and galley area, there is a three stateroom, three head layout. Surrounding both the Huddles and their guests in elegant and comfortable quarters, the staterooms also provide plenty of storage space for those times Builder’s Choice will be traveling to far-flung ports in search of the boat’s prime directive. In addition, there are full-length tackle closets on both sides of the hallway with dedicated space allotted to rods and reels and makes for a very impressive showing.

CONSTRUCTION

“While we always look to make our boats lighter and more efficient, we never sacrifice quality, safety, and the kind of outstanding build we have become known for,” said Ramsey. To that end and instead of a molded house, Builder’s Choice features closed cell foam throughout the entire topsides.

Like all of Jarrett Bay cold-molded boats, Builder’s Choice starts out with a perfectly shaped wood frame over which her fiberglass exterior will be fashioned.

As far as Jarrett Bay’s cold mold process, the boat is triple planked with significant amounts of fiberglass and extra planking in high impact areas. This same beefy technique is used in sections like the struts and rudders.

“Unlike some builders we not only glass the exterior of the hull but instead, encase its entire interior as well including the stinger system, grid, bottom and side planking,” continued Ramsey on this topic. “The end product is an encapsulated wooden hull that should last indefinitely.” And finally, to get that beautiful Atlantic Blue paint job on Builder’s Choice, Jarrett Bay uses Alexseal coatings on all its boats.

COCKPIT

For all her beauty and obvious boat builder’s artistic quality, this is a hard-core fishing boat and one that fulfills all the needs of the Huddle family’s legacy of claiming their place in this particular, and highly competitive arena.

Ready for action of any kind, the cockpit offers captain, crew, and anglers all they would need for serious fishing.

As they usually fish with a large group of anglers, she offers 140 square feet of effective space. The teak work underfoot, and that on both upper and lower mezzanine areas, including the coamings, is exceptional. One would be hard pressed to find a line in the sole that does not demonstrate the definition of straight.

As expected, there are the requisite ice and chill boxes, storage areas, transom door and baitwell, stunning Release chair, and easy access to the engine room.

ENGINE ROOM

For any hands-on owner or skipper, the engine room aboard Builder’s Choice is as functional as it is a spacious. With a pair of big CAT C32’s at 1,925-hp each sharing the space with a duo of 29.5-kW CAT gensets, I found getting to all critical maintenance areas as well as all pumps, switches, hoses, systems, and just about anything else that needs tending to, to be not only easy but provides all the working space in which to swing any tool without getting a knuckle busted or an elbow bruised.

A great engine room makes a great boat and aboard Builder’s Choice, hers is as good as it gets.

Also of note was finding the pump room aft, this to alleviate any noise, whether it is harmonic vibration or the actual sound of the various pumps and systems cycling off and on, enabling the owner and guests to not be disturbed when settling in for the evening. And as with the engine room space, with many of these systems under cover and in cabinets, I found everything also had easy access for not only checking but for any necessary maintenance work or clean up.

BRIDGE

The bridge totally reflects the boat’s fishing profile and is truly worthy of admiration. With its Bausch American hardtop, this deck presents a thoughtfully planned layout and easily places the captain and any guests watching the action from up on high, right in the bite. For the skipper and co-pilot there is a pair of Release pedestal helm seats with additional seating along the starboard side. A comfortable L-shape couch is forward and to port of the helm. Freezer and refrigerated storage areas are also found here as well there being further cargo space beneath the seating.

Well laid out with all controls and electronics within easy reach, the bridge affords maximum efficiency while Builder’s Choice is under operation.

Using the expertise of Offshore Marine Electronics, Builder’s Choice has an extensive array of Icom, Northstar, SiTex, Garmin, FLIR, Simrad, and JL Audio systems resulting in a helm design affording maximum control with ease of use.

PERFORMANCE

The analogy of driving Builder’s Choice across the waters off of Palm Beach, Florida, as being like taking the wheel of a finely tuned sports car is spot on.

This boat is power personified and due to the balance between those high horsepower, twin CAT diesels and that spectacular fine entry with its sharp attack angle that transitions to abundant planning surfaces, she easily jumped out of the hole, spooled up to 2000 rpm and reached a cruise speed of 35.6 knots. When hooked up, we flirted with 41 knots. I found her to bank easily into turns at speed, track straight and true, back down with all the expected nimbleness she was designed for, and was as compliant and responsive to the most finite of helm commands during the close quarters docking maneuvers at the Sailfish Marina.

