Lyman Morse big cat, almost done

Lyman_Morse_cat_helm_cPanbo.jpg

How about these command and navigation stations?  Thursday evening turned out pretty horrid for a boat launching, but Lyman Morse pulled one off with its normal panache.  The Hunt-designed 54′ jet express Whistler (just visible beyond the catamaran’s bow) is another stunner for its power boat portfolio, especially if she zips by you at her expected 30 knot cruise.  While it was neat to check out Whistler’s interior at the same time many of the local craftsmen involved were showing off details to their families, I particularly enjoyed some alone time on the 60′ Morrelli & Melvin sailing cat Mala Conducta, which Lyman Morse launched just last month… 


Note that Mala Conducta is still getting finishing touches.  The gorgeously figured maple panel at right in the photo below, for instance, was just loosely in place and will no doubt fit perfectly when done.  And I’ll bet they’ll find a less conspicuous place to charge the Harmony 890 remote (follow up here) that runs the entertainment system and maybe other systems (I didn’t have an electronics tour guide).  But the ED&D E-Plex distributed power system, seen on the touch screen and lighting keypad (one of many) at right, seemed to be operational and very interesting.  I went through the screens and saw control and monitoring of what seemed like all DC and AC circuits and…



Lyman_Morse_cat_nav_station_cPanbo.JPG…even the ability to manage pumps (below).  The E-Plex system uses just two wires to network all its nodes (you can see terminal blocks for more LED lighting hanging from the exposed cabin top in the wide angle shot at top).  I hope to find out more about this installation (which was apparently master minded by Bass Products).  I’d also like to know how the dual Mac Minis (I found tucked neatly in a special drawer) integrate with the Raymarine nav system.  And, if I’m really fortunate, I’ll get to see all this working underway (this cat has already topped 20 knots in sail trials)!  Meanwhile, Lyman Morse is close to launching a lean, mean but 65′ sport fisherman and has numerous other interesting projects in build or in process.  I’m proud just to live nearby, but, truly, is there a custom boatbuilder anywhere on the planet creating such an remarkable fleet of high-end yachts?

Lyman_Morse_cat_E-Plex_cPanbo.JPG

Ben Ellison

Ben Ellison

Panbo editor, publisher & chief bottlewasher from 4/2005 until 8/2018, and now pleased to have Ben Stein as a very able publisher, webmaster, and editing colleague. Please don't regard him as an "expert"; he's getting quite old and thinks that "fadiddling fumble-putz" is a more accurate description.

4 Responses

  1. Roger B says:

    Ben, you have every right to be proud of Maine, you are a worthy ambassador for that beautiful state.
    If your question ” . . . is there a custom boatbuilder anywhere on the planet creating such an remarkable fleet of high-end yachts?” was not rhetorical might I propose –
    Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth (England).
    http://www.pendennis.com/index.html
    No connection.

  2. JohnD says:

    The side station looks amazing.
    One thing. pillars, roofline and door all seem like they’d obstruct the view from the helm station, particularly because the actual standing position is back of the door. Am I imagining this?
    I come from the sailing side so don’t really know how it is done on powerboats. Is this common?

  3. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    John, I think there’s a wheel just visible in the forward cockpit, which is about as good as it gets on a catamaran with a deckhouse. Some designs try to solve that issue with one or two off center raised steering stations behind the house, but I thought that awkward the one time I tried it (link below). I really like forward cockpits like Mala’s, and as often seen on Chris White designed multihulls.
    https://panbo.com/archives/2006/01/the_charter_cats_electronics_a_little_annoying.html

  4. jamie says:

    Excuse the shameless self-promo but I thought you might all enjoy the extended photo galleries of both Mala Conducta (exterior only at the moment) and Whistler on our site. I hope to get down to Thomaston to shoot some photos of the interior of one or both. Thanks, Ben for your updates.
    http://www.maineboats.com/boat-launchings/mala-conducta
    http://www.maineboats.com/boat-launchings/whistler
    Jamie Bloomquist
    Maine, Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine
    maineboats.com

Join the conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *