Focus article 1

M.V.FOCUS

An Economical Displacement Vessel For Voyaging Under Power

Designed, Built and cruised by Denis and Maureen Lobb

FOCUS is a 56ft displacement hull passagemaker power boat with true ocean voyaging capabilities.

Length – Overall        56 feet

Length – Waterline    51.14 feet

Beam -    Overall        14.5 feet

Draft                             5 feet  

Maximum displacement 28.64 tonnes to designed waterline

Immersion rate 3000 lbs (1364 kg) per inch

Maximum hull speed (speed/Length ratio 1.34) 9.58 knots

Economy cruising speed (S L 1.0) 7.15 knots = 171 miles/day

At this cruising speed (up to 7.3 knots depending on sea conditions and load) FOCUS achieves a passagemaking fuel economy of 1 nautical mile per litre of fuel used, which is extremely economical for a 56ft vessel weighing in at nearly 30 tonnes fully loaded.

Her empty weight when launched was 16 tonne so she has ample cruising load available.

Hull construction is three skin diagonal cold molded over a male mold and heavily glassed both sides to become an epoxy/GRP/timber composite.  There are no stringers, all interior components being glassed to the hull to form the divided structure.  The 28 inch propeller is protected in an aperture behind a full length keel/deadwood.  Substantial rub rails protect the topsides, and raised bulwarks provide security on the foredeck.

The owner’s cabin is forward with an island double berth and ensuite bathroom.  Aft of this is the double guest cabin with the main bathroom opposite.  This bathroom incorporates a combined shower/bathtub.

Routine access to the engine room – situated under the wheelhouse – is via this bathroom, so that entry into the engine room when on passage does not release engine heat, noise or smell into the accommodation.  The engine room is kept basic and spacious with the main engine and fuel management system being pretty much the only occupants.  The battery banks are housed outside of the engine room for safety and coolness in blower ventilated compartments.  The effect is one of conspicuous simplicity and ease of access for service and maintenance.  Other services that could have been in the engine room are combined into a separate services room aft  This services room houses the auxiliary engine with refrigeration compressor, hot water service, the steering gear, air conditioner, inverter, and backup 240 volt freezer.  A benefit of this aft position for the auxiliary is that in the event of fire or flooding in the main engine room (where auxiliaries are commonly situated) use of the auxiliary is not also lost.

Above the main engine room is the wheelhouse incorporating all the normal steering and navigational functions. Primary steering is by a jog lever giving electric/hydraulic steering to the ram in the services room, though mostly the steering is handled by the auto pilot.  Though electronic charting is mostly used there is also a chart table large enough for a fully spread paper chart.  A comfortable helm seat with good visibility is provided, and two settees which double as sea berths are close to the pitch centre of the vessel.  The wheelhouse is the most used area at sea.

Aft of the wheelhouse, stairs lead up to the flybridge which incorporates steering, autopilot and engine controls, and bow thruster and anchor winch controls. The steering here is mostly via the auto pilot remote, but a wheel with cable steering is provided as a back up in case of electric or hydraulic failure, and the wheel is preferred by some when berthing in a marina – it just has a comfortingly conventional feel for some people.  Good all round visibility is enjoyed from here – both for at sea and for berthing the vessel.  An outdoor dining/lounging area is aft of the flybridge steering position.  Good visibility is maintained down into the wheelhouse to monitor all switch panels, alarms, engine instruments, autopilot, GPS, radios and the electronic charting screen, so no repeaters are needed.

Aft of the wheelhouse the full width saloon and galley is 4.4 metres x 4.4 metres which gives a feeling of considerable spaciousness. The galley has a house size gas cook top and oven, which is protected with a gas solenoid valve and gas alarms, and a microwave oven. The compressor driven refrigeration consists of a 200 litre top opening fridge and 100 litre top opening freezer. There is a house kitchen style pantry of good size and plenty of cupboard and drawer space.

The saloon has a household size leather L shape lounge and a 240 volt air conditioner.

All the 240 volt appliances ( when not connected to marina shore power), run happily via the inverter when the main engine is keeping batteries topped up when under way, and via the auxiliary when at anchor.

Aft again is the services room, aft covered cockpit and the boarding platform.

The services room houses the 27 H.P. Yanmar auxiliary, which as mentioned keeps it remote from fire or flooding in the main engine room. The auxiliary can drive FOCUS at 5.6 knots in flat water, via a V drive and folding prop, which hopefully will never have to be used for this purpose, and it’s main use is for charging all four battery banks when not under way using the John Deere main engine, and also for operating the hot water service and the fridge/freezer compressor.  It has an independent fuel tank and battery bank which can supply all the vessel’s needs if a failure of the main battery bank occurred. Also in the services room is the steering gear, the hot water cylinder, a washing machine and a 240 volt chest freezer, which is a backup if there was a failure of the engine compressor driven primary refrigeration. That, the washing machine and an air conditioner are run through an inverter. The battery drain when using these 240 volt appliances is no problem if the auxiliary is run at the same time.

Much of the sub sole area forward and aft of the engine room is occupied by the fuel tanks, water ballast tanks, and fresh water tanks, all of which contribute to a low center of gravity and offer the opportunity to vary the fore and aft trim.

FOCUS made a cruise from N.S.W. to the Whitsundays and return in 2007and again in 2010, and to New Caledonia and return in 2008.

The new owners, who bought FOCUS from us in 2012 have cruised to Papua New Guinea (Milne Bay and Louisiades) in 2013 and are cruising the Queensland Coast in 2015, and have plans for further offshore cruises in future years.