With her Carolina flare showing off her perfectly balanced profile, this Jarrett Bay 64 is an awesome performer.

How do you balance the art of custom boat building with power and performance and the right amount of Carolina Flare? As with Builder’s Choice, you get Jarrett Bay to put it all together for you. It will be very personal. Just ask Randy Ramsey.

SPECIFICATIONS

Length Overall: 64’

Beam: 18’ 6”

Draft: 5’ 10”

Waterline: 58′

Cockpit: 140 sq. ft.

Mezzanine: 65 sq. ft.

Freshwater Capacity: 275 gal.

Holding Tank Capacity: 125 gal.

Fuel Capacity: 1800 gal. plus 425 gal. auxiliary tank

Power: Twin Cat C32s @ 1925 hp each

Generators: Twin Cat 2.2t @ 29.5 kW each

RPM                             GPH                   SPEED(kt)

1000                              36                         11.9

1250                              66                         20.0

1500                              88                         24.4

1750                             124                        31.9

2000                             152                        35.6

2325                             200                        40.8

http://www.jarrettbay.com

 

 

 

Yacht Spotting & New Launches

Fourth Custom Jarrett Bay Sportfish Delivered to A Family of Anglers

64-foot Builder’s Choice is a powerful testament to fine Carolina boat building.

Builder’s Choice shows off her beautiful profile and her proud Carolina flare.

As the company turns the corner on its 30^th year of delivering 95+ builds, Jarrett Bay Boatworks announces the launch of their fourth custom sportfish for the Huddle family and their third generation of Builder’s Choice anglers. Jarrett Bay founder Randy Ramsey’s relationship with the Huddles dates back to 1989 when Jack Huddle first walked into the early company’s Williston, North Carolina boat shed and commissioned a 43’ flybridge with merely a handshake. As the Huddles began to outgrow their 43’, a 48’ express and subsequent 55’ convertible were commissioned – preparing them to once again best their last with the latest 64’.

This is an engine room that is as good as it gets.

From the beautifully contrasting toe rail to the custom Bausch American hardtop, the graceful design and precise execution make Builder’s Choice a quintessential example of Jarrett Bay’s impressive construction acumen and top quality vendor partnerships. Finished in a shimmering Atlantic Blue topcoat from Alexseal, this renowned “Carolina Flare” hull form pairs advancements such as prop tunnels and underwater exhaust with the dependability of conventional shaft propulsion. Massive Caterpillar C32s with ACERT technology propel her to a top speed of 43 knots and a cruising speed in the 34-37 knot range; ensuring she is as fast and capable as she is elegantly striking.

A look forward in the main salon reveals the fine woodwork and attention to detail Jarrett Bay Boatworks is noted for.

As the Huddle family’s boats have evolved to this latest pinnacle, so have their relationships with Jarrett Bay. Jack’s company, Trader Construction was instrumental in Jarrett Bay’s growth and real estate expansion to their 175-acre Marine Park, and he often considered Randy a brother to his sons Harris and Carl. Harris explains, “Our loyalty to Jarrett Bay started with Jack and Randy and now our family is keeping the tradition going. Randy helps us out and we help him out.” Ramsey adds, “When we say, ‘welcome to the Jarrett Bay family,’ it’s not just a figure of speech, we truly mean it. Especially after the sale, we aim to support our customers’ boating careers for life.”

The interior hallway is only a prelude to what awaits the boat’s owners and guests.

During the construction of the 64, one of the ways this close relationship was demonstrated were the multiple trips Harris made with the Jarrett Bay team to Atlantic Veneer’s mill to hand-pick the stunning black walnut accents for the interior woodwork. The entire Huddle family also helped with layout decisions and interior appointments such as the space maximizing Release Marine box table with pop-up leaves, custom walnut sunburst dinette with holly inlay, and the stalwart fighting and helm chairs. Family members also worked closely with the talented team at The Captain’s Shop on the custom bridge enclosure, as well as with the on-site team at Crystal Coast Interiors to make many of the comfortably refined interior design choices for the three stateroom, three head layout down below.

