Chris White Spindrift 47

A development of the highly successful Spindrift 45, the new Spindrift 47 was designed to incorporate living accommodations to suit a very experienced boating couple who cruise 6 months of the year.

 

The deckhouse was elongated four feet in order to allow major changes to the galley; increasing the working space, adding refrigerator/freezer capacity, plus an enlarged stove/oven and more storage lockers. Also benefiting from the additional length is the lounging space opposite the galley.

 

Down below the general layout is similar to the Spindrift 45 with the master cabin forward starboard, and two double cabins port. The port aft cabin benefits most from the longer deckhouse which provides much more headroom over the double berth and more standing room in the cabin.

 

The forward port cabin was reconfigured with upper and lower single berths for guests and grand kids. The port head and shower were enlarged and now considerably more spacious than the earlier design.

 

Back in the starboard hull there is now a “work room” aft with a washer/dryer and a bench for projects and tool storage.

 

There were also major changes on deck where the house top was extended aft over the cockpit. This provides an enlarged flybridge area for socializing, hanging out or running the boat.

 

Providing shade for the flybridge, the composite canopy is fully covered with enough solar panels to run much of the day-to-day functions as well as mount antenna.

 

Power is provided by twin Cummins QSB 6.7 engines (480HP) coupled to HJX29 Hamilton Jets. The engines are 20% higher output than the engines used on the Spindrift 45 and the jets are a newer model that are claimed to be about 8% more efficient. In combination both of those should offset the additional weight and accommodation of the new 47. The result should be a similar top end of 38 knots or more and a comfortable cruise of 28 to 30 kts. For sailors fuel burn in fast power boats is always eye popping but the Spindrift is FAR superior to any comparable monohull- often 50% better in terms of miles per gallon.

 

As with the Spindrift 45, the new design also incorporates a Hysucat hydrofoil. This is an extraordinary foil system where a streamlined metal hydrofoil, with no moving parts, spans from one hull to the other. The maximum depth of the foil is no deeper than the hull. At speed, about half the weight of the boat is carried by the foil which yields an improvement in speed and fuel efficiency by about 25%. The foil considerably dampens the motion under way making the ride more comfortable, even at speeds where most boats have to slow down.  

 

Hull #1 was built by Aquidneck Custom Composites in Rhode Island. Moulds were built for the hull and decks so repeat orders will build faster. Construction is by epoxy resin infusion of high-performance glass fabrics over foam core. ACC has mastered the infusion process such that the laminate quality is superb with absolutely no air entrapment in the laminate.

 

Interior construction: Interior cabinet work was kept light by using composite panels built by ACC. Careful weight control of the interior is a major concern as it is far too easy to end up with sub-par performance if careless construction is employed.

 

At launch WINTERHAWK, hull #1, recorded 40 knots at wide open throttle. At full load that speed of course is reduced but a 30kt cruise will get you where you’re going fast and in comfort.