“Against the Wind…With his new powerboat design, world cruiser Steve Dashew continues a lifelong pattern of challenging the status quo.”
–Soundings Magazine

I have just returned from a very productive week in New Zealand and wanted to share some of the photos taken while on the ground at our builder, Circa Marine. There was much covered during the trip – here are a few of the latest details surrounding the FPB 64 program.

FPB 64-6 is in the water, with builders sea trials nearly complete. The first three photos show off our Alternative B great room layout. It is somewhat subtle, but this layout has a more “European” style, compact galley – allowing for an enlarged settee (300mm longer, fore and aft).

This allowed us to get creative with the table, meeting the clients’ wish to have one that is convertible to a coffee table/lounge height.

I like the choice of helm chair color. Reported to be the influence of the owners’ daughter, it adds color and contrast to the tasteful and well-executed interior.

And these two photos give you a good sense of the Alternative B great room galley layout. More compact (smaller drawer stack return below speed oven), but plenty of space to function effectively.

As was done on hull #5, Tiger, the aft deck seating arrangement on FPB 64-6 has a standard BBQ and sink. The sink shown here is extra large, allowing it to double as a baitwell if desired.

One fun aspect of reviewing a new boat for delivery is seeing the caring craftsmanship and skill that goes into every detail. In reviewing these pictures I am reminded that, in all my years of fitting out and delivering yachts, the quality here is finer than any I’ve ever seen.

Circa Marine has a passion for perfection and it shows in the way these boats are built.

The entry locker (standard on MkII boats) has a hanger for foulies and plenty of room for shoes and boots. You might also notice the stowed cocktail table for the aft deck seating and the cover shroud for the exhaust fan in the aft head.

A nicely organized shore power detail, along with the aft deck electric deck winch cord-set and the owners’ optional dive compressor fill station and associated yokes.

Mark Fritzer works with us in the Seattle office, and during our trip he spent several days aboard FPB 64-6 Grey Wolf confirming values and logging data for much of the gear and systems aboard. This not only helps deliver a vessel that is thoroughly vetted and proven to the client, but allows benchmarks by which future troubleshooting and performance can be measured against.

Grey Wolf is fitted with four 245W solar panels connected to an MPPT controller. Even during a rainy overcast day we were seeing 5-10 amps of positive contribution to the 24VDC system. This should easily keep up with the loads of the refrigeration, freezers, and more, and is especially helpful if the boat is left unattended and unplugged for any length of time. We are fitting 20 of the 327W versions of these panels on the FPB 97.

Joining us during our visit were the owners of FPB 64, hulls #8 & #9.  Stedem, owner of FPB 64 #8, was having a hard time containing his excitement as he inspected progress and met with us on the final details of his FPB.  Stedem has offshore sailing experience, having sailed his 45-foot sailboat from the Pacific Northwest to New Zealand and back a few years ago, and is anxious to start his next cruising adventure.

Above, brothers Mike and Pete from Australia stand at the bow of their FPB 64, hull #9.  It was great to get to know them better and see their enthusiasm as we sorted through details that finalize the framework for their FPB under construction.  Sharing a passion for the water with one’s brother is something I relate to – and I can tell these guys are going to have some awesome stories of adventure for us in short order.  In total thus far, three of the FPB 64s are flagged under the blue Aussie ensign.

For more information, contact Sue Grant: Sue.Grant@Berthon.Co.UK.