Comfort and luxurious surroundings are found in each and every stateroom.

The yacht’s initial shakedown cruise will be an extended trip from North Carolina to south Florida for her debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on November 5-9, 2015. Huddle says, “After that, we’ll spend the winter based out of Palm Beach before venturing to Isla Mujeres Mexico for the early Winter/Spring sailfish bite, and then hopefully on to the Dominican Republic and eventually Bermuda. We also have visions of fishing the Pacific in the years to come.” An abundance of functional storage, redundant Cat generators and an auxiliary fuel tank are among the custom features that were built in from the start to help make these long range expeditions a reality for the Huddle family and their guests.

There’s plenty of tackle storage aboard including this hallway closet.

Working with Jarrett Bay’s industry partners at Offshore Marine Electronics, Garmin, JL Audio, FLIR, Simrad, Northstar, Icom and SiTex, the Huddles assembled a navigation package designed to put them on the bite with laser-like precision, as well as enjoy modern entertainment and advanced monitoring amenities.

A bridge deck and helm truly worthy of an A-list tournament sportfishing yacht.

A thoughtfully planned systems and video monitor even affords guests relaxing in the climate-controlled salon a live view of the action from the bridge. For all the craftsmen at Jarrett Bay, the Builder’s Choice is a highly functioning piece of art to be supremely proud of, and even sentimental about, as she leaves the facility for the first time. Jarrett Bay new construction foreman Gary Davis jests, “Delivering a boat we’ve worked on day in and out for years is like walking your daughter down the aisle.” But as in all quality relationships, the Jarrett Bay team knows the bride will eventually return home – perhaps often – just as the Huddle family has proven to.

The business end of this Jarrett Bay 64 is bound to see lots of action.

Builder’s Choice is among the first in a flurry of new construction activity contracted at Jarrett Bay during the economic recovery. Following soon after the Builder’s Choice debut in Fort Lauderdale will be a 46′ express splashing later this year, while an in-progress 84′ and 90′ convertible are each slated for completion in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

http://www.jarrettbay.com

64’ Jarrett Bay Boatworks – Custom Hull 59 Specifications

Length Overall: 64’ Beam: 18’ 6” Draft: 5’ 10” Waterline: 58′ Cockpit: 140 sq. ft. Mezzanine: 65 sq. ft.Freshwater Capacity: 275 gal. Holding Tank Capacity: 125 gal. Fuel Capacity: 1800 gal. plus 425 gal. auxiliary tank Power: Twin Cat C32s @ 1925 hp each Generators: Twin Cat 2.2t @ 29.5 kW each About Jarrett Bay Boatworks

Jarrett Bay Boatworks, founded in 1986, has delivered more than 95 custom and semi-production sportfishing boats and services more than one thousand boats per year through their 175-acre Jarrett Bay Marine Park in Beaufort, North Carolina. Recognized as an ABBRA Boatyard of the Year and named the 2015 NC Manufacturer of the Year, Jarrett Bay has more than 175 employees and 135,000 sq. ft. of building space – making it one the East Coast’s largest and most respected all-inclusive boating facilities.

 

Sea Trials

     

        The Art, and Pride, of the Build

The 77-foot Blank Check, Jarrett Bay’s latest and largest custom convertible to date, successfully balances boat building technology with aesthetics.

By Capt. Ken Kreisler

Carolina flare takes to the offshore waters in search of big fish and angling adventures in the form and shape of Jarrett Bay’s 77-foot Blank Check.

Let’s cut to the chase on this one shipmates. Michelangelo had his Pieta, Leonardo—DaVinci, not DiCaprio—his Mona Lisa, and now the owner of Jarrett Bay’s latest convertible, the 77-foot Blank Check, has his own masterpiece. And while the comparison between the pinnacle of creativity these great classics represent and that of a no-nonsense, horizon-chasing fishing machine might seem a bit of a stretch, upon closer examination of this stunningly beautiful boat, and what it took to design and construct it, will have you convinced of the special level of ingenuity it takes to bring this kind of boat building art to realization.

Bow on, Blank Check sports a formidable profile.

