Ilikai

 

Article by Shane Kelly.

When the luxury launch Countach went into the water three years ago she heralded the arrival of a new sophistication in big launches in this country. Countach's simplistic, clean, styling spoke of a new maturity in big-launch design in NZ, and established her draughtsman, Alan Warwick, as the leading local stylist for this type of boat. Michael Reid's new 17.67m (58ft) Ilikai continues the line, a luxury sportsfisherman with the same clean-lined luxury styling as Countach. This striking 58 footer has been built by Alan Tongs Boatbuilders on Auckland's North Shore, with a kauri hull rather than the alloy used for Countach. Construction is traditional heart kauri on stringers spaning 800mm, with three diagonal layers of 6mm on the bottom and two of 6mm on the topsides. Topside paint is Awlgrip, giving a finish worthy of this magnificent big launch. The deck is 12mm ply on close-centred deck beams with 12mm laid teak, and the flying bridge is plywood on a timber frame. Longitudinal stiffness is provided by four box sectioned full-length girders, which also act as engine beds. The hull is of moderate deadrise with minimal longitudinal twist, with a fine entry and relatively high chines with two strakes per side and a long, shallow, centreline keel.

The aggressive bow angle is offset by a reverse deck sheer with an expansive flush foredeck and a large fishing cockpit with a central fighting chair.

The general accommodation arrangement is of three cabins, two heads and a sumptuous saloon/helm/galley area. But where Countach's interior was almost space-age, Ilikai's is more traditional, being mostly teak but trimmed with modern carpets, fabrics, and artwork.

 
 

The main cabin is right for'ard against a bulkhead capped with a large mirror. The double berth, with a custom-made innersprung mattress, is located on the centreline, and the cabin has its own ensuite shower and head in separate compartments. Detailing has made for stylish head and shower areas with white lacquer finish, gold plated taps and shower fittings, Corian bench tops and teak/holly flooring finished with a thick Epiglass lacquer which gives a deep gloss coating. There are two heads and showers on the boat with the guest's being to port abaft the for'ard cabin and of a similar layout to the main ensuite. There are two other cabins on Ilikai, the one to port containing three single berths and the other to starboard is the main guest accommodation containing a double lower berth and single upper. Ilikai also boasts a laundry, with a washing machine and dryer mounted in a cupboard off the companionway through the forward part of the boat. To service the washer and dryer, there is a big overhead hatch to provide fresh air, while a large linen cupboard is opposite.

Ilikai's saloon follows a fairly standard layout pattern with the galley and dining area to port, and the helm seat, bar, drinks fridge and entertainment area to starboard. It is in the saloon that the decor is at its most striking, with the dark teak tones, offset by the carpet and choice artwork. The ceiling panels are white vinyl offset by teak battens while the round lights and swivelling eyeball-type halogen spotlights-all on dimmer switches- highlight the styling.

The helm area is reminiscent of an aircraft cockpit, such is its impressive array of dials and gauges. Ilikai makes the most of modern electronics-and a neat fit-out by Marine Electrical. Among the equipment fitted are radar and video sounder, weatherfax, SSB, VHF, anchor chain winch indicator, tank monitors, a log/sounder unit in addition to the fish finder/sounder, and a touch pad panel from BEP Marine for controlling various functions. A special fitting allows the owner to transport his cellphone onto Ilikai and clip it next to the helm.

Access to the wiring, fuses and electronic control boxes for the helm station is through a large panel in the guest's starboard cabin, which, when opened, reveals a neat and tidy installation.

The wide helm seat also contains a freezer and the boat's icemaker, liquor cabinet and bar area. Abaft the helm seat are various areas of glass stowage, a fore and aft settee and the entertainment area. The latter contains a television and full Pioneer audio system. The audio system has a purpose built cupboard, but with it being next to the main door, a solution had to be found to the cupboard door being in the way when opened. Household door hinges allow the door to open and then slide down the side of the cupboard, out of the way; a neat solution and indicative of the increasing usage of household hardware in modern boats.

