Initial report and images from a day on the Dashew FPB 781. It gusted to 28 mph, not a nice day on the water for sure, but hey, this is a FPB. We ran at 13 knots and the ride was comfortable despite the seas. Yacht broker/trawler specialist and friend, Jeff Merrill, was here for the day, as well as James and Jennifer Hamilton, owners of a Nordhavn 52. Jeff has recently become more involved to help promote the FPB brand on the U.S. West Coast.
Already aboard for a few days to visit Steve and Linda were Scott and Mary Flanders, recipients of the 2015 CCA's Royal Cruising Club Trophy. Noted cruising expert, Pam Wall, rounded out our crew for the day, all keen to see how the FPB concept has evolved from Wind Horse, the first of Dashew's voyaging powerboats.
The interior is a big departure from Wind Horse, with varnished teak sole replaced with industrial flexible flooring and contemporary interior finishes. It is very soothing, and the interior spaces work well for living aboard as well as making swift passages to the far corners of the world.
The long waterline and two Deere 6068 diesels run the boat at 13+ knots at low rpm, and the motion is what you would expect for a true passagemaker. The flybridge is fully enclosed but has many opening windows and side door for outstanding ventilation.
Will publish much more when I am on a real computer, but here are more random shots and a video of us in the ocean in rough weather that kept other boats at the dock.
The master stateroom is roomy with enormous storage within easy reach. The ensuite head and shower are forward of this cabin, and are nothing like the cramped quarters one finds in so many boats.
Instead of hand rails all over the boat, Steve Dashew came up with removable spiderwebs of lines in all spaces that serve perfect utility when moving around the boat at sea, yet are easily removed when anchored for normal life aboard. This clever solution has a side benefit that the line provides some give, so no one is going to hurt themselves when holding on to a fixed rail when the boat suddenly lurches in a seaway. Linda Dashew demonstrates that the line is reachable by all crew members.
The captain at the flybridge helm. Fully enclosed, but many opening windows and ventilation vents. Visibility is outstanding.
Large screen display in the main saloon is controlled by a remote to display all variations of navigation and other information. Note our boat speed is 13.47 knots as conditions that have us alone in the ocean off Ft Lauderdale. "You went out today!?!"
Cochise is headed to Greenland this summer.
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