General Concept
The 49 foot all aluminum "Ocean Express" has a fast semi-displacement hull form. The long fine run combined with light displacement will yield an excellent combination of speed and economy. Relatively short overhangs maximize WL length and therefore vessel speed and accommodation space below.
Average waterline length is 47.5 feet. Beam is 13.5 feet. Displacement will be around 36,000 lb. light and around 48,000 lb. loaded. Draft is 4.5 feet light, and around 5 feet loaded.
Power
The displacement to length ratio shows the vessel to be quite light. The result is that
the displacement regime 'hull speed' will be in excess of 12 knots. For higher semi-displacement speeds one could easily make use of 500 or more hp,
and that will yield vessel speeds in excess of 20 knots (depending on fuel load and other vessel loads).
Although it is possible to apply sufficient power to this design for true planing, if
planing performance were the design goal the hull should be given a run that is flatter yet,
with a wider transom...
Interior
The interior layout is very similar to that of the 49' Ocean Runner, except that the Ocean Express is less wide overall; is a far simpler vessel so is therefore much lighter
and far less costly; the layout below is flipped port to starboard; and
there is an exterior side-deck walkway on both sides.
A 'walkthrough' of the layout below on the Ocean Express reveals a large owner stateroom right forward; a head and shower to port; then a second stateroom to starb'd. A hallway is located slightly to port of center, and leads aft to a ladder / stair into the pilot house.
The Pilot House is quite spacious, with a nav station and piloting area forward plus a bench seat to starb'd aft. Below the Pilot House sole are the engine, machinery space, and bulk fuel tanks.
Aft of the Pilot House, there is a Galley to starb'd with the saloon aft
having a door at the aft end leading to a large covered after deck.
Design Summary
The intent of this design has been to fit the maximum
accommodations into a fast cruiser under 50 feet LOA that would be
economically built. Additionally, the requirement for excellent sea keeping has encouraged keeping the cabins low. Height to the top of the Pilot House is under 11.33 feet, which opens up access to most of the canals in France and the rest of Europe.
This hull form has also been developed into two other fairly similar vessels. One of them, the Coast Runner 48, has virtually the same interior layout but has a slightly more working vessel styling to the cabin structures. The other is the Rhumb Runner 48, having a much different interior layout that makes use of a much
larger pilot house and two spacious staterooms, one forward and one aft.
Yet another design prototype that uses this same hull form is the very
cool 60' to 70' Express Cruiser - a fast motor
yacht inspired by the Rum Runners of the prohibition era...!
As for the 49' Ocean Express shown above, this is a preliminary design
- a prototype. The design has been modeled by computer and the hydrostatics calculated. The interior has been developed, but remains to be detailed further into a completed set of Building Plans.
If it is of interest, please
inquire for
more information.
