roger hill displacement catamaran

ROGER HILL DESIGN TAKES SHAPE WITH DUFLEX

The divinely named “Celeste”, a 12M Roger Hill designed power catamaran, is in build at G&T Marine, Auckland

This is the first-time seasoned boat builder Grant Symmans has worked with the DuFLEX panel system and Z-press from ATL Composites. The custom-built, displacement-hull powercat is on track for delivery by May 2023 to an experienced owner looking for volume and ease of cruising.So far, according to Grant, he has used the Z-press to join the DuFLEX panels for superstructure and cabin top.

“It’s a first for me,” he states. “Roger is a huge fan, so we went with it. It’s labour saving, comes as a kit, and the DuFLEX is lightweight and sturdy.”The 12m vessel is a “fairly straight forward” build, single level sedan with a beam of 4.8m.

“Using DuFLEX has made construction a simple process and at this stage we’re impressed with it. We’ll know more when we do the hulls,” Grant adds.

Using ATL’s Z-Press streamlines the composite panel joining process, applying heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins cure fully in 7 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, type of hardener, core type and thickness of the panel.

Roger Hill, specialist power multihull designer, says the client sought a well-appointed powercat for “the next phase of his cruising lifestyle”.

“I have always said that these displacement hull power cats we design are ‘sailor’s power boats’,” he explains. “That is, when you have been a yachtie all your life and you’re facing the unavoidable ravages of time on your old body but don’t want to give up boating, these cats are a good option!

 “They cruise most economically around 14 to 15 knots, or about twice the speed you have been used to going all of your previous boating life, and they are really fuel efficient. Also, they will motor directly into any head wind and nasty sea state without spilling your drink, or leaning over.”

Fortuitously, the client is Roger’s very first when he struck out on his own and established his design firm 27 years ago.

While there is nothing particularly new or radical about the design, there are some unique features.

“The client wanted something that he could trust and depend on to fulfil his future yachting aspirations,” explains Roger. “As with the original sailing yacht, the new power cat is specifically detailed around his requirements.

“Things like the very clever swimming diving platform that lowers down between the motors to form steps down to a wider bottom panel that allows easy access into the water for diving and launching a small RIB.

“It’s just the two of them, and the layout will be very comfortable for them to live aboard for extended periods through the summer as they have done with their yacht for many years.

“The choice to go with outboards was based on being able to explore areas they have previously not been able access with a deep draft keel, so adding a new dimension to their cruising ambitions.”

Cored with Divinycell foam, the DuFLEX panels in Celeste have a combination of H80 and H100 densities in the hull shell. The hull bottoms are cored with 20mm H100 DuFLEX Strips that are laminated with a 460 grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass which will have an additional laminate applied on both sides, while hull sides are a mix of H80 thicknesses and laminated with double layers of 800grm quadraxial chosen to meet performance and engineering requirements.

Grant Symmans was a more traditional builder accustomed to using plywood, timber, and fibreglass skinning methods of construction, but he was intrigued with system and its multiple benefits – precision cut, time saving, labour saving and minimal waste.

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Roger Hill 17.5m

In 2022, a remarkable boat was launched at Knierim: NICA is a 17.5m high performance cruising catamaran based on a design by Roger Hill. 

Two slim hulls built in carbon fibre sandwich construction and a weight-optimized structural design by PureEngineering guarantee the catamaran's sportiness. 

The rotating performance carbon fiber rig is manufactured by Marström. The catamaran therefore promises fast cruising with a high level of comfort. 

The interior offers plenty of space for living comfort. From the aft deck, protected by a fixed bimini, you can access the saloon with galley and seating as well as a TV cabinet with TV lift.

A staircase leads from the saloon to the floats. The floats offer space for wet cells, sleeping cabins and generous storage space, which can be used for sails, for example. 

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Roger hill 12m design takes shape with duflex composite panels.

The divinely named “Celeste”, a 12-metre Roger Hill-designed power catamaran, is in build at G & T Marine, Auckland – it’s the first time seasoned boat builder Grant Symmans has worked with the DuFLEX panel system and Z-press from ATL Composites.

The privately-owned, custom-built, displacement-hull power cat is on track for delivery by May 2023 to an experienced owner looking for volume and ease of cruising.

So far, according to Grant, he has used the Z-press to join the DuFLEX panels for superstructure and cabin top.

“It’s a first for me,” he states. “Roger is a huge fan, so we went with it. It’s labour saving, comes as a kit, and the DuFLEX is lightweight and sturdy.”

The 12-metre vessel is a “fairly straight forward” build, single level sedan with a beam of 4.8-metres.

“Using DuFLEX has made construction a simple process and at this stage we’re impressed with it. We’ll know more when we do the hulls,” Grant adds.

Using ATL’s Z-Press streamlines the composite panel joining process, applying heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins cure fully in 7 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, type of hardener, core type and thickness of the panel.

Roger Hill, specialist power multihull designer, says the client sought a well-appointed powercat for “the next phase of his cruising lifestyle”.

“I have always said that these displacement hull power cats we design are ‘sailor’s power boats’,” he explains. “That is, when you have been a yachtie all your life and you’re facing the unavoidable ravages of time on your old body but don’t want to give up boating, these cats are a good option!

“For Auckland-based yachties who have been cruising around at around 6 to 8 knots, a lot of the time motoring (as you get older), and a lot of the time beating to windward, these smaller displacement hull power cats are ideal.

“They cruise most economically around 14 to 15 knots, or about twice the speed you have been used to going all of your previous boating life, and they are really fuel efficient. Also, they will motor directly into any head wind and nasty sea state without spilling your drink, or leaning over.”

Fortuitously, the client is Roger’s very first when he struck out on his own and established his design firm 27 years ago.

