See how the new Hood 57 is taking shape
by Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding 1 Dec 2019 06:38 PST
Hood 57 © Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding
Express cruisers are the crossover, sport-utility vehicles of boats. They must be fast enough to impress. Seaworthy enough to explore. Flexible enough from which to swim, dive, or fish. But function is only half the form, when it comes to these SUVs of the seas: Comfort and aesthetics are essential features in a well-designed express cruiser. Today we expect pleasant surroundings for a day, night, and absolutely for a week, if an adventure requires that kind of time.
So, building an all-custom express cruiser is all about the method and sequence of the execution of myriad details that such cross-platform vessels require. As an example, let's look at the express cruiser currently under construction at Lyman-Morse, the Hood 57. And, in particular, its twin Volvo Penta IPS 1350 HP propulsion system that drives the vessel at up to 40 knots. The system relies on twin propulsion pods that must be carefully installed into mounting rings that sit flush with the aft running surfaces of the hull. Such mounting rings come pre-made; but they can't be simply bolted into place. Instead, each must be precisely aligned with carefully incised holes that account for the various thicknesses of the hull laminate.
"There are subtle variations in how propulsion units can be mounted that can affect the smoothness of the hull and the overall performance," said Lance Buchanan, a project manager at Lyman-Morse who is supervising the build of the Hood 57. "The mounting required a fine-tuning process between us, the boat's designers, and the engine maker to get the drive pods properly angled."