OS 108 - High and dray - all safe - photo © Pat Bray Yacht Design and Research
Dear Recipient Name
Massive statement that. In this case, it is not just defendable, either, for it literally speaks volumes. One hundred and eight feet that is so utterly convertible, adaptable, and versatile, along with being augmentable, as well as safe, ultra-efficient, genuinely eco-friendly, and that's not just because it is all-alloy, as well as having solar panels. As for kickers, it is shallow draft (1.98m) for access into places big explorer craft cannot go, is groundable/upright standing with protected screws, and fits its gig perfectly, which are wide and varied. Big ticket, and it's got the shoes to fill it.
Bray Yacht Design and Research's OS 108 Adventure Craft ('OS' as in Ocean Series) impresses also, for it can do swift trawler pace, as well as going through to fast displacement, should you option it so. Then, because of its size, it is at a price point that suits many a style of buyer. This latter point is important, for the face of boating is a-changing rapidly, and something that can tailor for private, charter, research, and even a collective of universities, offers a different way to look at things for many. Honestly, going for the proverbial Swiss Army Knife as an analogy is somewhat beneath it.
Avid readers of these here ditties will know that we have spoken with Pat Bray on several occasions in the past, and there are some links later in this Editorial to go and see what all of that is about. Also, in addition to all that is above, the OS 108's ability to carry so many support craft simultaneously is very notable, as per -
4 x Seabobs
4 x Paddleboards / Windsurfers
2 x Fliteboards
1 x 20 ft. (6m) RIB
1 x 13.5 ft. (4.1m) RIB
1 x Jetski
2 x Kayaks
1 x 14 ft (4.3m) sailing dinghy
4 x folding bicycles
And wait for it - a 3 to 5 metric tonne mini-submersible on the swim platform which acts as its own lift, and utilises the 8.23m beam for additional buoyancy and stability. NB Occasional use, not passage work.
Time to unpack - inside and out!
Now when I first saw the OS 108, which was before the pretty renders you have here, I loved the potential multi-generational, and also the significant charter opportunities. The two probably biggest markets at the moment and this thing seemed to really jump at that, which was great.
Seems like everyday you hear more and more about people who want to go and do their own exploring. You also hear about/see some very big exploring vessels, and big research vessels are being built/converted for private research bodies and institutes. The problem with the really big ships is they can't get in some of the smaller, shallower areas, and well, not everybody can afford 90m, or more, LOA.
Bray commented on all of this, "One of the parties that has been interested in the OS 108 has talked with some of the tour companies who have said, 'If you have a personal research vessel, and you're chartering it out to universities, and small research institutes, but at the same time offering people environmentally friendly holidays, well it is not only lucrative, but there'll be a queue.' This certainly emphasises the changes in the market as we speak."
"We know that holidaymakers want to go in the submarines, but they also want to be able to talk to the scientists who are doing research to see what they discovered today. It is very much high-end charters, but this boat caters to all of that; the family multi-generational family craft, personal charter yacht, personal research vessel, and small organisational vessel."
Note too that the OS 108 operates with around 30% reduction in required power, and will do 4,500 Nautical Miles at 10 knots, which is a significant achievement for just 108 feet LOA (30m LWL) carrying just 22,500l of fuel (approx. 6,000 US Gallons). 33m also gets into a lot more ports, more cost effectively, as well.
As a naval architect, when you build something that can take a grounding, it's almost shuddering, isn't it? But here we are, we've got the ability to put the OS 108 onto sandbars, which the Bahamas and all of that are famous for. For someone who wanted to do exclusive private charters, imagine saying to guests, 'Wait 30 minutes and you'll be stepping off onto the sand!' That's pretty cool...
Bray added, "Some of those waters in the Bahamas aren't that well charted. You just never know when you might come across some shallower water. So much of the Bahamas is shallow. Now they don't have big tidal range, but there's a lot of it that's very limited just because of the risk, whereas now that risk is gone. Being aground is simply not that big a deal."
"The other thing we find is that people are talking about trying to do more stuff up in the Arctic. So much of that is uncharted, and a lot of it's very shallow, as well."
Split it
The split-level interior keeps the profile low, and will accommodate four crew members in two cabins for'ard on the lowest level, accessed via the galley above that includes the mess. In what is effectively the fo'castle, there is a large stores area fitted out with additional fridges and freezers. There is also dedicated laundry room.
The engine room on the lower deck is accessed via the Starboard side on the main deck, or via a secret door in the Main Saloon in bad weather. Through a watertight door and right aft is the beach club/equipment room/dive centre with toilet, and washer and dryer. This room may be configured as need be, but is currently shown with a dive compressor and numerous dive tanks and underwater equipment. A pantograph door leads out onto the swim platform.
Also on the lower deck level and amidships are the up to 10 guests in four cabins. Two are convertible between twin/double, and also feature Pullman bunks. There are and two additional spaces on the Bridge and Upper decks via converting the cruising lounges to Queens. From the main deck it is only half a deck down to the spacious, full beam owner's suite ahead of the galley that includes an office and walk-in robe, or half a flight up to the pilothouse.
Command is from the central helm station, with observation seating to Port. The Skipper's head is to Starboard, and this also has hidden access to the Skipper's Cabin on the upper deck. Doors either side lead to the Portuguese Bridge, which in turn has central access to the twin, semi-circular seating with coffee tables on the foredeck.
The central theme of stairs all the way through culminates with the Skylounge that has a full bathroom, and also gym equipment. Naturally, it has an abundance of glass and opens onto the outdoor area that includes a bar, in addition to the significant tender stowage. On the port side are the steps to the fore deck, while aft and down are a set of stairs to the main deck.