“He owned his lovely 11.9-metre cruising yacht from new, it fitted his requirements perfectly all of that time and he kept it in immaculate condition. Like all of us, he is getting older and the physicality of sailing a yacht basically on your own was starting to tell.

“He made the very hard decision to sell and move on with the next phase of his boating life. They went out for a ride on a smaller 10-metre displacement power cat we designed and from that, he commissioned his new 12-metre design.”

While there is nothing particularly new or radical about the design, there are some unique features.

“The client wanted something that he could trust and depend on to fulfil his future yachting aspirations,” explains Roger. “As with the original sailing yacht, the new power cat is specifically detailed around his requirements.

“Things like the very clever swimming diving platform that lowers down between the motors to form steps down to a wider bottom panel that allows easy access into the water for diving and launching a small RIB.

“It’s just the two of them, and the layout will be very comfortable for them to live aboard for extended periods through the summer as they have done with their yacht for many years.

“The choice to go with outboards was based on being able to explore areas they have previously not been able access with a deep draft keel, so adding a new dimension to their cruising ambitions.”

The choice to use the DuFLEX system came from the client seeing it for himself, visiting the 16-metre “Omahu” and speaking to its owner who had a previous sailing cat built out of DuFLEX and was extremely positive about the process.

“The preliminary design for the structure of “Celeste” was based on standard foam cored composite boat building methods. From that the options were costed up and DuFLEX won the job!

Cored with Divinycell foam, the DuFLEX panels in CELESTE have a combination of H80 and H100 densities in the hull shell. The hull bottoms are cored with 20mm H100 DuFLEX Strips that are laminated with a 460 grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass which will have an additional laminate applied on both sides, while hull sides are a mix of H80 thicknesses and laminated with double layers of 800grm quadraxial chosen to meet performance and engineering requirements.

Grant Symmans was a more traditional builder accustomed to using plywood, timber, and fibreglass skinning methods of construction, but he was intrigued with system and its multiple benefits – precision cut, time saving, labour saving and minimal waste.

Grant and his two co-workers are now well into the build.

“They made the large cabin top first and it went together very well and quickly, and they are now starting to plank up the first hull.”

“The client, whose father was a New Zealand timber boat builder and built many cold-moulded Kauri sailing yachts, was quite tentative about the process but is now also becoming much more relaxed and happy as he sees the boat coming to life.”

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Our boats Displacement hull powercats, by Roger Hill Roger Hill 9m Displacement hull powercat

Roger Hill 9m Displacement hull powercat

Designed by Roger Hill Yacht Design, this is an efficient, smooth riding boat.

The displacement hull powercat by Roger Hill Yacht Design is a very efficient shape, smooth riding and economical.

The volume of this boat needs to be seen to be believed as the catamaran configuration makes this boat feel so much bigger than any mono hulled boat in its class.

It sits flat in the water at speed with minimal bow waves and almost non existent chine spray. Whilst top end speed sits at an impressive 23kts, a 16kt cruising speed gives us an astonishing range of almost 300miles at 4200RPM. Matched with the comfort and volume of twin hulls, you find a vessel with the feel of a boat much larger than 9 meters and running costs of a boat much smaller.

The lower deck accommodation has two aft cabins with single berth, a forward double berth, shower and head forward to port.  On the main deck there is a galley, settee with dining table and a centre line helm station.

Power:  Twin 80hp 4 stroke outboards outboards

Performance (subject to sea conditions and loading):

Max speed 23 knots, economical cruising speed 16knots at 4200revs, economy at cruising speed 1.7 litres per nautical mile total both engines

*This boat is able to be customised to your specific requirements

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Like what you see but need more info? Give us a call or send us an email and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

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Boat details.

• Length Overall: 9m
• Displacement: 4.45 tonnes
• Fuel capacity: 2x 250 litres
• Fresh water: 2x 200 litres
• Draft, with outboard up .56m

The Kingfisher 620 Hardtop Powercat is pure magic. Safety, luxury, and adventure seamlessly merged, creating an unforgettable escape. From a cozy cabin to thrilling open seas, it's the epitome of boating perfection. For those craving an unparalleled experience, this Kingfisher is your dream come true. James Cook, Tauranga

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Boat review: roger Hill 10m displacement powercat - Argus Boats

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<strong>Boat</strong> <strong>review</strong>: <strong>roger</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> <strong>10m</strong> <strong>displacement</strong> <strong>powercat</strong><br />

Outpost<br />

eco-cruiser<br />

this <strong>Boat</strong> owner’s first experience with a power cat was a tornado sailing cat, its rig<br />

removed and a cabin added, powered by an 18hp tohatsu outboard. the resulting powerboat was fast,<br />

stable and popular with the family, opening his eyes to the possibilities of <strong>displacement</strong> power cats.<br />

i<br />

40 <strong>Boat</strong>ing new Zealand march 2006<br />

t also taught him a valuable lesson: the<br />

modified Tornado managed 16 knots with<br />

the 18hp Tohatsu, exactly the same speed<br />

it later achieved with a 40hp outboard.<br />

Hull shape, not horsepower, determines a<br />

<strong>displacement</strong> craft’s velocity.<br />

Outpost is a modern and far more comfortable<br />

interpretation of the owner’s first<br />

<strong>displacement</strong> catamaran. It’s the first design<br />

of its type for Roger <strong>Hill</strong>, better known for<br />

planing and semi-<strong>displacement</strong> power cats,<br />

built to a high standard by Peter Brooking of<br />

Windblades in Pakuranga.<br />

Construction is in composite – the cabin<br />

top and hulls below the chine are femalemoulded,<br />

with computer-cut, resin-infused<br />

flat panels in the remainder of the boat.<br />

Resin infusion imparts superior lightness<br />

and strength; computer cut panels are easily<br />

supplied in kitset form for future production<br />

runs.<br />

<strong>Hill</strong>’s brief was for a fuel-efficient boat<br />

capable of reasonably fast, comfortable<br />

cruising in the Hauraki Gulf in most condi-<br />

S t o r y b y J o h n e i c h e l s h e i m ❚ p h o t o S b y m i k e h u n t e r<br />

