The Boat
Sea Biscuit is a 1999 Defever Offshore Cruiser. She is 44 feet in length and has a beam of 14 feet 9 inches. The draw is 4 feet 7 inches, and she displaces 48,000 pounds, or is a 24 ton boat. She requires an air draft, or height clearance of 20 feet. Sea Biscuit is powered by twin Perkins Diesel engines of 135 horsepower each. We normally cruise at a liesurely seven to eight knots, an equivalent of eight or nine miles per hour, sometimes ten. When underway, we average about 50 miles in an eight or ten hour day, as most cruising in the intracoastal waterway inevitably involves transiting bridges, some of which may need to be raised or swung out of our way, and "No Wake" zones which require operating the vessel at reduced speeds. Three fuel tanks store up to 950 gallons of fuel providing for a range of approximately 1,500 miles. Two water tanks store up to 350 gallons of fresh, potable water.
Sea Biscuit has seven different decks, typically separated by five or less steps.
1. The uppermost and aft deck is the Boat Deck, where the Dinghy resides in chocks while underway. A crane located on the Boat Deck is used to lift the Dinghy and lower it to the water, or in reverse to stow the Dinghy. As there are no stanchions or side rails for protection, the Boat Deck is off limits to passengers, and crewmembers do not enter the boat deck without another crewmember present for safety purposes. A hatch on the boat deck slides to cover a lower gangway leading from the Flybridge, below, to the Quarterdeck. Also stored on the boat deck (while underway) are stainless steel stairs used to gain entry to the boat when alongside a dock.
2. Down three steps from the Boat Deck is the Flybridge. As the uppermost passenger deck, it is equipped with an upper helm station for piloting the boat in good weather. A canvas bimini top provides protection from the sun. The forward half of the flybridge is protectect by an isenglass enclosure, with five large openings that can be zippered open or closed, depending on wind and precipitation. Plenty of seating is available on several cushioned bench seats. This is a great place to socialize. The upper helm is equipped with a Garmin GPS Chartplotter, Autopilot, and communications equipment.
3. Five steps down from the Flybridge is the Quarterdeck. This deck is located aft and is covered by the Boat Deck. There is a table and chairs on this deck, and outside meals are taken here. There is a small wet bar and icemaker, along with a serving shelf. A pass-thru window leads to the galley, forward and below. Three gates permit entry to the boat here, one port, one starboard, and one at the stern. Each gate has a vertically swinging component of the wooden top rail and a horizontal swinging component of fiberglass. These gates are closed while underway and should only be opened by a crewmember. Please do not sit on the toprails. Frequently, when moored alongside floating docks, the boat may be entered by means of fully aticulating stairs that are attached to the port or starboard entry gate, or alternatively, by stepping from the dock directly onto the swim platform mounted on the stern, then climbing a ladder leading to the aft entry gate. Please be careful using steps or ladders and let others handle your belongings so you may hold on. Watch for slippery steps -- were are typically operating around water!
4. Along either side of the Quarterdeck, moving forward, is a single step down to the Main Deck where side passages lead forward to the bow area. Storage lockers on the bow contain lines and supplies, and it is permissable to sit on these storage lockers, but not on the tinted hatch between them, which is a ceiling hatch for the forward stateroom. A fresh-water wash down spigot is available on the starboard side of the storage lockers and is used to wash down the anchor rode and anchor when retrieving the anchor. The anchor is an 88 pound delta secured with an all-chain rode. The anchor rode is played out or retrieved by use of an electrical winch, or windlass, which can be operated from the bow using foot switches, or from the lower and upper helms with a toggle switch. Stay clear of the anchor rode when the anchor is being lowered or raised.
5. One can enter the Galley and Saloon area by any of three methods. From the Quarterdeck, there is a companionway (4 steps) leading downward to the Galley area. From amidships, either port or starboard, are entry doors that slide aft. Three careful steps down will take you into the saloon. The Galley is equipped with twin refrigerator/freezers, a three-burner propane fueled stove, and an oven, and a microwave. There are safety switches in the galley and the main power panel that are used to activate flow of propane for the stove or oven. Controls for a dedicated reverse-cycle heating and air conditioning unit are located in the galley. Forward in the saloon on the starboard side is the lower helm, where the boat may be piloted in inclement weather. There is a dining table with built-in settee, a recliner and ottoman, and a custom designed Stidd Helm Chair, matching the recliner. Large windows port and starboard are accompanied with Silohoutte louvered shades that may be raised or lowered. There is a Garmin GPS Chartplotter, Radar, Autopilot, and Communications equipment at the lower helm. Also located here is the two-meter amateur radio position reporting system (APRS), which transmits our location to the internet. Sea Biscuit may be located while enroute on the web at http://www.wulfden.org/APRSQuery.shtml Just enter the call sign K5WDT-7 in the "Location of Call" query box, and click on "Display". If the boat has moved in the last 10 days our location will be shown. (Toys are important!)
