Go-fast for the Arctic?
 

Hi all, my first posting in here so might as well introduce myself. I'm a boat/engine mechanic on Svalbard, a large island way north of northern Norway. Moved here three weeks ago and coming from way south of Norway, I miss seeing boats like Fountain, Cigarette, Rinker, Formula, Donzi and Nor-Tech's on occation, like I could back home.

That spurred an idea. How about purchase one and shipping it up here?

So here's what I need input and pointers on:

We get some good seas up here, 15-18ft waves and chops are seen often and I'm looking for a 30-40ft Go-fast boat that handles chops that high in a "get-home-worst case-scenario" and still runs good in chops/waves around 5-10ft. A light and nervous all out speed hull is of no use up here, unless youre strapped in and have a co-pilot with you, and weather can turn fast so you need something that can handle rough seas and bring you home safe if need be. I'm looking for a boat up to say $100k and it has to have a strong hull with some wave crushing capabilities. Year and make is not that important, capabilities and hull integrity is more important. No cats.

Any feedback highly appreciated.

Cheers!
kimo

15-18 feet? Are you sure you posted on the right message board? I think you meant this post for "OceanLinersOnly.com"

Offshore is offshore. If a boat can't handle waves up to 18ft if need be, it ain't an offshore boat.

47 apache ,
50 nor tech
anything large and heavy
i don't think any go-fast boat is made for that kind of rough water at any decent speed ,
now if you said 8 to 10 footer's then i think you would still be able to run at a good speed in any of the larger go fast boat's

mike

these type of off shore boat's run 70 to 100 + mph and are not maid for 18 foot wave's ,

i don't think anything under 100 footer is going to be able run anything over 10 or 15 mph in that kind of water safely

good luck and be careful if you go out in 18 footer's with any type of speed boat

Perhaps I was a bit unclear: It's not for the sake of going as fast as the boat can on 18ft waves, it's about getting home IF you get caught in it and in general having a boat that runs well at speed in choppy waters say about 5-10ft, which is more of the norm up here. I don't mention calm seas because anything would do then but it's more of a worst case scenario and what conditions are more likely to occur.

Mikebrls: Apache? Those are renowned for running good in chops right? It's something like that I'm looking for but a 47 might be a bit too expensive.

Hello Kimo. Being from Canada and having a love for the Arctic, your thread could not help but catch my eye.

I think you need to re think this a bit. I know how harsh the conditions not only can be, but actually are more days than not. I do not think any of the go-fasts offer enough protection from the elements. Your time on the water given the expense involved would be very limited. I have two thoughts. Are you up there year round ? Probably not I expect as many in Canada that work in the high Arctic fly south several times a year for an extended break. They can afford to do so because the pay is high with not many willing to live and work up there. If that is your situation, keep a go fast in a southern port and use it from time to time as you come out.
The other thought is get some sort of RIB with enclosure like the US Coast Guard uses. You could have a blast in all kinds of crappy conditions with one of those. I have had them running 70 MPH along side my Nor Tech.

Since global warming has opened up the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic, I have given some thought to getting just such a boat and attempting that passage in a future adventure. I think that would be kinda cool to go from Atlantic to Pacific across the top of the world. The logistical challenges are huge but it can be done and I love a challenge. You might like to come along. :)

All the best,

Bob

And $5 buks under budget for a WARM beer:lolhit::drink:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRayu3RSOrM

Only two boats I would consider for that task:

http://www.uscg.mil/d13/img/boats/surf1.jpg

http://activerain.com/image_store/up...7379468975.jpg

http://blog.usni.org/wp-content/uplo...gelifeboat.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...hute_libre.jpg

I was going to offer up a dual diesel 40'+ performnce trawler with a nice wide beam as the best boat for your area, but she won't go anything near fast.
Downtown offered a wicked big wave offshore boat as a choice, I'd love to have any 40'+ Apache as my offshore boat.
But our largest storm related waves in SE Texas are probably your everyday bread and butter waves.
I've heard about the brutal sea's y'all enjoy and really wouldn't want to be out in anything less than a small ship in those conditions.