tions. It also had to be easy to operate<br />

and maintain. Initially, Outpost’s owner<br />

looked overseas, becoming interested<br />

in a production <strong>displacement</strong> power<br />

catamaran from an Australian manufacturer.<br />

But once he took freight into<br />

account, the Aussie cat worked out no<br />

cheaper than having a custom boat built<br />

in New Zealand where he could have<br />

more input into the design and build.<br />

Brian McMahon of Superyacht<br />

Services introduced the owner to designer<br />

Roger <strong>Hill</strong>. McMahon has continued<br />

his association with the project, adding<br />

ideas and helping in other ways to make<br />

it a success. He intends to promote and<br />

market the boat for production building.<br />

For the owner, an unexpected bonus<br />

of building the boat here was the team<br />

of excellent craftsmen at Windblades,<br />

under the leadership of Peter Brooking.<br />

“The build and finish quality are superior<br />

to the Australian production boat<br />

we looked at,” he told us. “We now<br />

have a better, more practical boat that<br />

performs brilliantly in the conditions we<br />

experience here.”<br />

From the outset, <strong>Hill</strong> was keen on the<br />

project, which posed interesting design<br />

and build challenges. He enlisted the<br />

help of another naval architect who<br />

had specialised in narrow hull resistance<br />

calculations as part of his degree<br />

course, and whose numbers correlated<br />

with <strong>Hill</strong>’s in-house calculations.<br />

The long, narrow hulls incorporate<br />

deep-vee sections forward, to slice<br />

through the waves, morphing into Usections<br />

in the middle and flat sections<br />

aft. There’s no immersed canoe body<br />

aft, as is commonly seen on <strong>displacement</strong><br />

catamarans, while knuckle and<br />

bow immersion are minimal to reduce<br />

any tendency to bow-steer. <strong>Hill</strong> relies on<br />

the boat’s asymmetrical hulls to provide<br />

sufficient buoyancy forward.<br />

The resistance calculation figures<br />

were encouraging, predicting 18 knots<br />

with twin 50hp outboards. The owner<br />

opted for 60hp high-thrust Yamaha<br />

four-strokes since these were available<br />

at a comparable price and offer 17-amp<br />

alternators for extra charging capacity.<br />

<strong>Hill</strong> was a little worried about the bigger<br />

engines’ extra weight as too much<br />

weight in the ends can cause pitching;<br />

he moved the batteries forward slightly<br />

to compensate.<br />

Outpost exhibits all the signs of a successful<br />

project: the participants were full<br />

of praise for one another and we joined<br />

a happy crew of owner, designer and<br />

McMahon, as promoter, for a run in the<br />

boat. Brooking was unable to join us due<br />

to work commitments.<br />

The Roger <strong>Hill</strong> <strong>10m</strong><br />

<strong>powercat</strong> Outpost’s superefficient<br />

hulls can be seen<br />

in action in these pictures<br />

with the boat cruising at<br />

16 knots. Outpost cuts<br />

cleanly through the water,<br />

attaining a top speed of<br />

around 20 knots. On one<br />

engine with the other<br />

tilted out of the water, the<br />

boat manages nearly 15<br />

knots. There’s very little<br />

fore and aft pitching, and<br />

manoeuvrability is good,<br />

even on one engine.<br />

With a beam of 4.5m,<br />

there’s plenty of room for<br />

accommodation inside and<br />

a useful cockpit.<br />

Tied up at her marina berth, Outpost<br />

looks bigger than her <strong>10m</strong> overall length.<br />

With 4.5m of beam, the saloon is generous,<br />

though the boat is effectively an 8m<br />

design because the ends of the boat don’t<br />

carry accommodation. The wing deck<br />

stops well short of the bows, which are<br />

bridged by a netting trampoline, sailing<br />

cat-style.<br />

Aft, the hulls extend well beyond the<br />

cockpit, steps affording access to boarding<br />

platforms either side, also sailing cat style.<br />

Outboards are mounted right aft and tilt<br />

clear of the water. A skeg adds directional<br />

stability and allows the hulls to take the<br />

bottom, even with the engines down.<br />

With a waterline beam to length<br />

(BTL) ratio of 13:1, Outpost is as radical<br />

as <strong>Hill</strong> dared to make her. He explained<br />

that the BTL ratio should be as great as<br />

possible for maximum efficiency. Outpost<br />

comes close to the 15:1 ratio favoured<br />

for larger <strong>displacement</strong> power cats, but<br />

a 15:1 ratio would have restricted usable<br />

space inside the hulls and reduced<br />

reserve buoyancy. Planing catamarans<br />

typically have waterline beam to length<br />

ratios of 8:1 or less.<br />

The cockpit is wide rather than deep.<br />

It’s spacious enough with plenty of stowage<br />

in bulkhead lockers and a full-width<br />

transom locker. A pair of dinghy davits<br />

on the transom accept the inflatable<br />

tender. Engine control cabling is routed<br />

into the transom locker where it’s directed<br />

into a conduit running under the<br />

wingdeck to the helm station. Although<br />

exposed cabling and plumbing for the<br />

boat’s exterior shower take up some of<br />

the space, there’s still ample room inside<br />

the locker for bulky items.<br />

There’s heaps more room in huge<br />

march 2006 <strong>Boat</strong>ing new Zealand 41

d i e s e l c r a f t e Va l u at i o n s<br />

Vessel tested with 4 POB and 300 litres diesel.<br />

Indicated Litres/Hour Litres/Hour Gals/Hour Ind. Speed Corrected Litres per Nautical Miles Range<br />

