Spring is here and with it the promise of things to be discovered, adventures to be enjoyed, and new lands to visit.
FPB 78-2 Grey Wolf has just completed its first passage from Whangarei Heads to New Caledonia, a distance of 1060 nautical miles, at an average speed of 11.6 knots. Fast is fun (and gets you out of the way of dangerous weather, for which the Tasman Sea is infamous at this time of year).
Not to be outdone, FPB 78-1 Cochise has averaged 14 knots between Fort Lauderdale and Southport, NC, a distance of just over five hundred nautical miles, also dodging potentially unpleasant weather with boat speed.
This next generation of FPBs is proving to be the most sea-kindly of all of these ocean-eating cruising yachts. The mileage that these new yachts can cover is extraordinary–an example of which is the 12,750 nautical miles FPB 78-1 Cochise has traversed in barely more than half a year from her launching.
If you think fast is fun, and have whet your appetite with the latest FPB 78 videos, then you will love how the new FPB 70s are shaping up. The bow of FPB 70-1 above, and the sterns FPB 70- 1 and 70-2 below, give a hint of what’s to come.
Speaking of videos, we’ve got a new nighttime video of FPB 78-1 Cochise. See the link below.
Posted by Steve Dashew (May 2, 2017)
May 2nd, 2017 at 5:36 pm
Crew,
Congratulations on the record interval: she looks to be rock solid and silky smooth!
Thanks again for bringing us along.
Michael
May 3rd, 2017 at 5:53 am
Awesome update! I am excited to follow progress on the 70’s. I spent a year researching passage makers and had a spread sheet going to focus in on the boat we want to build thinking it would help when we start working with a designer. LOA 78′ Beam 18′ Cruise 10 – 11 knots Draft 5′ and enough fuel storage for a range in the neighborhood of 5,000 nm, with a pair of 150 hp Lugger engines. Room for ten 330 or 350 w solar panels and as much house battery as we can reasonably pack in. Then about a month after we were “pencils down” on the broad strokes you announced the FPB 70 and with the exception of horse power–right on the money for our version of the perfect passage maker.
I am considering a carbon fiber house to cut a little weight up top–mostly as it is a material I am familiar with from my work. Also a more traditional arrangement aft of the house with a table and seating and a smaller flybridge.
So very exciting to see the FPB 70 coming along.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:39 pm
I’d like to second the 70 update requests.
May 5th, 2017 at 10:39 am
Hi Steve: Thank you for the update. I understand 78-2 has been delivered, but any chance of more (interior) photos of her?
May 6th, 2017 at 5:19 am
Working on the 78-2 photos now, Carl. Few more days…
May 9th, 2017 at 6:58 am
I’m glad I read every word of your blog – have been for many years now. Where are you in Southport? I live in Wrightsville Beach and would like to dock stalk the boat in person today before I head north for a long weekend. You can email me if you want.
Greg
May 9th, 2017 at 8:11 pm
Hi Greg:
Cochise is hauled out the next week at Triton Marine in Beaufort,NC. We cannot show you aboard, but she can be viewed from the ground.