See ya,
Kelly

I don't think our type of offshore powerboat is a fit for the conditions you describe. Something with reliable diesel power, a watertight enclosure and gobs of navigation electronics would be high on my list.
Imagine there are builders in Europe that build to the conditions you describe, probably naval or coast guard like hulls.
ed

Here's a couple of shots from last week on how good our conditions often are during the summer season, first our launch:

http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/...d/SDC10793.jpg

In one of the biggest fjords, the "Icefjord":

http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/...d/SDC10783.jpg

One of the float-piers:

http://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/...d/SDC10792.jpg


This is summer season, normally from june to say september. I'm not planning on going out during the fall, or storm season, but I've only been here for three weeks and planning on living here for two-three years so I haven't experienced all the seasons yet. Will fly home for christmas and a three week vacation but thats it. Winter is a no go either way though, we're talkin -35C temperatures then. Boat owners up here normally store their boats from september, and roll them out again in june. Winter is snowsled/husky time, dark 24/7 and watching out for polar bears. :)

I love your idea of taking on the northwest passage. It would be a great adventure and as you say, it opens up more and more due to the global warming. We also see results from global warming up here.

Exactly what I was thinking about. Still for sale?

Cheers! I'm not going out in seas like that man. See pics above. :)

Still available

http://performanceboatbrokerage.com/...sp?boat_id=370

You have to post the picture link.....not the HTML link

http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/...d/SDC10783.jpg

Thanks Phantom.

No problem.....where's the palm trees? :)

I was thinking like bob- a enclosed rib!!!

@Phantom: Eaten by polar bears. They eat everything those bastards lol.

Yeah, I can get an enclosed RIB anytime but they don't handle like a 40ft Go-fast. What I'm after is a Go-fast experience in the high Arctic, maybe next year I can offer that experience to tourists as well. There have never been a boat like that up here I think, and I also think it's about time we get one. See pics for what weather conditions we have on sweet summer days. In fact, last week we had +16C up here, so it's not all glaciers, snowstorms and drift ice 24/7. :)

LMAO !!!

The harbor pic's do kind of look like a cove at a lake in the desert.

It's hard for me to imagine just how violently cold -35c would be.
What's 16c, around 50f+- for the high???
Kimosabi, that's beautiful terrain and backdrop against the water.
Every picture of every fijord I've seen in my lifetime has been incredibly beautiful, I'm certain it's even better in person.
I'd be in for a few of days of boating mixed in with some fishing.
I'm certain the fishing is AWESOME.

See ya,
Kelly

It is a desert but it is an Arctic desert. Very little plants, like no insects and just a handful of different animal species.

+16C is about 60F. -35C is cold but the air here is very dry so it doesn't feel like -35C would normally feel like. It's hard to explain lol. The air is fresh and oxygen rich, but with very low humidity.

But, now that I think of it, I might not even need a super sturdy boat like the Apache either. Maybe a Fountain will do, so I can run less power? I'm starting to think 600SCI's or something. Any opinions on that?

You should consider service on your engines and drives also. When something breaks (not if), where will you get parts to fix it, how long will that take, who will do the work, etc.

Along those lines, sticking with stock Merc power or even diesels might be a good idea. What octane gasoline do you have available? What is it's quality?

Will the boat be on a lift and/or taken out of the water after each run?

Get some sturdy drives on whatever you go with. I would think indestructable should be your goal.

In his introduction to the membership he answered question #3

Now the answers to question 1 or 2 would be that your most likely in for a bit of a waiting period.
Judging by the pic's it appears there's some sort of processing happening at their work camp. I'd guess mining. I'm certain they receive supplies and provisions during the fair weather months.
I never thought about the fuel situation, I'd bet diesel is readily available but premium would come at just that, a very premium price.
On that thought I think the best Cigarette boat to have there would be a diesel fired Cummins or Yanmar powerplant for longevity between services and minimum fuel consumption for distances traveled.

