Text by Compmillennia LLC
Compmillennia LLC (Washington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) has delivered its Lightspeed® 41 (15.5-meter) Pilothouse catamaran, featuring strong but lightweight all-composite construction with a 42-knots achieved by twin 300-hp V8 Mercury Seapro outboard engines.
Designed for a visionary pilot boat association with a view to economical acquisition and operations, the Lightspeed® Pilot Boat delivers efficiency, low-maintenance and flexibility in high-speed transit, safe pilot boarding and search & rescue missions. Catamarans have proven over decades their superior stability, safety, roominess onboard and all-weather seakeeping. The Lightspeed® Pilot Boat’s all-composite construction features selective use of fiberglass, carbon and aramid fiber, impact- and vibration-absorbing core and high-elongation vacuum resin infused vinyl ester resin, increasing durability and lowering weight by 35% versus other composites and by 50% versus typical metal construction.
The efficient design of the Lightspeed® Pilot Boat combines a stepped hull bottom for speed, maneuverability and reduced pitch with a long waterline and sharp entry, mitigating neck and spinal compression induced by typical V-bottom pounding in a head sea. 100% cored composite construction in hull, deck and pilothouse provides full flotation in addition to four watertight compartments in each hull for ultimate safety at sea.
Matured from decades of boatbuilding and design experience, this intelligent, considered Pilot Boat is unaffected by Bernoulli effect during pilot transfer, enabling a swift, smooth separation once pilot boarding is complete. A rugged cylindrical OCEAN 3 fender system with Dynema lashing provides durable yet easy-to-service hull fender protection.
The 228-inch (5.8-meter) pilothouse provides uninterrupted sight lines from the boat deck to the ship’s deck and generous accommodation for 7 crew seated in Llebroc Tradewinds Shockwave mounted seats. A 5-kW Fischer Panda diesel gen-set and twin independent 16,000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioning units, ensure reliable climate control in tropical heat or northern cold.
The helm is equipped with Optimus power steering and full electronic array. A second helm station with engine binnacle control is fitted in the cockpit. The walk-through transom provides unimpeded access for man overboard recovery and other rescue operations. A transom platform between outboards allows in-water prop changes at sea in minutes.
The Lightspeed® Pilot Boat delivers speed, flat wake, sterling handling and an awesome ride. Operations are fast and enjoyable, while delivering the affordability, flexibility and low-cost bottom line sought by today’s pilot boat operators. Delivered June 2020, the Biscayne Bay Pilot Association’s Lightspeed® Pilothouse 41 has become their boatman’s and pilot’s first choice to meet their unique every day operational needs.
Compmillennia LLC is a boatbuilding pioneer with 50 years of innovative, affordable composite marine vessel design and construction, including the 100% Composite Superstructure for the 467-ft (141-meter) frigate conversion yacht Swift 141, 53-ft Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), air drop rescue boats, carbon fiber Very High Speed Vessel (VHSV) structures and special composite fabrication projects as well as the Lightspeed® 1188 all-composite center-console catamarans.
For information contact: Jim Gardiner (Jim@compmillennia.com)
Composite Lightspeed® class Pilot Boat for the Biscayne Bay Pilot Association, Miami, Florida
by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 21 July 2020 - 498
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