Very interesting read here from the Captain who started the project but was removed a few months ago. Seems he questioned the methods of moving it.
Yacht Captain's Blog (Aaron Pufal)
Yacht Captain's Blog (Aaron Pufal)
We were in Westport, WA before the launch of a big guy. Two dollies (48 tires), a boat ramp and a loader using a crane as an additional break. Pretty old school with a big wow factor. Lena's standing by the front dolly.
I think this will be the designers last vessel. Just waiting to roll over. So little wetted area.
I think this will be the designers last vessel. Just waiting to roll over. So little wetted area.
Well, I think that may be the problem, no naval architect involved, or I certainly haven't heard of one. .
Perhaps. Or it may have been, as Tad suggested, a malfunction of the launch equipment...
This article from 5/13/14 associates Ariel Design with a number of Northern Marine builds as well as major yachts with other builders.
Adriel Design — Luxury Yacht Charter & Superyacht News
"Northern Marine is currently finishing the preparations for the eagerly awaited launch of their all-new 90-foot motor yacht ‘Bäden’, previously known as ‘Blood Baron’ and hull number 8501. Modern and sophisticated superyacht ‘Bäden’ is a beautiful and robust explorer, in-house designed collaborating with Adriel Design and her Captain Aaron Pufal."
Incredible!!! They said in the video that they saw it was listing, checked it out, they continued, and it still flipped? I wonder what they checked.
I always wonder if boats that tall are more stable upside down.
If I had to guess (and I am) this would be it. Look at the picture from the other thread in post 6.
http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/oops-capsize-launch-15052.html#post235024
We were in Westport, WA before the launch of a big guy. Two dollies (48 tires), a boat ramp and a loader using a crane as an additional break. Pretty old school with a big wow factor. Lena's standing by the front dolly.
Odd how in finding all their work I can't find the word Naval Architect used once. So do they just do aesthetics? I don't know, but I bet they don't want to be associated with this one now.
I think much has to do with launching it with the bow still substantially supported by the dolly. And the bow dolly gives no stability. So stern goes in and starts to float, bow still held high by dolly, with no stability added. Not good.
Did they launch it stern first or side first? not sure of the details.
"As Northern Marine’s chief naval architect, Mark Allred manages the company’s design and engineering departments. Allred has six years of experience in the marine industry, most recently at Marquis Yachts in Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of New Orleans."
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They used to haul the big boys, some well over 100' in length, from their plant through town on "R" Avenue to the Dakota Creek Ship Yard for launching, a distance of several miles. But I suppose that was a greater distance, required the temporary removal of some utilities and closing streets. Probably cost a lot more money.
No matter the boat, you tip the hull over while it's still being supported by the trailer in shallow water. . . it's going to end badly.
Maybe they'll rethink their launching options now??
What I don't understand is that even if it tipped, and tipped a lot, shouldn't a sea-going vessel right itself? Interesting that this is hull #1 of this model. My money is on massive engineering (or lack thereof) blunder.
Beginning of the end:
Some of these towering boats just seem way too top heavy to be considered seaworthy. Imagine them in a heavy seas with a gale on the beam. I would think they would go over pretty easily then as well.
You know guys we're making allot of assumptions and some flat out accusations about this boat, when we know absolutely nothing about the design except that it looks to us to have allot more volume up top than below.
We need to remember that this company has a proven track record of successful expedition style boats, if not this exact model.
A boats stability is based on it free floating, not partly supported by its launching apparatus. I believe that this unfortunate incident had everything to do with the launch equipment and procedures and nothing to do with the stability the boat would have had if it would have had the opportunity to actually float.