OnBoard Magazine - Issue XI - Summer 2019

modified or removed entirely. On these questions, countless times, the crews at Bluewater delivered results both innovative and unerringly more robust. One rule they never fail to follow, every project has to add to the strength and integrity of the whole. “We have the laminate schedules from the original production in many cases (detailingwhat layers added at what point in the process, and how many) or we can look and determine for ourselves,” explains Yard Manager Craig Messick, “and we always add to it, putting extra layers of glass/epoxy in between and on top.” Whether you only wished for a convenient cup holder or a whole cockpit, the processes and standards remain the same. Before committing his boat Maverick to a major project at Bluewater, Captain Joel McLeod watched every performance closely. His observation was that the technicians at Bluewater were sufficiently committed to their “art” that their attention to detail and craftsmanship shone through in even the most minor repairs. This gave him confidence that he’d found the right team to undergo the major projects he had in mind. DEEPER IMPROVEMENTS Inrecenthistory,bothmezzanine and Seakeeper installations have become wildly popular, and Bluewater has been at the forefront of these refits since the beginning. Many wishful boat owners look around their boats and can’t imagine where the stabilizer would fit. Cutting out the entire cockpit deck on a 64-foot Viking is a major project, and getting a new teak deck and mezzanine fitted afterwards almost looks like an added bonus to the Seakeeper install. Both Sea Lyon and Contango are in the Hampton Bluewater Yard undergoing the modifications necessary to retrofit the magical gyroscopic stabilizer below decks. In both cases, the best place required modifications to the fuel tanks, building new bulkheads and stringers, installation, and then rebuilding/installing the deck and adding a new teak cockpit. The whole job is labor- and fabrication-intensive, so Bluewater installed a Conex shipping container at the transom to house a complete workshop dedicated entirely to the project. Design, innovation and structural re- engineering are nowhere as well-illustrated as the accessibility projects Bluewater has undertaken. The chance to bring disabled individuals into unfettered boating experiences and the freedom to comfortably enjoy offshore fishing and cruising is highly rewarding for all. The Knot Done Yet challenged the Bluewater crew to imagine all the ways Perry Nichols and his scooter could be accommodated throughout the 64 Viking. The installation of a davit on the fly bridge and a hinged rocket launcher allowed for access to both bridge and cockpit. A ramp was installed from cockpit to salon and a scissor lift bypassed the stowed steps giving passage to the companionway. The master stateroom was opened up with the addition of a 3-panel pocket door and double-doors in to the bath. Since completion, the Knot Done Yet has fished the tournament circuit chasing billfish, flown rigger-loads of flags and demonstrated daily that they clearly aren’t done yet. On March 1 of this year, Bluewater undertook another big project that began with hauling an unfinished 65’ Guthrie hull fromHarker’s Island to their North Carolina Yard in Wanchese. Much like the Ambush project before her, you can follow the build process on Bluewater Yacht Yards’ social media pages as our service craftsmen turn this hull into one of the finest charter boats to run out of Ocean City’s Sunset Marina. Committed to providing world-class service for over 50 years now, Bluewater is passionate about bestowing our customers with the best of boating on a daily basis. Our network of yards and seasoned experts are capable of handling projects of any size and scale, and serve as the backbone of our sales organization. We continually look forward to meeting challenges and bringing ideas to fruition while providing you with comprehensive support throughout your boating lifetime. Working on a major upgrade in the yard isn't always convenient. Bringing the workshop straight to the cockpit has saved time and effort. 41 SUMMER 2019