David Folger

The Middlebury College in Vermont, USA, requested Teknicraft to custom design a scientific research vessel to operate on Lake Champlain in New York State.

Length (OA): 14.6m (48ft)
Beam: 5.2m (17ft)
Draft: 1.7m (5.5ft)
Engines: 2 x Yanmar 6LY3-UTC
Rating: 273kW (366bhp) @3300rpm
Propulsion: Propeller
Speed: 23 knots (service), 25 knots (maximum)
Construction: Aluminium
Builder: All American Marine

The relatively small 45 foot hull has many capabilities normally only found on larger vessels. It is be fitted with a 1500 lb hydraulically operated A-frame, a 14000 lbf.ft crane and two scientific winches to deploy a vast array of scientific equipment, including a remote operated sub-bottom profiler vehicle and coring equipment. A hydro-dynamically profiled pod system is incorporated into each hull of the catamaran to enable a variety of under water scanners and transducers to be fitted.

The vessel has a fixed hydrofoil system enabling it to cruise at more than 20 knots when laden with all equipment necessary for research missions on the lake.