Eng. RPM Single Both Both Knots Speed Nautical Mile per Gall Naut.Miles<br />

4500 4.4 8.8 1.94 n/a 13.7 0.64 7.08 560<br />

5000 6.9 13.8 3.04 n/a 15.6 0.88 5.14 407<br />

5500 11.0 22.0 4.84 n/a 17.4 1.26 3.60 285<br />

5900 13.7 27.4 6.03 n/a 18.7 1.47 3.10 246<br />

Single Engine (other engine tilted up)<br />

4500 5.8 n/a 1.28 n/a 9.7 0.60 7.58 602<br />

5000 8.9 n/a 1.96 n/a 11.6 0.77 5.93 469<br />

5400 11.5 n/a 2.53 n/a 13.3 0.86 5.26 416<br />

NOTE: RANGE IS BASED ON 90% OF TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY, AND CALM CONDITIONS.<br />

Measured Mile Time 3 min 12.17 sec<br />

RPM 5900<br />

Speed 18.73 knots<br />

Helm station and galley are simple but<br />

functional. The opening window in front of<br />

the helm was welcome on a hot day.<br />

Outboards tilt completely out of the<br />

water, reducing maintenance. They can be<br />

freshwater flushed in that position.<br />

underfloor lockers in each hull running<br />

all the way aft. However, in keeping<br />

with <strong>Hill</strong>’s instructions, these and<br />

similar spaces in the bows have been<br />

left largely empty to keep weight out of<br />

the ends. They’re really suitable for only<br />

light, bulky items, though the lockers do<br />

house Outpost’s starting batteries tucked<br />

up high under the cockpit sole, one in<br />

each hull. House batteries are kept in the<br />

forward end of the port forward cabin.<br />

A solar panel mounted on the cabin top<br />

supplements the engine alternators to<br />

charge Outpost’s house batteries.<br />

Outpost’s bow lockers are much less<br />

deep; the bottom half of the hulls are<br />

sealed compartments to remove any<br />

temptation to fill them with gear.<br />

Ground tackle and the boat’s Dorado<br />

rope-chain capstan are relatively light-<br />

42 <strong>Boat</strong>ing new Zealand march 2006<br />

weight. Access to the bows is good via<br />

non-slip side decks. There’s no railing<br />

around the foredeck but handrails on<br />

the coachroof are useful.<br />

Weight control has been central to<br />

the boat’s success. It was closely monitored<br />

during construction and the<br />

owner has been careful to heed the<br />

designer and not overload the vessel.<br />

When it went into the water it floated<br />

well above the designer’s datum line,<br />

indicating the builders had successfully<br />

kept weight down, shaving 300kg off<br />

<strong>Hill</strong>’s initial design <strong>displacement</strong> estimate.<br />