See ya,
Kelly

Im just throwing this out here, but what about a Magnum? Plenty of room, big and they still go fast....

Post 1 stated a $100 K max budget. I don't think he will be buying a Magnum for anything close to that.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o31736-en.html

That one finally sold, but that would be the ticket in my opinion..

I was curious to see just how far north Svalbard Island is and just about fell off my chair. ( See yellow pin in map ) Almost as far north as the top of Greenland !! Think you might be able to see the north pole from there. LOL I'm actually surprised the water is open June to September. Wow.

I'm sure you hold the distinction of OSO's most northerly member in the world !! Thanks for posting. Very interesting.

We build the perfect boat for you!

3/4 canopy or enclosed (we make an open version with a windscreen but you would shorten your season) - a pair of the new Yanmar 370's would put you over budget but Verado 300's would keep you in budget for a bare "race style" build and it would be new! 34' from the bow to the bottom of the transom and 7'4" beam for great sea keeping.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...tes2520030.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...tes2520197.jpg

There is a 54' Apache named 'cold war'... that is the boat you need to be looking at.

Cookee- holy strake! Boat looks sweet! Very menacing

That puts things into perspective! I was recently in Suolahti, Finland and on the way there only saw one small 223 Baja.

I'm curious what equipment will be at the mine. If you have to have a Cummins or Yanmar service guy there for the heavy equipment maybe you could piggyback on them to get your parts, etc. as needed.

I could be wrong, but I'm sensing a northern adventure for Bob. :drink:

While I have thought about it, not likely. I've come to love palm trees and aquamarine colored waters too much. LOL Too bleak in the far north and not much to do but a great place for a young guy to make a lot of money in a short time and then get out of there.

I'm the only boat guy up here. Will do all servicing, rebuilding and rigging etc. myself. Parts from Yamaha(I work at a Yamaha dealership) usually takes about a week. Sometimes less if it's airfreight, and we get our shipments from Tromsø, Norway. Now, shipping parts from the US would take a while longer but it's not as bad as people seem to think. Boat will be either taken out of water after each run or on water a few days at a time. Have to talk to the "harbor-chief" first if there are some vacant spots for me to use, alternately set one up myself with his permission.

The whole island is based around coal mining. There's loads of old closed up coal mines and the majority of people going up here to work are miners. We have equipment available for almost everything you'd need, also heavy equipment for launching, lifting etc.

I have good experience with Diesels. And Yanmars, Volvo's and also CMD are well known engines to me. Even Perkins and Fords. But that's not what I'm after. Have always loved tuned up gasoline V8s, ain't nothing like it IMO. Since this Island is not Norway, only Norwegian sovereignity, tax laws in Norway don't apply here. We all pay 15% tax, no matter how much you earn up to around $200k a year, and fuel prices are half of what the mainland has. We get both 95 and 98oct but the quality is a bit less than mainland quality but not bad.

What's really cool about this place is that taxes are almost not an issue. If you want a 35ft Fountain with 2x496HO's imported to Norway first they rob you for something called "horsepower tax", then they slap VAT on top of that, just for crossing the border. Those two don't exist here and especially horsepower tax is insane on the mainland. For EVERY hp in the engine you import, you pay $34 ON TOP of the price + 24% VAT.

That looks incredibly sexy. I'd like some more info on that boat model and possible engine configs please and Verado 300's are great outboards. I haven't worked with Verado I6's for a year or two but IIRC they had some problems with the vapor units in Scandinavia. Floats went to pieces because of the fuel quality, or something like that. I do still have my contacts from the Mercury camp though so getting parts to them would not be an issue. Any seating options, like a rear bench with bolsters plus two front seats? Some cockpit, engine bay and overall shots of the hull, deck, aft would be greatly appreciated. Fibreglass hulls? Please feel free to PM!

