Specifications
| Length Overall |
57' 17.37 m |
|---|---|
| Beam |
17'6" 5.33 m |
| Draft |
5'10" 1.78 m |
Captain's Report
Reproduced with permission from Seattle Yachts/Northern Marine. Story by Bill Parlatore.
Earlier this year, Seattle Yachts International acquired Northern Marine, a builder of high-end expedition yachts known for being custom-built to each owner’s specific needs and wants.
After the acquisition, the decision was made to start building a new 57’ (17.37 m) yacht designed by Northern Marine’s general manager Stuart Archer, a naval architect and experienced shipbuilder. He leads the team that works directly with each owner and often becomes friends with his customers. Archer says that many customers become highly involved in the design process including the floor plans, countertops, fixtures, moldings, inlays and even door handles.
Different Approach
With 5706, the sixth of the new model to be built, the boat is being built without an owner so Northern Marine reviewed its previous projects and came up with a two-stateroom layout with walnut being the hardwood of choice. Many primary systems could be determined up front and the boat is being built so that some changes can be made to the arrangement after the boat is sold.
The project started before COVID-19 hit, but the company then had to shut down due to the quarantine mandated for the state of Washington. After the restrictions were eased, small teams of employees were allowed to return to continue building the new model.
High-Tech Process
Northern Marine uses resin infusion to manufacture fiberglass parts including the hull, superstructure, flying bridge, deck, mast, hardtop and hatches. The company has been able to take advantage of the newest technology made available by Boeing Corporation, which is located nearby. The technology is considered state-of-the-art in terms of efficiency, consistency and accuracy and the process gets high marks for reduced emissions and environmental impact.
Construction starts with dry laminates being placed in a mold, the number of layers and core materials is predetermined for optimum strength and rigidity. The laminates are covered with ply release materials and channels that allow resin to flow and then the mold is encapsulated in a large plastic bag. Hoses and valves are attached to the bag in specified locations and a pump generates vacuum to suck out all the air. Once a controlled vacuum pressure remains steady over a period of time to ensure there are no leaks, the crew opens valves that draw the resin through the network of hoses to saturate the laminate and core materials. The technology evenly distributes the resin through the materials, ensuring a proper resin-to-fiberglass ratio of 70 percent fiberglass and 30 percent resin.
With all the hoses in place, three barrels placed around the hull are filled with resin to supply the laminate. When the valves are opened, the process happens quickly and the barrels need to be refilled many times because the 57’ (17.37 m) hull requires the equivalent of 17 full drums. One of the benefits of the infusion process is the cleanliness.
After the hull cures, the hoses are pulled out and the foam stringers are placed in the bottom and bonded in place with the infusion process.
Ballast and Equipment
For ballast, Northern Marine uses copper-coated lead bullets. The two ballast spaces are on each side of the centerline gray water and black water tanks and each is filled with 6,500 lbs. (2,948.35 kgs) of lead. The bullets’ size lets them settle tightly into the space, maximizing density. After the ballast is in place, the compartments are sealed with fiberglass coverings before the sole is installed over the entire area.
After the main bulkheads are fiberglassed in place, 5706’s twin fuel tanks are built outboard of where the engine will be installed. The hull is not part of the tank, but each reservoir is formed to match the hull’s shape. Each tank is tested to 3 psi.
The engine is a 325-hp John Deere 6090 diesel and it has a power take off. There is also an emergency hydraulic drive that is powered by one of the boat’s two 17kW generators. It can push the boat at 5 knots. To ensure that maintenance can be done in comfort, there is standup headroom in the engine compartment.
A new T-shaped sea chest lets eight systems draw sea water from a single through-hull. Outboard of the master stateroom on each are stabilizer fins. A steel shoe runs the length of the keel to protect the bottom during accidental groundings.
Fuel System
Hull 5706 has three fuel tanks, two saddle units in the engine room that hold 950 gallons (3596.14 liters) and a third is forward under the forward guest stateroom. It holds 560 gallons (2,119.83 liters). In addition to sight gauges, Norther Marine installs Maretron transducers on the bottom of each tank to measure the fuel level. When the system is ready, a fuel truck is brought to the yard and exactly 100 gallons (378.54 liters) are pumped into each tank. Then the sight tubes are marked and the electronics are calibrated. This is repeated until each tank is full.
Fuel lines on all Norther Marine yachts are 316L stainless steel and all are custom bent and shaped to the application. All fittings are JIC flared-style and there are no pickup tubes in the delivery system. Instead valves and fittings are installed at the bottom of each tank. Switchable fuel filters are readily accessible.