Loaded <strong>displacement</strong> is 4135kg. As<br />

a light <strong>displacement</strong> design, she doesn’t<br />

need heavy, structural bracing so most<br />

components are lightweight.<br />

Most of the boat’s weight is concentrated<br />

in the middle, which is also<br />

where her occupants will be. For trim<br />

reasons, tanks are positioned in various<br />

places in the central portion of the boat.<br />

The 150L duty water tank is in the port<br />

hull; a 150L top-up tank in the starboard<br />

hull transfers water to the duty tank as<br />

required. Each motor has its own 200L<br />

fuel tank, so fuel levels should drop at<br />

roughly equal rates.<br />

The light-filled saloon is relatively<br />

simple: a C-shaped settee on the starboard<br />

side with a demountable table<br />

facing a simply equipped galley to port.<br />

A sliding door opens onto the cockpit,<br />

as does a sliding window in the aft bulkhead.<br />

Outpost’s galley features a fridge,<br />

two-burner gas hob, califont and a stainless<br />

steel sink and drainer. Under-bench<br />

stowage is generous.<br />

There’s plenty of head room. The<br />

owner got <strong>Hill</strong> to raise the cabin top<br />

slightly to accommodate his 6-foot 4inch<br />

sons. With hindsight, <strong>Hill</strong> feels he<br />

could have lowered the wingdeck slightly<br />

to achieve the same result, especially<br />

since Outpost floats above datum. So<br />

far, the wingdeck – 700mm above the<br />

water – has yet to make contact with<br />

a wave.<br />

Steps lead down into the hulls where<br />

sleeping accommodation is surprisingly<br />

generous, as is the easy-clean head/shower<br />

in the starboard hull. To port there’s<br />

a single berth aft with a slide-in, open<br />

fronted double berth forward. Both are<br />

well endowed with gear stowage.<br />

To starboard there’s the head aft and<br />

an enclosed, transverse double berth<br />

forward. A locker in the forward bulkhead<br />

contains batteries, switches and a<br />

voltage/amperage monitor for the solar<br />

powered charger and house batteries.<br />

<strong>Hill</strong> has designed an alternative layout<br />

for an Australian client featuring two<br />

enclosed double cabins, one in each hull,<br />

by slightly extending the wingdeck.<br />

To keep costs under control, the<br />

boat’s electronics package is relatively<br />

simple, reflecting its intended family<br />

cruising role. A Lowrance LCD chartplotter-GPS-sounder<br />

takes care of navigation<br />

duties; there’s a VHF radio, stereo<br />

system, stainless wheel, BEP switch panels<br />

and standard Yamaha gauges taking<br />

up the rest of the boat’s dashboard space<br />

at the central helm station. Yamaha controls<br />

incorporate a handy synchronised<br />

trim feature. An opening front window<br />

and overhead hatch were welcome on<br />

a hot day.<br />

There’s no helm seat, which would<br />

The walk-in master cabin is spacious.<br />

House batteries and voltage monitors are<br />

mounted in the bulkhead locker.<br />

probably intrude too much into the<br />

saloon, though a freestanding stool<br />

would suffice in most conditions, such is<br />

the boat’s ride and stability.<br />

The ride is remarkable. We experienced<br />

fairly benign sea conditions, but Outpost<br />

has since been tested in much less pleasant<br />

conditions. The bows slice through<br />

the water, barely lifting on the wave<br />

faces, producing an uncannily smooth,<br />

relaxed ride. All the good work put in by<br />

designer, builder and owner have ensured<br />

Outpost pitches hardly at all, so there is no<br />

tendency to lift her props clear in a big<br />

following sea – always a possibility in<br />

<strong>displacement</strong> power cats if weight in the<br />

ends make them pitch excessively.<br />

In a beam sea there’s some choppiness,<br />

the result of the design’s inherent stability,<br />

which produces a quick motion, but<br />

this is a feature common to all catamaran<br />

hulls.<br />

Top speed is close to 20 knots – we<br />

clocked a little more with the tide pushing<br />

us – but Outpost will do 15 knots on<br />

one engine. We tried it, tilting the port<br />

engine completely clear of the water. Sure<br />

enough, we quickly reached 15 knots and<br />

control and manoeuvrability were only<br />

slightly compromised. Not only is this a<br />

useful safety feature, it means some owners<br />

willing to accept a lesser top speed<br />

might opt for smaller engines. Twin 30hp<br />

engines cost much less but should still<br />

give 15 knots boat speed.<br />

A cruise speed of between 13 and 15<br />

knots was comfortable and economical,<br />

as the fuel consumption figures show. At<br />

a shade under 14 knots, with the engines<br />

spinning at 4500rpm, total fuel consumption<br />

is just 8.8 litres per hour, giving a<br />

range of 560 nautical miles. Dieselcraft<br />

Evaluations was unable to measure fuel<br />

consumption at lower horsepower/revolutions.<br />

The engines provide excellent low<br />

speed manoeuvrability, helped by their<br />

wide separation and oversized propellers.<br />

Acceleration is smooth and linear. Of<br />

course, there’s no sensation of ‘getting<br />

over the hump,’ as experienced in planing<br />

hulls, but it’s hard to look back at the<br />

wake and convince yourself the boat isn’t<br />

planing when you’re doing 20 knots.<br />

Although naturally quiet, especially<br />

at low revolutions, there is quite a bit<br />

of hull resonance when the motors are<br />

on song. The noise isn’t bad, just a little<br />

more assertive than we expected.<br />

The owner agrees, putting the booming<br />

down to the large, empty spaces directly<br />

in front of the outboards. There’s no<br />

soundproofing – on purpose to keep<br />

weight down – but he’s considering fitting<br />

some since they’ve done so well in<br />

the weight department. He’s also thinking<br />

about fitting Vibra-Stop to isolate<br />

the engines from the hulls, either in<br />

conjunction with internal sound insulation,<br />

or by itself. At present, closing the<br />

saloon doors and aft window effectively<br />

shuts out engine noise.<br />

Outpost is an unusual boat, but it<br />

would seem a good fit with the current<br />

trend towards simpler, more economical,<br />

affordable cruising launches. As fuel<br />

prices continue to rise, fuel efficiency is<br />

likely to become increasingly important<br />

to new boat buyers and there is a large<br />

portion of boaters unable or unwilling<br />

to contemplate luxury launches costing<br />

millions of dollars.<br />

A boat like Outpost is within reach for<br />

many Kiwis. It will deliver reasonably<br />

fast, comfortable family boating in an<br />

easy to operate, fuel-efficient package.<br />

As far as its owner is concerned, it has<br />

exceeded his expectations in every way.<br />

❚❚❚<br />

suppliers to outpost include – High Modulus: reinforcing fabrics and cores; Adhesive Technologies: resins and glues; International<br />

Paint: paints; Seamac: windows, sliding door; Cascade Auto Electrical: electrical installation; Giddens Sailmakers: trampoline; Leach<br />

Stainless: stainless steel fabrication; Richard Howe Upholstery: interior linings; Hose & Fittings Ltd: plumbing; Weaver: hatches.<br />

