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The 54' Steel Trawler Yacht
'FAR HORIZON'
General Concept
The design objective for the motor yacht Far Horizon 54 has been to create an all-ocean vessel with a generous interior having two private cabins, each having its own private head and shower.
Theh overall configuration is very much as Captain Beebe outlined in the original Voyaging Under Power. The pilot house has intentionally been kept to modest proportions. As a result, the so-called "A/B Ratio" is very favorable, in other words, plenty of boat below the water and not too much windage above the water. Other characteristics liked by Beebe are the 'midships pilot house, with well-protected side and aft decks.
The interior and on-deck layout are the same as the 50' Far Horizon, except that in this case the vessel has been made longer in order to accommodate a large owner's cabin aft with ensuite private head. Other differences are that the guest cabin has been moved forward, but retains the same layout as with the 50 foot version, and the forward head, galley and saloon have been rearranged.
The Far Horizon 54 has a raked bow profile combined with a fantail stern. This is the most suitable bow shape for taking on heavy weather on the oceans of the world. The fantail stern is equally well suited to passagemaking, and is the best stern shape for a single chine metal boat. Overall, the hull design is both classic and highly functional....
Although the model shown here has been given bilge keels - as with the other vessels in this series - they are not a requirement. The bilge keels as shown will allow taking the ground upright, and will provide added roll attenuation both at anchor and under way.
Particulars of the Far Horizon 54 are:
- 54 ft - Length on Deck (16.46 meters)
- 15 ft - Beam (4.6 meters)
- 5.1 ft - Draft at DWL (1.56 meters)
- 46.2 ft - WL Length (14.1 meters)
- 13.3 ft - WL Beam (4.06 meters)
- 69,000 lb - Displacement Light (31.3 metric tons)
- 79,000 lb - Displacement Loaded (36 metric tons)
Click for Larger ImagePower & Range
Engine choices are plentiful among the 6 cylinder marine diesels that are available worldwide. Power requirements will be in the range of around 175 hp to 200 hp. In this power range the six cylinder John Deere 6086 TFM will be eminently suitable, providing a continuous 158 hp (118 kW) at 2,400 rpm using the John Deer M-1 rating. The JD M-3 rating produces 201 hp at 2600 rpm.
Hull speed is around 9.5 to 10 knots, depending on the choice of engine and vessel loading. A top speed of 10.5 knots is achievable using the John Deere M-3 rating (201 hp).
Range is planned to be between 3,500 NM and 4,000 NM in the average load condition at a voyaging speed of 7.5 knots, assuming a 15% reserve. If the voyaging speed were dropped to 7 knots, range would increase to between 4,000 NM and 5,000 NM. That extra half knot makes quite a difference...!
Click for Larger ImageLayout
With a large flush fore-deck, there is plenty of room in the accommodation space below forward. The Interior Layout is optimized for a couple as owners, with another couple as guests.
The aft owner's cabin has a large island berth on center, a private head and shower, a large bureau / hanging locker to each side, and a writing desk to starb'd forward. Below forward, the galley is located to starb'd and a large dinette and table are opposite to port.
Forward of that there is a writing desk to port with a flat screen TV above it, visible from the dinette. The all-important socializing area below has been kept quite open, especially with the addition of the writing desk and TV forward. A head and shower are located to starb'd forward of the galley, and right forward is a generous guest stateroom with an island berth on center and twin wardrobe cabinets port and starb'd.
Inside the Far Horizon 54 Pilot House there are two forward facing seats plus ample space for a table and pilot chair. On the aft deck there is an aft-facing seat which creates headroom within the aft cabin. The aft deck seat is an ideal spot for fishing or wake-watching... arranged with a table it will be the perfect spot for on-deck dining. Also ideal for watching the wake, and the tuna rig...!
Click for Larger ImageSystems
The intent has been is to keep the systems simple so they are easy to maintain, and so that first-cost is kept within bounds. There will be a controllable pitch propeller system - the most exotic system onboard - although not really... See my article on Controllable Pitch for clarification. In Scandinavia, especially Norway, controllable pitch propellers are the norm, with fixed pitch being a distant second..!
Other systems onboard include a Kabola heating and hot water system, helm-pump manual over hydraulic steering, autopilot, bow thruster, twin vertical capstan hydraulic anchor windlasses, electric shore boat winches, and the usual array of navigation electronics. The electrical system is planned to take advantage of either 54hz or 60hz shore power current, with a transformer to permit any shore power voltage with constant voltage being supplied onboard.
The rig is simple as well... In fact, there isn't one...! Stabilization with the bilge fin keels will be quite adequate for the kind of cruising envisioned, i.e. that of canal cruising and inland waters, with occasional excursions offshore from one cruising venue to another. True to her design name however, the The Far Horizon is quite capable of worldwide voyaging, including a circumnavigation. Those who might favor such an ambition will probably add a paravane rig, although certainly active stabilizers would be an option instead of the fixed bilge fin keels.
Summary
The Far Horizon is quite a capable mid-size trawler yacht design - equally at home on the briny sea as on a smooth canal traverse. The layout is ideal for two couples to cruise in comfort and style. In steel, there is no question of strength and ruggedness for whatever task may be asked of her. To combine all of that in a lovely fantail cruiser brings a measure of elegance to the whole affair.
In my view, an ultimately successful combination..! For more information, please inquire.
Similar Designs and Prototypes in this Tug / Trawler Yacht Series
Tug Types
Boojum 22 | Boojum 25 | Boojum 30
Terrier 32 | Talisker 32 | Nidaros 38
Trawler Types
Sweet Okole 30 | Buster 30 | Boojum 43
Roberta 43 | Roberta Jean 43 | Roberta Jean 47
Blue Horizon 36 | Far Horizon 40 | Far Horizon 43 | Far Horizon 46 | Far Horizon 50 | Far Horizon 54
Please see the AVAILABLE BOAT PLANS web page.
Home | Intro | Our Design Process | Stock Design Info | Motor Yacht Designs | Sailing Yacht Designs | Prototype Designs
Plans List | Articles | Our CAD Design Stream | Maxsurf | News..! | SITE MAP..! | Site Search | Design Team | Contact Us
