Patrol boat Saila Vie

catamaranoutboard

The first of the 7.2m series was built as patrol boat for the Environment Agency who will be exploiting the Cheetah’s extreme capabilities by working in severely fast flowing, shallow tidal estuaries. The Environment Agency required a fast fisheries patrol vessel with the ability to deploy and retrieve nets from both the bow and stern. ‘Saila Vie’ also has to cope with surf over sand bars and fast tidal races. The 7.2m, developed at the beginning of 2009 was built as a direct response to customer’s requirements for a fast, trailerable boat capable of carrying heavier loads and larger engines than the 6m series. The 7.2m also conforms to stricter road towing laws applicable on the Continent. Skipper Hugh Evans, Environment Agency "We do alot of work in shallow, fast tidal estuaries. We can now confidently enter on rising tides and not worry if she grounds. When on the bed she sits true and you feel very safe, even with 10 – 12 knots of tide race. We were out in a force 7 last week, around the Gower Peninsular in 16ft waves. She coped beautifully and was very comfortable. To have this much confidence in a boat makes our job so much easier. A really well built boat." The basic specification was governed by the Environment’s Agency’s pick up truck which could tow a maximum weight of 2.7tonnes. This all up weight also had to include the trailer. By integrating all of Cheetah Marines Knowledge from past projects, Sean was able to design a light weight vessel which can operate in challenging conditions. In conjunction with the catamaran and to complete the package, Cheetah Marine have also designed and built a twin axle aluminium disc braked trailer.