I noted that you're from UK. Only UK built fast boat I've tried was a 25ft Revenger(not RIB) from the 80's I think, and that was a great hull. Loved that boat.

I have most equipment I need available. Takes about a week or two to get special tools for drive rebuilds, engine alignments etc.

I don't work at the mines. I work at a boat/snowsled Yamaha dealership. :)

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Again, Diesels is a no go. The whole idea is to bring something new up here. As much as I fancy Yanmars, gasoline V8 is much more "suitable" in a go-fast IMO. Ya know, engine nut and all that. :D

It sounds like a great place to live compared to most of Europe.
The few times I've been over on motorcycle touring trips the biggest complaint I've heard from the locals is the high taxation.
I'm shocked at the availability of high octane fuel. The best we get in SE Texas from a gas station pump is 93 diluted with 10% ethanol, it's JUNK FUEL indeed.
After looking at Bob's thread I researched your island, there's a lot more happening than I'd of ever guessed.
If you move forward on inviting tourists post here on the forum, I'm certain I wouldn't be the only one interested in going.
If Cookee builds you a boat I'll bet you'll have a waiting list, his race boats are WICKED COOL AND FAST even his diesel race boats too.

Congrats on your relocation, this sounds like an awesome place to live if you know how to deal with the winter.
I'm curious, how many hours of daylight do you enjoy in the summer and how few in the winter. I'd guess your probably much deeper north than my buddy in Anchorage.

See ya,
Kelly

Here take a look at these ones;

http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...b166_0-en.html

I would suggest the 47' Medicine Man. That boat will run very well in anything up to 10' seas.

As we build race boats you can be assured of the build quality for more challenging conditions!

If you have Facebook you can see the entire build sequence from building the plug, mould and boat - do a search for BananaShark - it's a product/service page.

For outboards we would use the engine bay area for seating, and as each boat is made to order we can fit the seating in any arrangement you like. We would give you detailed photos and drawings of the available space so that you can work out what suits you, or you could just tell us what seating you would like and we'll see if it fits!

The boats are all GRP with Polyester resins - we use some Kevlar/Epoxy strengthening where necessary but no exotics used for the sake of it!

Send me your email by PM and I'll send you some photos if you like - meanwhile here are some links:

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...ites%20Launch/

http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/d...k%2034%20Race/

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/category/type/Cary
You might want to look at Cary boats also. Probably bigger then you wanted but cool boats and big power.

About the fuel here, it's not bad, we get the octane allright but the quality is a bit less than the mainland. It's Statoil fuel so chances are they mix more Ethanol in it than most does on the mainland. I've had to setup a few Yam F150's slightly differently to cope with the fuel already. Never had that issue on the mainland.

Yup, the plan is to bring a new experience to Svalbard and hopefully when I get set up and the word spreads, tourists(and also locals) will catch on to it. We can take them to the most popular sites while also give them a touch of adrenaline rush and sense of speed in the process. People coming here are usually quite sporty so I believe it is something to atleast consider. I will ask for a meeting with some of the local authorities next week or so.

I looked up Anchorage Canada and yes I'm a bit further north. We have bright midnight sun(daylight) from late april to late august. That's 24/7 of daylight. Early Nov to late March it's pitch black.

Thanks, I like it here and already have set my eyes on my first snowsled(without snowsled up here you're sunk) and really looking forward to upcoming seasons. Cheers!

Thanks! I was looking at that one earlier. :)

Those look very nice but now that the game might have changed a bit, quad powered "homes" might be a bit oversized for what I had in mind. The waters are pretty calm during most of the summer season so I might have been a bit "overkill" about size when I considered 50 footers. Still haven't ruled anything out though, so thanks!

Cheers! Yes, I took a peek at your build process and it looks very meticulate so I have no doubt you guys know your business. I like your design and from the YT vid, it looks like you have a good handling, tracking and quite stable hull there. Boat looks good too. PM sent.

Kimo

Sent you some photos!