Much has been completed and we are looking like a great boat now. Attached at the bottom of this info are some pics of the boat as she sits today. As a vistitor to the boat this weekend said, a person just really needs to step on board to appreciate the room and layout. A basic floor plan layout is in the other photo album file. The pics below were not set up as an official photo shoot...but rather requested so people could see what was about ready.
Now, you will see some tools and such in the pics as we did not want to stop all work just for photos.... and besides...some even add a bit of size/ratio to the pics. On the forward cabin facing pic and the aft cabin facing pic, I have stitched a couple of photos together as best as possible as to show the width/size/room/ratio of things....and this has resulted in some light spots, and some corners and sections with no pixels... I have made the call on this as to show what the boat looks like...not my abilities...or lack there of with photo shop and other software programs. Also, different sun locations and directions added to the challenge, but, I think this gives all a good "first look"...
Some notes/comments.... upon entry from the cockpit moving forward, custom angles to all furniture have been used as to make for easy, safe entry/exit while underway with no corners. The room is awesome between the galley area and the dinette area. Plenty of room to even get down on the floor when needed as to get those items that always seem to have worked their way to the back of the cabinets when you need them...without feeling like you are wedged in. This space also allows for 2 full size adults to pass bye each other...even if one is working the galley area. And, we all know just how many times we make this trip in and out of our cabin areas...often with our hands full of stuff. I love the space and room!!!!
As you enter from the aft cabin bulkhead door, the aft dinette seat has two drawers topside of the storage room in that cabinet. Then an open storage under the two drawers. This lower section houses the hot water heater and some plumbing for the shower....but, even then, some very nice storage available. Moving forward a bit on the dinette, the floor area between the dinette seats (under the table) will also be a very large open area for storage, and accessible with the table in the up position without having to take down the table support leg. Moving forward to the navigator/Co-Captain/First Mate seat,....again...much storage which can be configured to customer needs.
Table height in the pictures is too high and not the final height. After we have had the cushions custom made, we have found that we will lower the table about two inches closer to the floor than now pictured. This will give a more "standard" table level while on the bench seats. The table will be configured as to "slide fore/aft" to better fit the folks at each side of the table. The forward seat will have a seat back allowing for facing the table aft or, facing forward for travel.
As you can see in the photos, yes... the seats are a bit high off the floor but once seated (as we spend the most of our time...)...the total panoramic view is awesome and this eye level allows those seated to see out all windows. We will add some hand rails on the ceiling of the boat as to assist in getting on and off the bench, and/or some foot holes/steps as required/desired by the owners, and to just be there when under way. Owner’s option. Having said that.... I generally have a small stool as to assist folks get on and off the boat, and this would work great to help a bit getting on/off the benches for folks like myself who are on the short side. This also adds a very large amount of added storage areas…which are always needed. I like the end result as we have achieved more storage, better views and access to the below table storage area without having to remove the table. I think a real win here.
On the galley side.... no cook-top has been installed. We have done this for many reasons, and the largest...is to allow the owners to choose what they want based on their use. We do have a standard 2,000 watt inverter w/100 amp charger on board. I have been using this exact set up on my current and previous boats and love it.
This inverter set up gives me the on hand power to use a microwave, a coffee pot, crock pot, and/or an electric cook top (like the George Foreman kind).... and bring the cooking gear out when needed...but, have all that counter space open for what ever needs when not cooking…and no generator needed on those very quiet mornings in the anchorages. Some may want an LP system, others may want the wallas cook top/heater combo...which many use and others may prefer to just use the portable cooking devices as I do on my boat. Again...options for the owner and they are all wide open today.
We have installed our custom overhead console that allows for some small storage pockets for glasses and such, and, mounting/installation of VHF and sound systems overhead.
No heat has been installed as she sits today. Options available would be the wallas 30D duct system with thermostat control, or the wallas heater/cook top option...or...no heat. Owner’s option.
No AC unit has been installed and the trend for owners today flows with the RV roof mounted type that can be powered with a small gen set and/or shore power. This allows the owners to use the AC while on the trailer while enroute to a destination or while in the garage at home, and gives a cleaner system of the shallow water anchorages without clogging or having to worry with the continues cleaning of sea water strainers….and this set up will be thousands of dollars less expensive than typical marine AC units, saves on thru hull fittings and maintenance of those fittings, and gives the owners the storage space on the boat where the marine AC systems and components would fill. Owner’s option.
We have a very nice size shower/head enclosure aft portside of the cabin. This gets the head away from the bed, and, the moisture from showers out of the V-Berth area. Direct overboard shower gray water drain, no pumps and/or pumps. Air-Head system head design as no strainers, duck valves, black water tank..etc that most have issues with on marine head systems. This head has been proven time and time again by other extended cruising couples. V-Berth has 80+ inches fore/aft, and not the shorter V-Berths of hull of years past. So, we have a great boat just about ready with some room for owner options and input to make this boat their boat.
Contact with Bob Rosborough from the factory indicates a very, very limited production of hulls for the remainder of 2010, and, they will come out with the projected price increases. The slow build of this custom Heads Up layout has this hull well priced now, some $10,000-$15,000 less than a simmerly equipped new sedan hull. So, if you are one of the folks that indicated they would love to have a Rosborough with this floor plan and set up…NOW IS THE TIME….
See attached photos... and I appreciate your wait on this build. This custom hull is priced at $98,000.
Patrick Byrd
Heartland Trawlers & Travels
334-549-BOAT (2628)