The head and shower are unexpectedly<br />

large. Huge lockers fore and aft are<br />

suitable only for light objects. The empty<br />

spaces are not sound-proofed, so there<br />

is some resonance when the engines are<br />

on song.<br />

s p e c i f i c a t i o n s<br />

boat name Outpost<br />

design name/type <strong>10m</strong> <strong>displacement</strong><br />

power cat<br />

designer Roger <strong>Hill</strong> Yacht Design Ltd<br />

builder Windblades<br />

construction foam-cored composite<br />

loa <strong>10m</strong><br />

lwl 9.61m<br />

boa 4.55m<br />

draft 0.57m<br />

<strong>displacement</strong> light 3007kg<br />

heavy 4135kg<br />

deadrise transitional round<br />

bilge <strong>displacement</strong> hull<br />

max speed 19kts<br />

cruising speed 15kts<br />

fuel capacity 400L<br />

range 560nm @ 13.7kt<br />

water capacity 300L<br />

engines 2 x Yamaha 60hp High Thrust<br />

four-stroke outboards<br />

propellers High Thrust aluminium<br />

price as <strong>review</strong>ed $400,000 plus GST<br />

kitsets and hull and deck packages<br />

available<br />

march 2006 <strong>Boat</strong>ing new Zealand 43

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<strong>Boat</strong> <strong>review</strong>: <strong>roger</strong> <strong>Hill</strong> <strong>10m</strong> <strong>displacement</strong> <strong>powercat</strong> Outpost eco-cruiser this <strong>Boat</strong> owner’s first experience with a power cat was a tornado sailing cat, its rig removed and a cabin added, powered by an 18hp tohatsu outboard. the resulting powerboat was fast, stable and popular with the family, opening his eyes to the possibilities of <strong>displacement</strong> power cats. i 40 <strong>Boat</strong>ing new Zealand march 2006 t also taught him a valuable lesson: the modified Tornado managed 16 knots with the 18hp Tohatsu, exactly the same speed it later achieved with a 40hp outboard. Hull shape, not horsepower, determines a <strong>displacement</strong> craft’s velocity. Outpost is a modern and far more comfortable interpretation of the owner’s first <strong>displacement</strong> catamaran. It’s the first design of its type for Roger <strong>Hill</strong>, better known for planing and semi-<strong>displacement</strong> power cats, built to a high standard by Peter Brooking of Windblades in Pakuranga. Construction is in composite – the cabin top and hulls below the chine are femalemoulded, with computer-cut, resin-infused flat panels in the remainder of the boat. Resin infusion imparts superior lightness and strength; computer cut panels are easily supplied in kitset form for future production runs. <strong>Hill</strong>’s brief was for a fuel-efficient boat capable of reasonably fast, comfortable cruising in the Hauraki Gulf in most condi- S t o r y b y J o h n e i c h e l s h e i m ❚ p h o t o S b y m i k e h u n t e r tions. It also had to be easy to operate and maintain. Initially, Outpost’s owner looked overseas, becoming interested in a production <strong>displacement</strong> power catamaran from an Australian manufacturer. But once he took freight into account, the Aussie cat worked out no cheaper than having a custom boat built in New Zealand where he could have more input into the design and build. Brian McMahon of Superyacht Services introduced the owner to designer Roger <strong>Hill</strong>. McMahon has continued his association with the project, adding ideas and helping in other ways to make it a success. He intends to promote and market the boat for production building. For the owner, an unexpected bonus of building the boat here was the team of excellent craftsmen at Windblades, under the leadership of Peter Brooking. “The build and finish quality are superior to the Australian production boat we looked at,” he told us. “We now have a better, more practical boat that performs brilliantly in the conditions we experience here.” From the outset, <strong>Hill</strong> was keen on the project, which posed interesting design and build challenges. He enlisted the help of another naval architect who had specialised in narrow hull resistance calculations as part of his degree course, and whose numbers correlated with <strong>Hill</strong>’s in-house calculations. The long, narrow hulls incorporate deep-vee sections forward, to slice through the waves, morphing into Usections in the middle and flat sections aft. There’s no immersed canoe body aft, as is commonly seen on <strong>displacement</strong> catamarans, while knuckle and bow immersion are minimal to reduce any tendency to bow-steer. <strong>Hill</strong> relies on the boat’s asymmetrical hulls to provide sufficient buoyancy forward. The resistance calculation figures were encouraging, predicting 18 knots with twin 50hp outboards. The owner opted for 60hp high-thrust Yamaha four-strokes since these were available at a comparable price and offer 17-amp alternators for extra charging capacity. <strong>Hill</strong> was a little worried about the bigger engines’ extra weight as too much weight in the ends can cause pitching; he moved the batteries forward slightly to compensate. Outpost exhibits all the signs of a successful project: the participants were full of praise for one another and we joined a happy crew of owner, designer and McMahon, as promoter, for a run in the boat. Brooking was unable to join us due to work commitments. The Roger <strong>Hill</strong> <strong>10m</strong> <strong>powercat</strong> Outpost’s superefficient hulls can be seen in action in these pictures with the boat cruising at 16 knots. Outpost cuts cleanly through the water, attaining a top speed of around 20 knots. On one engine with the other tilted out of the water, the boat manages nearly 15 knots. There’s very little fore and aft pitching, and manoeuvrability is good, even on one engine. With a beam of 4.5m, there’s plenty of room for accommodation inside and a useful cockpit. Tied up at her marina berth, Outpost looks bigger than her <strong>10m</strong> overall length. With 4.5m of beam, the saloon is generous, though the boat is effectively an 8m design because the ends of the boat don’t carry accommodation. The wing deck stops well short of the bows, which are bridged by a netting trampoline, sailing cat-style. Aft, the hulls extend well beyond the cockpit, steps affording access to boarding platforms either side, also sailing cat style. Outboards are mounted right aft and tilt clear of the water. A skeg adds directional stability and allows the hulls to take the bottom, even with the engines down. With a waterline beam to length (BTL) ratio of 13:1, Outpost is as radical as <strong>Hill</strong> dared to make her. He explained that the BTL ratio should be as great as possible for maximum efficiency. Outpost comes close to the 15:1 ratio favoured for larger <strong>displacement</strong> power cats, but a 15:1 ratio would have restricted usable space inside the hulls and reduced reserve buoyancy. Planing catamarans typically have waterline beam to length ratios of 8:1 or less. The cockpit is wide rather than deep. It’s spacious enough with plenty of stowage in bulkhead lockers and a full-width transom locker. A pair of dinghy davits on the transom accept the inflatable tender. Engine control cabling is routed into the transom locker where it’s directed into a conduit running under the wingdeck to the helm station. Although exposed cabling and plumbing for the boat’s exterior shower take up some of the space, there’s still ample room inside the locker for bulky items. There’s heaps more room in huge march 2006 <strong>Boat</strong>ing new Zealand 41

• Page 2: d i e s e l c r a f t e Va l u at i

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• Boat Reviews
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BOAT REVIEW Roger Hill 18m Foil-assisted Power Cat Souvenir

• Smooth and fast
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Every new design from catamaran guru Roger Hill contains fascinating innovations. His latest vessel even has the wildlife talking.