The galley, opposite the helm area, is U shaped with a microwave and gas ovens, acres of Corian benches and plenty of stowage. Corian is also used for two roller-shutter stowage cupboards, one each side of the microwave which provide an attractive feature in the galley. These were designed by Alan Warwick and made by the Corian suppliers. There is a front opening fridge, a waste disposal unit in one of the twin stainless steel sinks, and a large rubbish bin under the bench. The main dining area is abaft the galley, with a solid, free-standing wooden table surrounded by comfortable seating. A stainless steel sliding door leads out into the expansive cockpit; expansive because the boat is intended as a game fisher. There is a Reflex game fishing chair mounted centrally and rod holders around the side decks. The main rod stowage is in a cupboard behind the flying bridge access ladder and next to this is the boat's main freezer. Stowage in the cockpit is impressive, with lockers right the way round for the stainless steel gas bottle, six dive tanks, the 2hp tender outboard, and the other assorted gear.

 
 

Live bait tanks are located under the boarding platform, and the boat is equipped with a Bauer dive bottle-filling compressor which can be operated from the cockpit. There is also a fresh or salt-water shower for washing off on the wide boarding platform. A lot of attention has been given to keeping potential line snags away from the cockpit, so the mooring cleats are mounted down low and the mooring lines are led to them through slots in the deck. The need to remove potential snags also gave rise to another solution to the age-old problem of getting rid of the dinghy davits. There is a stainless steel mounting bracket on each side of the transom, into which the davits slot when in use. When they are not in use there is a shallow stowage area running fore and aft under the cockpit floor; or one of the davits can be slotted into a tube in the foredeck for use in launching the Zodiac rigid-hulled inflatable, which can be stowed on, chocks up front. There is, in fact, so much room on the foredeck that the Zodiac takes up little space comparatively. It sits on teak chocks that are also removable to keep the clean lines intact when the tender is hung from the davits down aft.

The detailing and workmanship of the teak decking is excellent and the designer has ensured clean lines by grouping the ventilation hatches for the for'ard head, shower and guest cabin in a neat row, set into a solid teak insert. These three hatches, and two large ones over the for'ard cabin and the washer/dryer, are Lewmar Slimline, whose low profiles further enhance the styling. The anchor tackle is contained in two large lockers, one each side of the central anchor winch. From the winch to the bow, a recessed stainless steel plate provides protection for the decking from the anchor chain as it is raised and lowered.

Up on the flying bridge most of the helm area instrumentation is duplicated, making an impressive sight ahead of the large helm seat. There is also guest seating along each side and a separate fridge for bridge drinks. A separate VHF radio and stereo system are also fitted.

Ilikai is powered by a pair of M.A.N. V10 diesels producing 820 Hp each. These run through three-inch Avesta shafts to Michigan 34 x 36 inch for-bladed propellers. This combination is enough to give the boat over 30 knots of top speed - in fact she's been measured at 32.5 and 33.5 knots through the measured mile. Even more impressive is the way the boat climbs onto the plane with hardly a change in attitude and the speed with which she covers the ground. She seems to go a long way in an awfully short time. The engines share space with a Northern lights 6.5k Va generator, a sea Recovery water desalination plant, and a Bauer Nautilus dive compressor. Ilikai is not reliant on the generator, with most systems and lighting being run off a 24 volt system. Most 240-volt fittings can be run off the Trace inverter, but the generator is called into service for the microwave and the Nautilus compressor. The boat has two battery banks, one comprising 12 two-volt Lucas traction cells and the other a pair of standard 12-volt batteries for household use. Ilikai carries 4546 litres (1000 gallons) of diesel in four tanks and 1364 litres (300 gallons) of water in two tanks, backed up by the desalinator. Ilikai will certainly enhance the reputation Alan Tongs Boatbuilders have for quality work, as they have made a superb job of this luxury launch. And while they are very coy about the cost of such a project, the designer is willing to admit that similar boats currently being investigated range around the $1.5 to $2 million mark.