New projects underway at Brookin Boat Yard and Front Street Shipyard

Two Maine yards announced new construction projects this week. Front Street Shipyard in Belfast has begun work on the first in a series of center console power catamarans for Brevilla Boat Co., and Brooklin Boat Yard has begun construction of a custom 91-foot cold-molded sloop in partnership with Rockport Marine in Rockport, Maine. Hull No. 1 in the Brevilla Line is a 48-foot composite catamaran with a 13-foot 10-inch beam and 20-inch draft. This will be a fast, nimble sportfish boat with truly unique handling and performance capabilities. The full Brevilla boat line, which includes a range of sizes that are based on a proprietary new hull form, will be available for new construction in the coming months. The Brevilla hull form provides lift, speed, shock mitigation and exceptional handling. The Brevilla 48 will run at speeds in excess of 55 mph with twin 350-hp outboards, operating with a 30-40% increase in fuel efficiency over a comparably sized monohull, according to a news release from Front Street. The tunnel-mounted outboards are above the boat's maximum draft, providing propeller protection when running in shoal water or when beaching. Brooklin Boat Yard has begun construction of a custom 91-foot cold-molded, flush-deck sloop for a repeat customer. The design is by Bruce Johnson and the yard’s design office. The boat will be delivered in the spring of 2018. The yacht is designed primarily for high-performance cruising. In addition to its flush deck, it has an aggressively raked bow and reverse transom. A twin cockpit configuration keeps the center cockpit strictly for social interaction with sail handling in an aft working cockpit. With a carbon fiber mast and boom, the double headsail rig is operated by hydraulic furlers and the mainsail has hydraulic in-boom furling. The interior layout includes a crew cabin forward with private head and stall shower, two guest staterooms forward of the mast, one with ensuite head and stall shower and the other with a day head, also with separate shower. The main salon includes an elliptical dining area, a pair of reclining chairs and a navigation station. Access to the full beam master stateroom is either through the portside passageway or through the generous galley to starboard. The master stateroom includes an ensuite head with stall shower. A utility/laundry room is accessed from the portside passageway. The interior will be finished in Herreshoff style with white and cream paintwork offset by American cherry joinery, leather upholstery and a teak and maple cabin sole. The yacht will be constructed with cold-molded laminated wood using WEST SYSTEM epoxy resin and vacuum-bagging, which is the yard's standard practice. Carbon reinforcements will be used in specific high load areas. The ballast keel is a stainless steel foil with bulb. The rudder is a carbon spade design. The hard-bottom inflatable tender will be launched and retrieved using custom hydraulic davits that are integral to a folding transom swim platform. Brooklin Boat Yard has asked Rockport Marine of Rockport, Maine, to construct the bare hull and install the ballast keel. The boat will be towed on her own bottom to Brooklin, Maine, for completion. Construction of the new 91-foot sloop at Rockport Marine has already begun.