The channel markers whizz by like lamp posts on a motorway and the two blokes fishing mid-channel in a tinny become a navigation hazard which requires a decision well in advance of their rapid arrival. It keeps me on my toes and I am constantly scanning the chart-plotter and way ahead trying to anticipate a rapidly-moving scene. A short sortie out to sea and we get a taste of Souvenir ’s offshore capability. A slight left-over swell proves that the foil lets us down easy instead of slamming. Down swell the same applies with no decelerations as she overtakes the wave ahead. The Zip Wake trim system works well in conjunction with the foil to make high speed offshore work a possibility.It is not until later in the afternoon when I am left bobbing along in the OC Tender ready to take photos, that I realise just how impressive this craft is. Being buzzed by an 18m work of art going like the clappers is enough to give you a glimpse of the future. It’s also enough to get you talking to a potty-mouthed black-backed gull.

Surtees 750 Game Fisher

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show prize boat package would be every Kiwi angler’s dream to own.

Sargo 31 Explorer

The Sargo 31’s exterior looks like it means business – in a cool way.

Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Sedan

This vessel has much to recommend it for a couple or a family.

Haines Hunter Overlander OP725

The Anura system is not only pleasingly quiet in operation (no noisy internal combustion engine in the cockpit), it’s also easy to operate.

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Roger Hill is a highly respected power cat designer with over 40 years of design to his name, his boats are respected worldwide. Twin hulls offer stability and comfort and she cruises between 20 - 25 knots with a top speed of 35 knots.

Roger Hill is a highly respected power cat designer with over 40 years of design, his boats are respected worldwide. Timeless design, this multihull powerboat is perfect for the changeable NZ conditions –  offering stability, safety and most of all comfort thanks to the twin hulls. Capable of a healthy and fuel efficient cruising speed of between 20 – 25 knots, and a top speed of 35 knots – you’ll get to your destination quickly.

She has had some recent upgrades including; – C-Tek battery charging system with integrated solar panels/Shore power charging (replaced 2019) – New tilt/trim rams 09/21 both engines – Remote controlled search light (new 2019) – New helm chair(2020) – Lofrans electric anchor(2019) – 80m anchor chain(2019)

Other features include: – Queen size bed forward cabin – 2 single berths aft hulls – 400L fuel tank with 200L water – Saltaway flush system – 2 10L oil reservoirs – 2 starter batteries/2 deep cycle house batteries – Votronic battery monitor system – Garmin chart plotter/Sonar – Shower and cockpit hot/cold shower – Saltwater washdown cockpit – Storage bow/aft hulls – Rocket launcher/8 rod holders cockpit – Stainless bait station/swim ladder – Gas califont hot water system – Gas detection alarm – LED cabin lights – Cockpit/front and side window covers – Electric fridge – 4 Burner gas stove top/oven – VHF – Electric toilet with holding tank – 2 Bilge pumps/2 fire extinguishers – Spare anchor with chain and rope – Compass – The list goes on…..

Roger Hill Black Cat 8.9m

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• Herley Powercat 3400

Discover THE Herley Electric Catamaran

Powercat 3400.

Step below decks and discover two twin cabins, with the option for a third single cabin, providing an abundance of accommodation for all. You’ll also find a separate shower and head, ensuring maximum comfort and convenience for all on board. Choose between an efficient diesel inboard engine or embrace the future of sustainable boating by cruising silently on your electric motors, and picking up speed in hybrid mode. he fully equipped galley and main saloon area offer ample space for entertaining and relaxing, while sliding doors lead to expansive cockpit decks, allowing everyone to be part of the action. The central island offers seating, fresh water, BBQ stowage, and fishing necessities, creating the ultimate hub or socializing and enjoyment. With its innovative design, luxurious finishes, and spacious layout, the Herley Powercat 3400 NZ is the ultimate vessel for those seeking the perfect balance of style, performance, and usability. Whether you’re planning a fishing trip, a family vacation, or a weekend getaway, this vessel is sure to exceed your expectations and provide memories that last a lifetime.

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Full specifications.

• LOA – 10.2m
• Beam – 4.7m
• Draft – 0.77m (incl. prop)
• Motor – 2x100kw peak, 60 kw continuous, Brushless, Permanent magnet
• Battery Bank – 60kWh Lithium-ion
• On-board Charging – 120kw Diesel permanent magnet generator
• Cruise Range (Hybrid)  – 1300NM @ 6knots and 700NM @ at 8knots
• Battery Only Range – 34NM @ 6knots and 18.5NM @ 8knots (Solar input not included in these calculations).
• Max Speed – 20knots (sport mode) dependent on load conditions and sea state
• Cruise Speed – 10knots
• Battery only max Speed – 12knots
• Material – 5083 Marine Grade Aluminium
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• Fresh Water – 300L
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• Winch – LSM GX-5
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• Rode and chain – 140mm 12mm rope, 12m 10mm SL 
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• Access – Steps to side deck, Steps to Lower boarding platform
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• Fridge – 90L fridge freezer
• Display Units – 2×12″ Garmin GPSMAP 8612
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• Bed – Actuated lift for stowage under Step platforms
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• Flooring – Carpeted
• Head – 12V  ceramic electric toilet, medicine cabinet, wash basin, storage locker, painted finish, engineered teak floor, engineered stone bench top
• Shower – Separate to head, rain fall shower head, storage locker, painted finish
• Start Battery Bank – 190 Ah
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• Bilge – 4x 3400gph bilge pumps, high water alarm, float switch
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• Door – Sliding retractable door
• Squabs – Marine Vinyl
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• Cabinetry – Walnut
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Herley Boats is New Zealand’s premium aluminium boat builder offering unique solutions in power, performance, safety, comfort, and the only local boat builder offering Hybrid Diesel Electric power plants

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Roger Hill 12m Design takes shape with DuFLEX Composite Panels

The divinely named “ Celeste ”, a 12-metre Roger Hill-designed power catamaran, is in build at G & T Marine, Auckland – it’s the first time seasoned boat builder Grant Symmans has worked with the DuFLEX panel system and Z-press from ATL Composites.