6. Moving aft from the Galley area is a companionway leading down five steps to the Master (or aft) Stateroom. A queensized berth is positioned on the centerline of the boat. There are portlights (windows) along both sides and two large windows on the stern. An ensuite head (restroom) includes an electric toilet and a separate walk-in shower with door (okay -- it's a step-in shower). Storage is provided in hanging lockers port and starboard, along with drawers and shelves, and a large closet. A reverse-cycle heating and air conditioning unit is dedicated to the master stateroom and the controls are located on the port cabinet. A wireless printer and copier is stored here also, and may be accessed by wireless devices.
From the salon, forward and down five steps, a centerline companionway leads to the Guest (or forward) Stateroom. This forward stateroom has a V-Berth which is accompanied by a "filler plug" that is normally stored in a closet. Inserting this plug will create a spacious triangular bed. Entry and exit to the bed is facilitated by use of a small foot stool stored in a nearby closet. There is an ensuite head (restroom) that has an electric toilet and sink. Controls for a dedicated reverse-cycle heating and air conditioning unit are located near the port cabinets. Ample storage is available in hanging lockers and drawers. There are reading lamps above the bed, and storage racks for placing small items. Four port-lights may be opened when at anchor, but should be closed before getting underway, otherwise, the forward stateroom will receive an undesired and liberal cleansing with seawater! These portlights may be covered with special slotted photograph boards for sleeping late.
7. Leading aft from the forward stateroom via a watertight hatch (door) is the engine room. Two steps down through this hatch is a center aisle between the two Perkins Sabre, normally aspirated diesel engines. Each six cylinder engine produces 135 horsepower at full rating, typically around 2,500 RPM. These engines drive separate 20 inch diameter propellers through reversible transmissions. Each engine has two fuel filter systems, comprosed of three different filters, to insure a quality supply of diesel fuel reaches the fuel injectors. An eight kilowatt Westerbeke diesel generator provides electrical power, as needed, when underway or at anchor. The engine room contains the water tanks, pumps, heating and air conditioning units, as well as fuel tanks and a wide range of other equipment, including Naiad Stabilizing equipment that insures a smooth ride. A full set of tools and spares are stored in the engine room, as well as other supplies. An integral oil change system facilitates the changing of oil in both engines and the generator without the traditional messy cleanup and twisting and turning otherwise necessary to remove and reinstall drain plugs. The used oil is pumped directly into waste disposal containers, the filters changed, and the new oil is poured in. Atypical for a yacht of this size, and greatly appreciated and admired by owners of competing vessels, is the Sea Chest, which permits most through-hull fittings to be maintained and secured without their attachment directly to the hull. This lowers risks to ingestion of undesired items in the sea, and enhances maintainability. Like the Boat Deck, the engine room is off limits to guests, unless accompanied by a crewmember. The engine room bilge area is covered with slatted teak deck-plates that give a clear view of any water in the bilge, and facilitate keeping the bilge clean and odor-free.
Above - The deck layout plans, and the engine room looking aft between the twin Perkins Sabre diesel engines, towards the generator (red), fuel manifold panel (center), and water heater, water pressure tank, and toolbox (right). Also visible are the Racor primary fuel filters and the teak decks. Below, the engine room looking foward, with the engine-room access door beyond the port engine, the large automated fire extinguishing system tank, and the teak workbench. There is a centerline overhead hand rail amidships. The lowest point of the large 20 inch diameter propellers arc a couple of inches above the lowest point of the stout keel, and the starboard rudder is visible (the zinc on the rudder is showned taped up for cleaning the running gear). Lower right - the port stabilizer fin, about 5.5 square feet of hydraulically controlled wing that helps keep the boat stabilized while underway. They are very effective.
