If you have been working down this website from the top you are probably overflowing with technical data. If there is any bandwidth left, a few words on Dashew Offshore and its history may be of interest.

Dashew Offshore has been in the forefront of cruising innovation for the last 30+ years. Our Deerfoot, Sundeer, Beowulf, and now FPB series of cruising yachts have set the standard for safe, seaworthy, comfortable, and fast passagemaking. Every one of these yachts includes a series of watertight bulkheads, extra-heavy scantlings, and balanced hull shapes that are easily steered under autopilot (even in adverse conditions). In short, these yachts are optimized for going to sea, while taking good care of their crews (usually just a couple) in the process. The fact that at any given time such a small percentage of this fleet is available on the brokerage market, and so many of them have circumnavigated (some more than once), is the best indicator of how well they treat their owners. Over the years our designs have been on many magazine covers, and the subject of numerous articles.

Recently, the Sundeer 64 was named as the “Best Boat” on which to circumnavigate by Sail Magazine.

Our latest project, the FPB Series, is being called a “New paradigm” for long distance voyaging by every magazine review which has been released so far. The first of these, Wind Horse, is shown above. The production version of this design, the first four of which are now under way in New Zealand (FPB 64), are covered in detail on web pages under the “FPB” link on the right column. Next comes the Big Sister, the FPB 112.

We don’t build a lot of boats. We prefer to stay small, efficient, and render the best possible customer service. Our yachts are delivered ready to go to sea – commissioned before they are turned over to their owners.

Our design concept has centered around creating fast, secure, easy to handle yachts which do not require crew. Even the 78-foot Beowulf (shown above) can be handled by a couple – often with twin spinnakers set. The key to this ease of handling is extremely efficient design which makes it possible to move very quickly with modest horsepower requirements. The small rigs of our sailing designs are in user friendly, and offer good performance in a wide variety of conditions. This efficiency also applies to our powering ability. These sailing yachts are faster under power than comparable sized trawlers – and more comfortable at sea.

Concepts like fore-and-aft watertight bulkheads, aft swim platforms, balanced hull lines for good steering control, aft engine rooms, isolated sail and ground tackle storage, and forward owner’s suites were pioneered on our boats in the late 1970s.

The original Deerfoot (above) was designed in 1978. She was the first of our boats to feature an aft boarding platform/swim step. This feature is common now, but at launching in 1980 was considered radical! Note the mechanical vang and boom support strut – also something that had not been seen before (which is now common).

Our Sundeer series were developed around the efficiency of powerful, full roached mainsails. The mains of the Sundeer 56, 60, 64, and 67, are easy to reef, allow sailing bare-headed, and require very small headsails.

Because we’re cruisers first, and designers and builders second, we’re aware of the many specialized requirements for life aboard – at anchor and at sea. Our extensive database of real world experience comes to bear on every one of the thousands of decisions made when designing and building a yacht that is optimized for serious cruising.

Many of our designs feature comfortable, secure pilot houses, with all sailing controls close at hand.

The stainless grab rail/foot rest bisecting the pilot house cabin sole helps to break up the floor space at sea, and is a comfortable foot rest when you’re seated.

These pilot houses are optimized for use at sea, so that the watch-stander has easy access to electronics, a second set of engine controls, and comfortably designed seats which work well with the boat upright or heeling.

If our yachts don’t incorporate a solid pilot house, they are designed for a full sized dodger, which can be fitted with side and back curtains.

These “soft pilot houses” provide the same protection from the elements as the hard alternatives, are lighter, and far less costly. However, the ambiance is not quite the same as what you get with a hard structure.

Dinghy storage, and ease of launching/retrieval are a part of initial design considerations.

On Beowulf and Kondor there is space for a pair of dinghies on the aft deck. Launching is via one of the mizzen headsail halyards, easily routed to an electric winch.

If you spend much time in the tropics you will soon learn that good awnings – usable at anchor and under way – are critical. All of our boats have awning systems designed from the very beginning to give protection from the sun and rain.

Creating the interior on a vessel design to cross oceans comfortably and safely is a study in compromise. At sea you want spaces to hold you in while you’re working. At anchor, openness is preferable. We come close to the best of both worlds by providing furniture that keeps the lower portions of your body in place and provides plenty of handholds, while at the same time keeping the area above counter top level as unobstructed as possible.

The photo above is typical of many of our galleys. Lots of working surfaces, easy-access storage, with the galley counters to hang onto and lean against when at sea.

This saloon is visually open, with the table handrails to port and the overhead handrail to starboard providing security when at sea.

FPB 83, what we refer to as an “unsailboat”, is designed for high-latitude cruising and challenging environments. This yacht incorporates the efficiency, comfort, and speed under power of our sailing designs, with significant enhancements in the ability to cope with extreme weather at sea.

This FPB series utilizes the same highly efficient approach to systems that we’ve pioneered over the past 25 years with our sailing designs. They’ll sit at anchor for days without having to resort to the genset. Offshore, the modest power requirements necessary to drive these yachts at cruising speed (10 to 11 knots) means they are virtually silent in the saloon, bridge area, and forward sleeping quarters.

To watch our designs in action, check out the Offshore Voyaging DVD set – five hours of global cruising adventures on three DVDs for just $24.95. There is also lots of information on design, systems, rigs, sails and deck hardware to be had in Linda and Steve Dashew’s Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia.