Passagemaker Lite hull #1 is built in Capetown South Africa. The 48'6" (14.8m) epoxy built Ataraxia will be used for Southern and Atlantic ocean-crossing and as a full-time liveaboard home for her owners, a European couple and their daughter currently living in South Africa.
Ataraxia is the latest in the Passagemaker Lite design series, a modern lightweight fuel-efficient restatement of the classic fast seaworthy long range power cruiser. Ataraxia will reach her hull-speed of 9.2 knots using less than half of her installed 130 horsepower; short coastal cruises will be done at 10+ knots, and ocean crossings at 8+.
The arrangement includes a large owner's cabin with a centre line double berth in the bow. Just forward of the pilothouse is the split head, with wc to starboard and a large shower and sink to port. The pilothouse has helm station forward to starboard, with bridge deck access immediately aft. Access down to the main saloon aft is just to starboard of centre line, and the entire port side is a large raised settee with table and bookshelves behind. Main fuel tanks are under the pilothouse. Down three steps aft of the pilothouse is the large wrap-around galley to port and the guest cabin/office to starboard. Aft of this is the full width main saloon with L seat and dining table to starboard and two swivel chairs opposite. The aft bulkhead has a watertight door with window into the engine room, and a curved stairway up to the afterdeck.
The afterdeck has a stair down to the swim platform and steps port and starboard up to the boatdeck forward over the saloon. On centre line in the aft deck is a large (48" wide and 30" fore & aft) hatch opening into the engine space. Immediately under this hatch are the twin engines and v-drives, easily available for engine checks or maintenance without disrupting the ship's interior. The boatdeck is roomy enough to carry a 12' hard boat on centre line, lifted on and off with the mast and boom forward. Forward on the boatdeck level is the outside command bridge, which can be enclosed with plastic curtains and hard or soft top. This area includes an outside seating area, helm on centre line, doors to the sidedeck P and S, and the ladder down forward into the pilothouse. All the way forward is a secure well deck for anchor handling with a massive chain locker below and forward of the watertight collision bulkhead.
Roll attenuation and comfort at sea are real concerns throughout the Passagemaker Lite design. Heights above waterline are minimized, as are weights. The pilothouse is low and amidships for minimal motion, the main saloon and galley are very low for the same reason. Weights are centralized where possible; the largest single weight in the boat is the fuel load, which is positioned down low amidships, as is the water storage. While the owners of this first Passagemaker Lite have chosen to install passive paravane stabilizers, other options are available. These include provision for the inclusion of active hydraulic fins, and bilge keels show some promise without the worries of other systems. But bilge keels will never reduce roll as much as the paravanes will with equal or less drag.
Ataraxia's owners are experienced sailors, having lived aboard and cruised the Atlantic in their previous boat, an aluminum sloop. Reasons for choosing the Passagemaker Lite include increased interior volume, better privacy between spaces, an attractive interior space (pilothouse) with a view, the opportunity to use modern technology in construction and systems, higher cruising speed with less fuel consumption, and efficient use of fuel over long distance ocean cruises.
Some background information:
The idea to built our own Passagemaker started more than a year ago; we wanted a yacht in which we both would feel comfortable to live on, but as well to sail with. Due to our affinity with the Nordhavn range, the idea started to built a passagemaker.
The design we've chosen is different compared to the Nordhavn, but based on a few very interesting design ideas. The Nordhavn is certainly a great little ship to live on but the idea of carrying a tanker size load of fuel with us did frighten us a bit considering the raising price of diesel.
Not be limited to coastal passages: we want to be able to cross over to Salvador without refueling, or perhaps go to Australia. The Passagemaker Lite 49 has a calculated range of 8,000 NM when cruising 7 knots this with 3000 liter of fuel. The consumption rate of the Passagemaker has a lot to do with the ability to get this range . You can buy a lot of diesel for the cost of mast, rigging, sails, winches...: probably can go around the world for that money. Nothing is more expensive than going form A to B with so-called "free energy" Of course we will miss the romance of sailing but that's why there is place on the aft deck for a serious sailing dinghy.
Theoretical calculated consumption
| Speed Knts |
Hp required |
Lt/hr | Range w 3000 liters | |
| 6.8 | 11.7 | 2.65 | 8743 | |
| 7.5 | 17.5 | 3.97 | 6427 | |
| 8.16 | 25.7 | 5.83 | 4765 | |
| 8.8 | 39 | 8.86 | 3380 | |
| 9.5 | 53.8 | 12.23 | 2641 | |
| 10.2 | 70.2 | 15.93 | 2173 | |
| 10.9 | 93.6 | 21.23 | 1750 |
Sound proofed engine room: The Passagemaker has reserved the whole back as a separate engine room, which is quite easy to soundproof and is already separated with a large bulkhead.
Large outside area: on our sailing yacht we loved sitting in the cockpit, but we're not always able to, due to a lack of shelter there. We still wanted the feel of sitting in the cockpit and the Passagemaker has a great flybridge, that is not too high and neatly sheltered. Even when the winds are howling, we can as an option sit at the back. She features as well an easy accessible swim platform, which I can use to dive from.
Light inside: living below deck for so many years is sort of ok, but we really wanted to be able to sit and look outside. The pilot house will no doubt become the center of a lot of parties. But as well the salon in the back has a lot of windows from which you can look and see outside. The open galley in the saloon was on our wishlist ever since we saw our first trawler. We both like cooking and talking, so having the galley in the saloon was a requirement. The size of the shower and heads is luxurious and we no longer need to crawl into a berth. Lockers are easier accessible, with more hanging space as well.
For further info see;
www.passagemakerlite.com
www.tadroberts.ca
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