The empty canvas for Blank Check began back in 2010 when her future owner, on the look for a new boat, invited Jarrett Bay’s president Randy Ramsey, along with two of his engineers, to Florida for a couple of days of fishing. “He wanted us to see how he used his boat; what his style of fishing was all about as well as what he required aboard in terms of his family’s needs, something as important to this particular owner as having a very serious, tournament-capable boat,” said Ramsey. “Once we had that experience, one that really helped us to understand our customer, we knew just what the right direction to take would be.”

For Ramsey and his veteran crew at the sprawling, all-inclusive Beaufort, North Carolina based Jarrett Bay Marine Park, comprising some 175 acres right on the ICW, the Blank Check project took on a very special meaning. “I started out as a charter boat captain and built my first boat in a tin shed back in 1986. And to see how far we’ve come in our endeavors to give our owners exactly what they need and want, and for our family here to work with the Doyle’s on this project, is a source of great pride for us,” said Ramsey.

That sense of pride runs deep at Jarrett Bay and is reflected in the uniqueness of all its boats. As I approached Blank Check tied up on the outside T of the Beaufort Town Docks, it was quite evident that the builder had once again, been successful in achieving that elusive balance between the art of boat construction and technology.

She was here, and just shortly after her launch as well, to participate in the Big Rock Marlin Tournament, her lofty ‘riggers defining a new skyline at the edge of the historic town, her noticeably Carolina flared bow jutting out with just the perfect balance of form and function.

I couldn’t help but glance up at her custom Bausch American Tower soaring above those of the other sportfishing boats along the water’s edge and the exacting way the symmetry between her bridge, foredeck, sweeping sheer, and cockpit area all contributed to her perfectly balanced profile.

CONSTRUCTION

Even in the early stages of construction, her fine lines are quite apparent.

Like all Jarrett Bay cold molded builds, soon after Gary Davis, a third generation boat builder and the company’s visionary designer, has completed her hull drawings, Blank Check started taking form on the floor of her construction building by having her lofted out to full size. This technique, used by the builder for years now, gives the team a chance to have a look at the lines of the boat. Once Ramsey, Davis, and the rest of the design team approves, the wood jig stations are constructed along with the male mold. The Douglas fir stringers are placed in that mold along with the stem after which comes three layers of Okume planking for the bottom and sides. These layers are carefully cut, fit, placed and then glued in alternating directions resulting in a very strong product. “The outcome is certainly lighter than traditional fiberglass construction allowing for increased speeds and efficiency,” Ramsey said.

The entire hull structure is then glassed over after which, and since it was built keel up, upside down, it is flipped over and put on its cradle, ready for wiring, plumbing, engines and equipment along with the interior, bridge, deck, superstructure, and the rest of the boat. “As a cold molded builder, we start with a blank sheet of paper and have no preconceived notions as to how someone needs to use their boat. We don’t have that much invested in any one hull design or build and in that way, we can be very flexible in making those adjustments, whether big or small, and deliver a truly custom built boat,” he added. For Blank Check, it would mean three years until she could splash and strut her stuff with that super glossy finish courtesy of Alexseal’s Cloud White paint.

INTERIOR
Of the many successes that went into the build, one of the most satisfying was Jarrett Bay’s ability to provide the Doyle Family with the kind of living accommodations that were so important to them. And with Blank Check sporting a 21’6” beam, this afforded plenty of room to create the spacious layout and well-appointed amenities aboard this competitive fishing platform.

Working closely with the owners, Jarrett Bay was able to realize a salon able to accommodate the family needs.

To that end the oversized salon, whose couches were designed to be wide enough to sleep on,and galley, with an overabundance of storage space—an important theme repeated throughout Blank Check including the bridge deck, cockpit, mezzanine, and engine room as well—including an ample pantry/washer and dryer room to port and a day head to starboard, is about as good as it gets. And because the Doyle’s needed the room, Blank Check is outfitted with a five stateroom, six head layout, including master, VIP, a pair of guest quarters, and captain/crew.

Wide open spaces are also found in the well laid out and maintenance-friendly engine room.

As one would expect, the engine room is another place on board where the art of boat building took precedence. There is a separate pump room that also houses the two 32-kW Onan gensets and I found the work space in all areas to be superior for not only daily maintenance, but afforded the ability to get both hands on anything that might need servicing without any knuckle busting, elbow bashing, or knee crunching. And of course, both are fully air-conditioned.

