Dashew's Wind Horse

Hi Warren,

An interesting read. Of course, I'll never have the budget to have a boat like that (even with the large and highly anticipated future lottery win). Looking closely, I guess I already have a smaller (with much less range) version... the helm and salon on the same level with good 360º visibility for all; comfortable cruising. OK, I don't have the flybridge or the stabilizers... nor the long length to beam ratio that makes those stabilizers necessary. :wink:

The bottom view (not an accurate representation) looks reasonably flat with a few apendages. I didn't read all the press reviews, but a quick scan of those showed one hull view with a slight rounding, much like a Coast Guard fast boat... makes me think those stabilizers are going to be real important in any kind of sea motion.

The sail as a back up is something that could be rigged on any boat with a short mast and boom (like you see on many trawlers)... small by design since the boat doesn't have a lot of weight in a keel. As fuel prices continue to rise, I think you'll see more of that type of rig on cruising power boats.

In my mind, the best vessel for a couple to cross oceans in is going to be a heavy keel sailboat with a pilot house. More affordable, good ride (without stabilizers), and designed for sailing and motoring. For extended coastal cruising, my choice would be a decent size catamaran (30-40'), either sail or power. And for the type of cruising we are currently doing, it's hard to beat our boats - especially with the trailerability. You know how I feel about "the right boat for the mission."

Thanks for the look at that unique vessel. Dashew is well known for some outstanding sailing vessels; interesting to see his take on the "transition to an unsailboat."

Happy New Year!

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Interesting looking boat. I'm cureous about their charging systems that allow them to stay at anchor for many days without running a generator. Solar or wind most likely. I'm cureous what gauge aluminum they used and what the quality of their welds looks like compared to a typical North River or Thunderjet. I wonder what its displacement is and the choice of powerplants. Cost? C.W.
 
Interesting looking boat. I wonder if the windows have storm covers or if they are "unbreakable". Looks like they'd be vulnerable in a heavy breaking sea...

Charlie
 
We have known Steve and Linda for 40 years. They are certainly near the top of the list of people having the most influence on cruising boats in the last half a century. I have not been aboard Wind Horse, but have been aboard several of their other boats as we have met them in various places. Steve is working on a 64 foot version of this boat currently, and I suspect that they will "down size" in a relitatively short time.

http://www.setsail.com/dashew/FPB64_intro.html

The commercial appeal of the smaller boat is better than Wind Horse--and I don't believe that any others have been built. I last talked to Steve about the cost of construction of a Sister ship at least 2 years ago, and at that time he felt it would be 4.5 million--I suspect considerably more for a bare boat currently. I believe that there are at least 4 orders for the 64 currently.

As for the glass on Wind Horse, they used 3/4" safety glass. (we had 3/8" safety glass our our large cruising boat and had no problems, but it was a smaller boat) Incidently it is not waves breaking on the boat, but the boat falling off of a wave which breaks large windows on yachts at sea.

The welding was done in New Zealand, and the workmanship is awesome--I have only seen photos, but the welds are very nice. I am not sure about the plating, but it is substantial: she is close to 50 tons (light for an 83 foot boat).

The DC power system: They have 1600 amps of 24 volts DC traction batteries--and can run for a number of days without charging. This is relitatively similar to what was used in their sailboats. The amount of AC power is minimal and inverters are used. The genset is rarely used, and DC power comes from the diesel main engines and very high output wide belt driven alternators. (24 volts, 180 amps per alternator)

I am not sure I understand the question about the engines, but John Deere is closest to the older tractor engines prefered for many voyagers and are used in many long distance power cruisers. The parts are available world wide, they are very durable and reliable engines, and about 30,000 hours are expected between overhauls--plus this 83 footer is driven at up to 14 knots by less HP than our Tom Cat uses!

If you like sailing stories, check out their sail from the Marquesis to San Diego in Hurricane season--13.5 days in Beowulf their last sailboat.
http://www.setsail.com/products/lcv/lcv.html
(the passage description used to be on their web site, but I cannot find it now, but they averaged over 15 knots--two of them on a 78 foot sailboat)

I think that the entire Setsail.com web site is certainly a must read for all distance sailors. So many links and logs that it would probably take a year to devour!

Incidently, I am not sure that I entirely agree with Jim's assesment about the best boat for distance voyaging. We did multiple passages with a Force 50, a Bill Garden heavy long keel classic ketch, and a Cal 46. Although the Force 50 had a longer keel and was considerably heavier for its size, I considered the Cal 46 a better passagemaking boat. (we logged over 40,000 miles in open ocean in each boat). Never the less, a pilot house boat is the best way to go.--power, sail or C Dory!
 
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