The Virginia Pilot Association has taken delivery of a new high-speed, pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. It’s the Virginia pilots’ tenth launch built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard since 1983.The
The Virginia Pilot Association has taken delivery of a new high-speed, pilot boat from Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation. It’s the Virginia pilots’ tenth launch built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard since 1983.
The all-aluminum launch is designed and outfitted for the Pilot’s Hampton Roads harbor station. An all-new, shallow-V hull by Ray Hunt Design was created to optimize speed with a low wake while maintaining seakeeping and boarding performance. It displaces about 2,000 pounds less than a similar sized offshore pilot boat. As a result, the boat accelerates faster and reaches a higher top speed, explained Peter Duclos, the shipyard’s co-president and director of sales.
The pilot boat measures 58’ overall, with an 18’ beam and a 4’ draft. The vessel’s top speed is over 36 knots, powered by twin Volvo Penta D13-800, EPA Tier 3-certified diesel engines, each producing 800 Bhp at 2300 rpm.
Each engine is connected to a Volvo Penta IPS 30 propulsion pod, fitted with dual forward-facing, counter-rotating propellers and integrated exhaust system, and Volvo Penta’s EVC integrated electronic steering and control system at the helm station and aft docking station. A Humphree interceptor trim control system with its Automatic Trim Optimization, Automatic List Control, and
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