Seaforth Marine Group to launch first Tradition 54

Pacific Northwest yard offers new series of luxury trawlers with mega-yacht feel

Vancouver, BC February 3 2004--Seaforth Marine Group announced today it is anticipating a late February launch of its first Tradition 54, the lead vessel in a new series of production motor cruisers that combine the safety and strength of a traditional trawler with the comfort and style of a mega yacht, company President James announced today.

Designed by Seaforth Marine Group, the three stateroom, single engine (320 hp John Deere) trawler with hydraulic come-home drive has a full displacement hull with a beamy aft end that helps diminish roll, improve stability and performance, and significantly reduces chine noise for a safer, quieter, more comfortable ride. The Tradition series laminate schedule, comprehensive 4x4 framing/stringer system help ensure that each vessel is as robust and as safe as possible for cruising both the coast and the open ocean. At the same time, Tradition buyers enjoy considerable latitude in customizing the interior of the vessel to meet their requirements for accommodation, woodworking, fabrics, and entertainment packages.

The Tradition series represents something new in passagemaking very seaworthy trawlers crossed with the comfort and style of a mega-yacht, says James. Safety is always our prime concern with comfort and efficiency always right behind. Were very pleased with the results and already have 2 more boats in the Tradition series starting construction.

It was the seaworthiness and sturdiness of the Tradition construction that first attracted the interest of the owners of the first Tradition 54, Duane and Walli Olive of Oak Harbor, Washington State. They had previously owned a 44 coastal cruiser and were looking for a more spacious, liveaboard motor yacht for longer passagemaking. The Olive's gave both boats the same name: Feisty.

We wanted something that could take us from Prince William Sound to Cabo San Lucas in more comfort, says Duane Olive. We had looked at a number of finished production boats, but couldnt find one with the space or characteristics we wanted. The 54s strength and durability are exceptional. And shes very easy for the two of us to manage. With both bow and stern thrusters, my wife can feel quite comfortable docking on her own.

Feisty also offers a great deal of interior space, more than in any other trawler of that size or type, according to Olive. Seaforth designers and engineers were able to reconfigure some of that space to meet their liveaboard needs, converting the forward stairs from the pilothouse to the accommodations deck into a computer and sewing room.

The Olives also had a lot of input into the interior design and finishing as they worked with Coralee Morier, who heads Seaforths interior design team. The series offers three different levels of luxury within a basic design envelope, as well as the choice of single or twin engine power packages.

Coralee listened very closely to our vision and understood our tastes instinctively, says Olive. The fabrics and color-schemes she showed us were right in sync with what we wanted. We are very happy with the results.

Finished in cherry panelling throughout, Feisty also has a traditional teak and holly sole in the pilothouse installed with a modern twist wider than usual strips that look like planking.

The Traditions graceful integration of space, strength, stability, handling, and style is the work of the Seaforth Marine Groups design team led by Winston Pynn and assisted by Mike Harling. Seascape Marine Industries, which shares facilities with Seaforth, is the design companys preferred builder.

While the Canadian built Feisty is the first ever in the Tradition series, future buyers can choose to have a trawler built either in North America or at the yard of Seaforths ISO 9000-certified Taiwanese production partner in Guandong Province, China, where Seaforth has engineering and design staff as well as production tooling on site. The difference is in price, not quality. Construction costs can be up to 40 percent lower in China, due mainly to lower labour costs. Facilities, materials, and workmanship are world class; many leading North American and European yards have long established relationships with such Chinese builders. Buyers who choose to have their trawler built in Canada pay a higher premium, but are able to have more extensive customization and a close collaboration on interior design.

For more information on Seaforth, please contact David James at:
604-466-7094     Email: e-mail protected from spam bots
www.seaforthmarine.com

STANDARD SPECIFICATION

Length Overall: 54' - 0" (16.46m)

Length Waterline: 48' - 0" (14.63m)

Beam: 17' - 0" (5.18m)

Draft: 5' - 0" (1.52m)

Construction: FRP

Displacement (1/2 Load): 75,000 lbs (34,090 kg)

Engine Power: 310 hp (232 kW) / Optional twin 230 hp

Speed (Maximum): 11 knots

Speed (Cruise): 7 knots

Range: 3800 miles

Generator: 20 kW

Fuel Capacity: 1600 US Gallons (6080 litres)

Fresh Water: 400 US Gallons (1135 litres) / Optional 2000 US Gallons

Naval Architecture: Seaforth Marine Group

Exterior Styling: Seaforth Marine Group

Interior Design: Seaforth Marine Group

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