Walk-around decks, and a work or al fresco dining/breakfast bar that is ahead of the dive centre and small tender are the key elements outside on the main deck. The outboard corners of the transom have a battery charging compartment for support craft batteries. Folding bikes are stored in lockers in the port side house and aft bulkhead accessible from the main deck. There is room to store kayaks, windsurfers, or a 4.1m RIB on top of the beach club/dive centre.
Full height windows, as well as sliding doors out to the aft deck are the main features of the Main Saloon. Spacious clam style conversation lounge, formal dining and a long bar provide alternatives, but also sit freely in the internal spaces. Screens and entertainment units are allocated to each and every space.
As is evidenced there are also three separate and very distinct outdoor entertainment areas, which are invaluable when you have significant numbers of POB.
The ratios would normally be more like eight crew to 10/12 guests, so it highlights not just how much more is available, but also the flexibility in designating or allocating depending on intended usage, and here we are once again at the original premise. As for day trips, well 50 would not be out of the question given the interior volume and deck spaces... And it is all inside Classification to make it not simply practical and smart, but legal.
Even outdoor cinema can be attended to on the upper deck, where there is semi-circular seating already in place.
Not a white boat and not intended to be
The unpainted all-aluminium is pretty obvious. Obviously, that too speaks to environmental credentials. It does not have to be. You can buff and wax, or paint if you so choose, but there is another aspect to consider here. Namely, the look. It is immediately a little bit more commercial, shall we say. Now ponder that with guests looking for that once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience, and it makes sense. Also, in remote areas, not looking like a yacht has distinct advantages from both a pricing and security POV!
So let's go for electrolysis. "There is reverse impressed systems, but in all honesty, if it's a properly built aluminium boat, you shouldn't have a lot of problem with electrolysis. That is, if they're using the right materials, and the boat's well grounded. My father's had an aluminium sailboat for 40 years. The only problem with electrolysis was in the marina, where there was a lot of stray current. He just had to move to a different berth, and that seemed to solve a lot of the problems."
Pat added, "I have even heard of people being electrocuted when swimming in marinas!" Problems in marinas are well documented, but I had not heard of that one myself. Extra information is available here...
I feel the need. The need to nerd.
Well, if you know these pages, you'll know we love a bit of detail. In terms of Pat, we have these particular Editorials to go back and investigate if you wish, and we certainly recommend doing so to get a real handle on drag and efficiency. No more so than in One percenters. There is also Square peg, round hole. Round peg, square hole), and It aint necessarily so to consider, as well. Happy reading....
So, the CFD analysis on the OS 108 offers a 6,037nm range at 10 knots, requiring only one of the screws to be delivering 204hp and consuming a mere 9.9 USG/hr or call it 37.5l/hr.
At 12 knots the requirement is one screw for 414hp, consuming 19.1 USG/hr (72.3l/hr) for 3,764nm range. Then at 15 knots the OS 108 needs two screws delivering 1,300hp, consuming 56.6 USG/hr (214.25l/hr) to extract 1,589nm. In short, that is really amazing. It means you will have to opt for feathering screws because the drag created by a locked shaft will be significant.
It also means that if you are looking to have a wider speed range for long hauls, then a hybrid system comes into play, for you do not want to have big engines running at low speed for too long. Interestingly, many Patrol Boats are now fitted in this way because you can run both shafts off one engine, and still deliver some supply into the house system.
So that's as green as you can get in the real world, and not hideously expensive. Eco boat - eco trips...
Big engines do lots of work, but they need a big engine room, big bunkering, and don't like dawdling for too long. The classic 40-80% load is the go in most cases. The idea here with the OS 108 is that you can achieve a sprint speed of 20 knots under combined hybrid power, still be able to get in and out of ports or eco anchorages under silent propulsion, and grab solar when it is on offer. 10-15 offers the best mix, however. It comes down to the mix you want for speed, house and HVAC loads, and any scientific equipment. Short version is, a slippery hull means you can land where you want on the spectrum. No problem.
It is a lot of boxes to tick, but it is calculable and achievable inside a green window. The key is to be clear about what and how you are going to do all of your boating. Not just the glamour parts. Back in the Jurassic Era I knew of a really large sports fisherman that had huge MTUs for main power and then MWM Deutz trolling motors. The hybrid converts the extra iron blocks into battery banks, and the hull form allows for lower requirements all round. I think we call that win/win. If you're not into the hybrid thing, you could always have single John Deere for the mundane stuff, and mains for the giddy up - your call. Do take into account that we are talking about 185 metric tonnes, no matter what you decide upon.
It should be added, that there are two 60kW genesis, and two 4,500l/day water makers with 4,655l in storage. Equally, and crucially, the Skylounge roof has 51.5m2 of solar panels on it that produce over 10 kWh per hour on an average day, which is enough to run all of the house loads (bar HVAC). The battery bank is sufficient to power the overnight electrical loads for silent nights.
Back to usage
See, if you do some research at some point, you will have tax breaks, depending on your flag. Patrolling, illegal fishing and so forth are part of that. A boat that's not a complete hole in the water, now there's a thing... We said it earlier. Private, charter, research, scientific don't always sit harmoniously, let alone in 108 feet, but here we are. Add in that it can be a private owner, consortium, one small university or not-for-profit, or indeed shared amongst a group of them. This is the thing, for now practicality and ease meet versatility and convertibility, head on. Not longer just a new usage model, but also ownership case study.
You sit happily inside classification systems and insurance brackets, as well. You wouldn't go wanting.
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Finally. Please look after yourselves.
John Curnow
Global Editor, Powerboat.World
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