FISHABILITY AND PERFORMANCE
“I’m the son of a son of a son of a sailor and my dad was a sportfishing captain as well,” said Capt. Danny Hearn as we sat on the massive bridge deck, overlooking the 225 square foot cockpit, the custom Release Marine chair below us, as Blank Check’s two mates began readying baits and rigging the rods for tomorrow’s Big Rock outing. The only reason I was able to get on the boat at all was that my day was a lay day.

Blank Check‘s cockpit shows off yet another area where the Jarrett Bay craftsmen take center stage.

Hearn is an integral part of this boat’s life, having worked for the Doyle Family since 1993 and was as involved in her build as were Ramsey and his team. “It’s a rarity in this business to find this kind of relationship and is just one more facet of what makes Blank Check so special,” Hearn said.

Capt. Danny Hearn is as proud as any skipper can be; great boat and equally great job.

With her international travel schedule, Hearn made sure Blank Check would have all she needed to be a competitive threat anywhere she fished. Besides the extra fuel capacity of 3,200 gallons, this formidable boat has all the requisite equipment one would expect and lots more.

The bridge overhead has a double-hinged opening that accommodates up to 16 rigged and ready-to-go rods. Each of the couches forward of the helm has ample storage space as does the table. There is a double freezer compartment that can easily hold several weeks of frozen foodstuffs and the centerline helm, with its vast array of electronics, allows Capt. Danny to always know what is going on, especially during the heat of battle. Down in the cockpit, there are plenty of in-sole boxes and extra storage and freezers as well beneath the mezzanine couches. The pair of pressurized live-wells, large enough to hold up to 125 gallons, will keep the bait ready to go. And for her time in skinny waters, her prop tunnels and low shaft angle, combined with her 5’6” draft, will take the pucker factor out of the equation.

“I’m very pleased with her performance She’s very quick out of the hole, turns on fish just fine, and with the underwater exhausts and those submarine doors in the engine room, is very quiet for those wishing to hang in the salon while we are underway,” he said.

Given the windy conditions in the area, getting her off the dock on this particular day was something to look forward to. With no glass calm water outside, she hit the chop easily and as the seas built, was able to muscle her way with all the assurance and ease her Carolina-built heritage promises. She gracefully leaned into all her turns and answered the helm with speed and efficiency. We were able to get her moving at 41 knots at WOT and flirted with 30 knots at 2000 rpm.

The Doyle Family have their boating version of a magnum opus and according to all reports from Capt. Danny, are enjoying their new acquisition to the fullest with trips planned far and wide wherever big fish tournaments are being held. And just to set things right from the start, Blank Check delivered a triple header white marlin release on her very first day in the offshore waters during the Big Rock Lady Angler Tournament that took place in early June, 2013. On July 4^th, at The World Cup Blue Marlin Championship, an international event that took place on that day in 18 countries and territories with 130 teams participating, Blank Check saw the winning 668-pound fish slide across its decks with prize money totaling over $300,000. An auspicious beginning for this major statement of boat building art? The Doyle’s think so and, I suppose, many who will not only see her at the dock but also fish the same waters will agree as well. Jarrett Bay Boatworks. 252.728.2690. www.jarrettbay.com

PERFORMANCE
RPM                    SPEED (kn)                   GPH
1000                           12                            30
1250                           15                            60
1500                           22                            100
1750                           29                            140
2000                           35                            180
2250                           39                            215
2400                           41                            250

SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 77’0”
BEAM: 21’6”
DRAFT: 5’8”
DISPLACEMENT: 128,000 lbs. (dry)
FUEL: 3,200 gal.
WATER: 350 gal.
ENGINES: 2 x 2,600-hp MTU 16V 2000 Series
GENERATORS: 2 x 32-kW Onan

Fuel consumption is based on (2) engines at any given RPM. Speed and ranges are estimates based on engineering calculations. Range is based on 90% fuel capacity. Actual performance will vary and be affected by water and weather conditions, load and conditions of boat, engines, and propellers. Speed will increase as fuel is consumed. All data is illustrative and not warranted.

There’s a special postscript to this story as the Doyle family and Capt. Danny have already commissioned Randy Ramsey, Jarrett Bay’s president, to build them Hull #60, a new 84-foot Blank Check, to be delivered by mid 2016. We’ll be following her build progress right up to launch time.