VIP.S92
MARINE CRANES
& Truck Loader Cranes,
for all applications
VIPS78
VIP.S78
At first sight the purpose-built trailer constructed in marine
alloy is huge. The running gear is all heavy-duty truck stuff to
carry the loads and has truck air bag kneeling suspension that can
be lowered for getting into the aircraft.
The trailer is fitted with its own battery-powered winch and
batteries to eliminate the need for a dedicated tow vehicle.
The same applies to the adjustable multi-tow points which can
accommodate the heavy duty tow ball coupling found on most
4x4 Remuera tractors, or the ring for the heavy duty tow hook
on most military vehicles. Finally, there is the top ring position
to suit the standard ring feeder coupling on trucks. This allows
for operational diversity when on deployment, especially in the
Pacific Islands. While not really suitable for highway use we
noted that Terry was using his own 4x4 Land Cruiser which had
ample power to launch and retrieve the vessel on the steep Opua
ramp, not far from the workshop.
Outside the workshop we noted the freshly painted ship���s
transport cradle built on a 20ft flatbed container base for
shipboard use on the OPVs Otago and Wellington and the
support ship Canterbury.
The boat is not unattractive, and on stepping aboard the large
boarding platform protecting the Hamilton Jet units below, we
were surprised to find how stable the vessel was at rest. While
definitely an open boat design with a very robust utilitarian
finish, the exposed surface alloy has been acid washed and
coated in several coats of Nyalic to give the vessels that navy
grey ���you-can���t-see-me look���. The vessels are expected to spend
a lot of time out of the water on the trailer or in cradles, so the
hull bottoms below the chine, which are subjected to cradle wear,
were left in natural alloy finish for the vessels to be beached,
scrubbed or water-blasted as required during operational use.
The Navy can coat these areas and the water jets with a foulresistant silicone product later if fouling does become an issue.
On stepping over the transom, we note the two walk-through
doors for divers. Once aboard one is faced with two large raised
engine boxes concealing the twin Yanmar 6LYAM-STP 370hp
marine diesels, coupled to ZF hydraulic transmissions before the
Hamilton 274 water jets. We note the engines are larger than the
rest of the Yanmar engines that power the existing RNZN fleet
of J3 RHIB seaboats. This was because of the anticipated heavier
workload of the REA vessels. Personally, we believe the Navy
has just introduced another engine dimension into its fleet, when
in all probability a slightly smaller engine, such as the J3s in
VIP.S92
There is a lot of room in a 9m boat
Custom marinised to suit New Zealand conditions.
Spare parts for all cranes.
ALLCRANE Sales & Services Ltd
Auckland,NZ ph:0800 ALLCRANE (0800 255 27263)
sales@allcrane.co.nz - www.allcrane.co.nz
March/April 2013 Professional Skipper 23
