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trials satisfied them that they were wrong and their subsequent experience has confirmed the choice was the right one. The younger crew particularly adapted very quickly to the technology, and it is logical and very easy to use. If it is simply too rough for a touch screen the MFDs retain the standard soft key function so the user has the choice. The for'ard cabin has dedicated storage for six Pelican cases, with stowage space behind them for bits and pieces. Two of the cases hold the defibrillator and oxygen kit, two hold the first aid and trauma kits and the remaining two hold tools and miscellaneous equipment. If you have ever tried doing CPR or administering first aid on a moving boat with a chequer plate floor or similar you will probably have said, never again. "The Flexiteek deck is our little bit of luxury," says Stephen. "It is warm, smooth, non-slip and impervious to pretty much everything the boat is likely to have thrown at it. The first rescue boat had the same covering and our crews swear by it." The specification for the Whakatane Rescue II was finalised and the contract signed with Naiad in December 2010. Alloy Cats in Tauranga were the builders of choice and Naiad was happy to have them undertake the work. Construction began at the end of January 2011 and the vessel was launched in October and went straight into service. "Her performance is everything we could have hoped for," says Stephen. With a crew of four, 650 litres of fuel and a full load of equipment load she reaches 45 knots. A 25-30 knot cruising speed gives a range of 200 miles. Fuel consumption at 30 knots is about 85 litres per hour, which is remarkable considering her 8.5m predecessor with twin 200hp motors cruised at 30 knots at about 75 litres per hour. The stepped hull runs reasonably flat on the water and is very forgiving, particularly when it comes to bow trim. This is a real advantage with less experienced crew. "The additional length, beam and weight has proven its worth in one recent response to people in the water on the Ohiwa Bar in atrocious conditions. While working in very rough, shallow water, we took a couple of very big breaking waves with no noticeable effect on the boat," says Stephen. "In contrast, the old 8.5 would have been pushed around a bit. Her stability instilled almost immediate trust and confidence in the crew." The Naiad's stepped hull seems to raise a few eyebrows. Reports from the experience gained of this hull and the Whangarei rescue vessel (which has the same hull but different topsides) has been positive throughout. The hull runs very smoothly, is responsive to the helm and is very forgiving. The one issue that arises with the stepped hull is with trailering, as the steps catch on conventional wobble rollers when launching. This issue has been completely overcome by Alloy Cats with their customised alloy trailer. It uses skids at the bow and pneumatic tyres as rollers towards the stern, so launching and recovery are effortless. It is clear the project team is very happy with the construction and final delivery of the Whakatane Rescue II. "We need to mention Colin and Kim Bertelsen at Alloy Cats," says Stephen. "They were our builders of choice because of their reputation for quality. They probably weren't the cheapest choice but we have no regrets about our decision. "Right from the outset they made it clear they were not prepared to compromise on quality and they weren't prepared to cut corners. There were aspects of the build specification they thought could be done differently to give a better result and they worked co-operatively with Naiad to achieve the changes they wanted. The final result is an absolute credit to them." The overall cost, including fitout, was somewhere around $650,000. Funding the project would not have been possible without the generous support of the Lion Foundation, Southern Trust, Pub Charity and Grassroots Trust. The build ran pretty much to time and to budget. The only thing outstanding is for power steering to be retrofitted. The Ultraflex Masterdrive variable sensitivity power steering that has been specified is not currently available in New Zealand, so she is currently running with non-assisted hydraulic steering. SPECIFICATIONS Type of vessel Construction Length overall Length waterline Beam Draught Displacement Engines Power Maximum speed Propellers Range Fuel capacity Pontoons Deck material Crew Operational area Owner Designer Builder search and rescue aluminium 10m 8.2m 3.2m 600mm 4000 kilos (dry) 2 x Yamaha F300B outboards 2 x 300hp 46 knots 19in 220 miles (with 10 percent reserve) 600 litres 550mm diameter Flexiteek 4 Bay of Plenty Whakatane Volunteer Coastguard Naiad Design Alloy Cats March/April 2012 Professional Skipper 21 VIP.S86