The privately-owned, custom-built, displacement-hull power cat is on track for delivery by May 2023 to an experienced owner looking for volume and ease of cruising.

So far, according to Grant, he has used the Z-press to join the DuFLEX panels for superstructure and cabin top.

“It’s a first for me,” he states. “Roger is a huge fan, so we went with it. It’s labour saving, comes as a kit, and the DuFLEX is lightweight and sturdy.”

The 12-metre vessel is a “fairly straight forward” build, single level sedan with a beam of 4.8-metres.

“Using DuFLEX has made construction a simple process and at this stage we’re impressed with it. We’ll know more when we do the hulls,” Grant adds.

Using ATL’s Z-Press streamlines the composite panel joining process, applying heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins cure fully in 7 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, type of hardener, core type and thickness of the panel.

Roger Hill, specialist power multihull designer, says the client sought a well-appointed powercat for “the next phase of his cruising lifestyle”.

“I have always said that these displacement hull power cats we design are ‘sailor’s power boats’,” he explains. “That is, when you have been a yachtie all your life and you’re facing the unavoidable ravages of time on your old body but don’t want to give up boating, these cats are a good option!

“For Auckland-based yachties who have been cruising around at around 6 to 8 knots, a lot of the time motoring (as you get older), and a lot of the time beating to windward, these smaller displacement hull power cats are ideal.

“They cruise most economically around 14 to 15 knots, or about twice the speed you have been used to going all of your previous boating life, and they are really fuel efficient. Also, they will motor directly into any head wind and nasty sea state without spilling your drink, or leaning over.”

Fortuitously, the client is Roger’s very first when he struck out on his own and established his design firm 27 years ago.

“He owned his lovely 11.9-metre cruising yacht from new, it fitted his requirements perfectly all of that time and he kept it in immaculate condition. Like all of us, he is getting older and the physicality of sailing a yacht basically on your own was starting to tell.

“He made the very hard decision to sell and move on with the next phase of his boating life. They went out for a ride on a smaller 10-metre displacement power cat we designed and from that, he commissioned his new 12-metre design.”

While there is nothing particularly new or radical about the design, there are some unique features.

“The client wanted something that he could trust and depend on to fulfil his future yachting aspirations,” explains Roger. “As with the original sailing yacht, the new power cat is specifically detailed around his requirements.

“Things like the very clever swimming diving platform that lowers down between the motors to form steps down to a wider bottom panel that allows easy access into the water for diving and launching a small RIB.

“It’s just the two of them, and the layout will be very comfortable for them to live aboard for extended periods through the summer as they have done with their yacht for many years.

“The choice to go with outboards was based on being able to explore areas they have previously not been able access with a deep draft keel, so adding a new dimension to their cruising ambitions.”

The choice to use the DuFLEX system came from the client seeing it for himself, visiting the 16-metre “ Omahu ” and speaking to its owner who had a previous sailing cat built out of DuFLEX and was extremely positive about the process.

“The preliminary design for the structure of “Celeste” was based on standard foam cored composite boat building methods. From that the options were costed up and DuFLEX won the job!

Cored with Divinycell foam, the DuFLEX panels in CELESTE have a combination of H80 and H100 densities in the hull shell.  The hull bottoms are cored with 20mm H100 DuFLEX Strips that are laminated with a 460 grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass which will have an additional laminate applied on both sides, while hull sides are a mix of H80 thicknesses and laminated with double layers of 800grm quadraxial chosen to meet performance and engineering requirements.

Grant Symmans was a more traditional builder accustomed to using plywood, timber, and fibreglass skinning methods of construction, but he was intrigued with system and its multiple benefits – precision cut, time saving, labour saving and minimal waste.

Grant and his two co-workers are now well into the build.

“They made the large cabin top first and it went together very well and quickly, and they are now starting to plank up the first hull.”

“The client, whose father was a New Zealand timber boat builder and built many cold-moulded Kauri sailing yachts, was quite tentative about the  process but is now also becoming much more relaxed and happy as he sees the boat coming to life.”

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14.6m Composite Planing Power Cat

Light weight efficency and high speed. .

The American client for this project has built several power cats to our design, planing and semi displacement. The 14.6m planing cat will be used as a fast day trip and weekender in a reasonably sheltered inland waterway and also for longer summer holiday cruising up the coast.

The design brief emphasis was on speed and stylish good looks and a layout that we had used before in a slightly smaller project for the same client, the galley ‘down’ being the most unique feature compared to other similar catamaran and mono hull vessels.

A foil was discussed to optimize the performance but discounted due to the large number of pot floats and floating obstructions in the areas of predominant use. This lead us back to our standard planing hull shape with a little more attention to the fwd chine geometry and bottom area aft of the fwd sections where these boats can have a tendency to be a bit hard riding when bouncing along in a short chop, particularly at the speeds this cat is intended to operate at.

Weight saving was prominent in the design and build process and the pre laminated, pre cut composite panel construction system optimizes the strength and weight of the structure complimented by the judicial use of carbon laminates throughout the structure of the vessel.

The twin 480 hp electronic diesels fit well into this size vessel and give a top speed in the low 30's and a very comfortable and economic cruising speed in the 20 to 25 knot range. Fuel consumption is approx. half that of a comparable size mono hull at similar speeds.

The boat was constructed in Auckland from a composite kit set supplied by ATL Composites in Australia and is fully compliant with ABYC standards. 

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