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FPB 64 Updates

The following articles cover the FPB 64 construction sequence. You will find hundreds of detailed photos with explanations covering every phase of the build cycle. Scroll down to the bottom to see the first articles.

FPB 64 Update #15

inverters

This update we have some catching up to do with photos. The inverter system provides both 115VAC and 230VAC (on boats with just 230VAC the fourth inverter serves light loads like electronics and small galley appliances). Splitting the sources like this provides back up and reduces idling current when the stack of three inverters are not required for heavy loads. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (July 28, 2009) | Comments (7)

FPB 64 Update #14

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Things are moving swiftly in New Zealand on the FPB 64s. Hull number one is being ground now, and the plumbing and systems are just about ready for furniture installation to begin. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (July 24, 2009) | Comments (1)

FPB 64 Update 13

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We love looking at the progress photos, especially the engine room (which is really hard to photograph). It is getting closed to being wrapped up and there is less confusion and more order now. This shot is taken from the engine room door, looking aft towards the port corner. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (July 1, 2009) | Comments (6)

FPB 64 Furniture – Final Finish Coming Together

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Furniture for the first of the FPB 64s is now being completed and we thought you might like to see the level of finish quality. New Zealand is known for its wood workers, “Chippies” as they are called, and you can see why (although it is tough to really get a feel for finish without viewing it in person). Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (June 29, 2009) | Comments (2)

FPB 64 Update #12

fridge-compressor-2

Most motor yachts these days use household fridges and freezers. This has substantial cost advantages, but brings with it enormous power consumption. We have stayed with our highly efficient specially insulated box design, and these 24 volt DC Danfoss compressors connected to evaporator plates. There are three independent systems, each capable of being used as fridge or freezer. The combination of this hardware and our box design has proven to be the most efficient system we have ever used. The compressors are cooled in the same fresh water tank that is used for the air conditioning system (discussed in the previous post). This is accomplished with a passive “keel coolers” mounted through the top of this cooling tank. We first tested this approach on Beowulf 14 years ago and it works so well that the compressors receive sufficient cooling even when the boat is hauled out for storage. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (June 26, 2009) | Comments (1)

FPB 64 Update # 11

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Anyone for an engine room party? There are five of the Circa team plus Kelly Archer and Todd Rickard from our side (the photographer), reviewing details. Speaking of which, we have a bunch more to discuss.

Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (June 3, 2009) | Comments (4)

FPB 64 Update # 10 – Part One

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We’ve been doing the FPB 64 updates on the Dashew Offshore section of the website. But the new SetSail is so much easier for us to upload we will keep them here for the immediate future. It has been a while since we have updated you on the FPB progress in New Zealand, so there is a lot to review. We’ll start in the Owner’s suite forward, the bunk for which is shown here. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (May 26, 2009) | Comments (0)

FPB 64 Update #10 Part Two

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Let’s switch to the engine room; looking aft here from the vantage of the starboard forward corner. The as yet uninsulated engine exhaust is to the left and the work bench to the right. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (May 26, 2009) | Comments (4)

FPB 64 Update # 9

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Lots more to share this week, starting with the hydraulic system pulsation dampener (the pipe shaped device mounted on top of the hydraulic pump). We use these to reduce hydraulic noise. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (May 7, 2009) | Comments (2)

FPB 64 Update # 8

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Details are coming rapidly right now, some of which will be hard to see as the density of installed gear increases. For the gear heads amongst you today’s report will be interesting. Otherwise, the college basketball season is coming to a close, and there are some games to watch. We’ve had some questions on the steering system and this lovely top down view should answer most of them. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (April 7, 2009) | Comments (0)

FPB 64 Construction Update # 7

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We’ve got lots of systems and construction details to share, so we hope you are settled in with a beverage close at hand. We will start with the steering system, the general arrangement of which is shown above. There are two completely isolated hydraulic and pilot systems, either of which can steer the boat. Getting this right is critical for control in heavy weather. This also needs to be really strong, as the structure has to deal with millions of reverse cycle loading inputs over the years. If you are comparing what follows to your own boat, keep in mind that the FPB 64 is easily controlled, and has a balanced rudder. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (March 7, 2009) | Comments (2)

FPB 64 Construction Update # 6

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Early March, and the New Zealand summer is waning. Metalwork on the first FPB 64 is almost complete, and #2 is well along. We have lots of details to show you with this report, so grab a refreshment, and settle in for the tour. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (February 7, 2009) | Comments (0)

FPB 64 Update # 5

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The new year is upon us and the crew at Circa have returned from their annual vacation (most boat builders in New Zealand take a couple of weeks off over the holidays). Things are moving rapidly now on both hulls one and two of the FPB 64s. We’ll start with some metal details (getting close to the end of these), and then finish up with some early photos from the cabinet shop. That’s Todd Rickard, FPB 64 Project Manager showing the client for the first boat some of the details. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (January 7, 2009) | Comments (0)

FPB 64 Construction Update # 4

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We are almost complete with the metal work on hull number one and hull number two is coming along well. In this update we will start with a critical component to propulsion efficiency and propeller protection – the skeg. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (December 7, 2008) | Comments (0)

FPB 64 Update # 3

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Our apologies for being so late with this update. The many requirements of boat building has been keeping us busy. So, there are lots of photos to review (the newest of which is now three weeks old), starting with the one above. The house is now in situ on FPB64 #1 and construction of hull #2 has begun. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (December 1, 2008) | Comments (0)

FPB Structural Grid

fpb64 grid 011

Since we have been showing you photos of how the FPB 64 is being built, we thought it might be helpful to have a look at how the pieces fit together on a macro basis. The 3D images above and following are based on the cut files for the FPB 64, from which the boat is actually built. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (November 7, 2008) | Comments (1)

FPB 64 Construction Update # 2

Spring is on its way to New Zealand after a stormy winter, and the first FPB 64 is on its way as well. The second hull is about to start (plate is being cut now). We have been remiss in updating the website, so this is a long, detailed report.

Collision-Bhd

We’ll start with this photo of the bow just before it was closed off with the final topside plate. This shows the structure which supports the centerline girder in a collision, forming a watertight tank in the process. Note the vertical solid round bar from the middle horizontal web. This is the Sampson post which exits through deck and is used for towing and other high-load situations. The second bulkhead forms the aft end of the chain locker, and then you have the storage portion of the forepeak. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (October 7, 2008) | Comments (0)

FPB 64 Construction Details # 1

We are often asked why we don’t build the FPBs in fiberglass. We like both fiberglass (properly done) and aluminum, and we have certainly done lots of both over the years. It is just a question of which is best suited to the cruising environment envisaged for this design. Here are a few details to show you why we prefer aluminum for the FPB 64.

port-stabilizer-Edit

This is the “boss” into which the stabilizer control structure will be installed. Note the heavy aluminum pipe and gussets, all contained within a watertight coffer dam. There is simply no way you can match the strength of this welded structure with secondary fiberglass bonds. For normal working loads over a brief life span, fiberglass is fine. But if you are going to do some rock hopping, dry the boat out on mud flats, and put many thousands of offshore miles on the boat, then we want this highly stressed area to be fabricated from welded aluminum. Read the rest »

Posted by Steve Dashew (September 7, 2008) | Comments (0)

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