Boat Description
"Eagle" is a round bilge timber vessel designed by the Admiralty as a motor launch. It has been modified by MacDuff Shipbuilding and Engineering with an aluminium alloy wheelhouse, a saloon forward, and an open cockpit aft. Below decks, the vessel features a twin berth cabin forward, a toilet to port, and a galley with a seating area forward of the midships machinery space. There is also a further double berth cabin with a bathroom aft. Above the machinery space, there is a saloon with a seating area and the steering station.
Construction
The vessel is constructed from double diagonal mahogany planking, copper fastened to oak frames and floors with full-length longitudinals. A full-length oak keel is bolted through the keelson, and there is a full-length steel shoe fitted to the keel. Bilge keels are fitted port and starboard. The hull has been sheathed in GRP. The deck house is made of aluminium alloy.
Internal
The forepeak cabin is fitted with twin berths, beneath which are storage lockers. A locker at the stem houses a chain locker.
Aft of this, there is a toilet compartment to port with a sink fed with hot and cold running water. The toilet discharges to an internal holding tank, which can be pumped overboard when allowed.
Between the fore cabin and the machinery space is the galley, which includes cooking facilities on the port side, a fitted dishwasher, a full-size larder fridge, an independent freezer, and a clothes dryer. A seating area with a swivel-mounted LED smart TV/DVD player and a solid fuel stove is to starboard.
The machinery space is positioned midships, housing the two propulsion engines and an auxiliary generator.
Aft of the machinery space is a further double berth cabin incorporating a shower/toilet compartment with both an electric shower and a shower head fed from the domestic hot water. The steering gear compartment is under the aft end of this compartment.
The deck house has the steering station at its forward end with seating and a table aft.
External
The timber deck is extensively covered with treadmaster rubber non-slip coating.
Alloy rails are fitted throughout, with a pulpit forward and guardrail stanchions fitted to port and starboard. Wire rails are fitted through these stanchions.
A number of hardwood and stainless steel grab rails are located around the superstructure and cockpit.
Topsides and Underwater Hull
The timber hull has been sandblasted and GRP sheathed (1993). There is a subsequent repair to the sheathing on the starboard side in way of the engine room. Under the waterline, the vessel has been antifouled. It features a stern tube cutlass bearing and stainless steel propeller shafts.
Propulsion Machinery
The vessel is fitted with twin six-cylinder inboard diesel engines driving through reduction gearboxes to three-bladed propellers. The engine gearbox and stern gear were as fitted at build.
- Main Engine: 2 x Gardener 6LW 95Hp
- Exhaust System: Wet exhaust fitted with silencer and water lock
- Main Engine Cooling System: Conventional sea water cooled via newly fitted remote heat exchangers
- Propellers: 450mm Diameter 3 Blade Bronze, on 45mm stainless steel shafts
- Bearings and seals tight (new shaft seals fitted)
- Oil pressure and water temperature alarms fitted
Steering System
The vessel is fitted with a wheel-operated single station hydraulic steering system, which can be integrated with a Raymarine wheel pilot. The stainless steel rudders are linked by a tie rod, and the single steering ram acts on the port rudder arm.
Fuel System
The vessel is fitted with four fuel tanks, two forward and two aft of the engines beneath the cockpit (capacity approx 50 gallons each). The fuel fill is via flush deck fittings on the port and starboard sides of the cockpit deck moulding. There is a water separator in the fuel line adjacent to the tank and a fuel filter at each engine.
Electrical System
The vessel is fitted with a 24 volt DC electrical system. Separate batteries are fitted for engine starting and domestic use. Isolator switches are fitted for all systems, along with a link switch allowing both engine batteries to be linked for emergency engine starting. The domestic switchboard is located in the saloon; all circuits are protected by fuses. One domestic battery bank is charged from the engine-driven alternators. A Rutland 1200 aero generator is also fitted to charge the second 8.4kW domestic battery system. Two 240v inverters are fitted. An air-cooled Lister generator is fitted in the engine room, which can feed the 240v supply.
Bilge Pumps
The vessel is fitted with a single manual and three electric bilge pumps (one in each compartment).
Seawater Systems
The vessel is fitted with a number of bronze skin fittings and valves for engine cooling, galley and toilet drains, and suctions. Flexible hoses are fitted throughout.
Fresh Water Systems
The vessel is fitted with twin fresh water tanks (total capacity 200 gallons). An electric pump supplies both the galley and head sinks and the shower. The water fill is via flush deck fittings on the side deck.
Gas Systems
The vessel is fitted with a propane gas system supplying the galley stove, central heating boiler, and domestic hot water heater. All appliances are newly serviced, and the pipework has been extensively renewed. Secure gas storage for two 19kg cylinders is located aft of the deck house on the main deck. An isolation valve is fitted adjacent to the appliances.
Safety Systems
The vessel is fitted with the safety equipment listed below:
- 4 man ORC liferaft
- Zodiac inflatable tender with a 5hp Mercury 2 stroke and 2 1/2hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboards
- Lifejackets
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguishers & fire blankets
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Distress flares
- Charts, pilots etc
- 20kg Bruce anchor and 100m 3/8" galvanised chain
- 5m Irwin CQ para anchor
Navigation Equipment
The vessel is fitted with the following navigation equipment:
- Garmin 1222XSV Multi function display
- Raymarine wheelpilot 5000
- Cobra DSC VHF Radio
- Echo Pilot depth gauge and log
- Navtech wind display
- Pro Mobile data booster
- Magnetic Compass
- Aneroid Barometer
- Port, starboard and stern navigation lights
- Anchor light
- 360 degree illumination provided by six LED light bars on the wheelhouse roof