This is a performance boat. Schionning Designs claim it will do 15-25 knots, but lets take that with a grain of salt. Once we load it for cruising, we would be happy with 8 -14, averaging 10 knots of speed (quite a bit faster than the comfort cats we were considering, which only typically sail at 8.5 knots).
Unlike most performance boats, the 1490 is laid out more like a comfort catamaran with spacious cockpit and salon and a semi-raised helm.
This 1490 already came with a lot of our requirements, yet what it does not already offer we have the opportunity to add by customizing the kit before we begin the build. Schionning Designs is working with us on making this boat as close to our dream boat as possible.
A brand new 50' performance catamaran fully fitted out for blue water cruising from a production builder would generally cost more than a million dollars, even as high as 2 or 3 million. We can build a brand new Solitaire 1490 performance diesel/electric hybrid catamaran, and set her up to circumnavigate the globe for under $550,000 (if we do the labor). That's half the price!
Narrow hulls
Dagger Boards
Light Weight
Shaft Drive hybrid engine
These engines also act as generators, saving us the purchase cost, maintenance, and weight of a separate generator. Normally, it is not a good idea to run your diesel motors without having them under a load, but the electric motors act as the load as it produces power to charge the batteries.
If needed, the second engine may also run as a generator and be used to power the boat (A/C, etc.) while the other is charging the batteries.
If we go with the Beta Marine engine, we will have two 53 hp engines plus two 10 kw (13 hp) electric motors, which can produce a combined 116 to 132 hp when needed! She should fly under power as well as sail. Since we would not need to add a generator, we save around 600 pounds, more than making up for the weight of the electric motors and gear boxes (300 lbs). There is also less maintenance since we have two diesels instead of three to service.
A Large Salon
Cockpit Seating
Helm Station
There are three, 1 meter square, storage lockers in the forward deck area. There are also two bow storage compartments. The windlass is in its own small locker at the stern portion of the bow sprit casing.
There are storage compartments under all three benches plus a large bike garage under the helm (with room for four fold up bikes). There are also two dive lockers in the sugar scoops to hold scuba tanks and gear. Storage areas are shown marked in red.
The hallways have ample lockers and there are large storage areas under the births. The forward birth have a large cabinet forward while the stern births feature cabinets along the inboard side of the bed.
Both table seating areas have storage beneath the benches. The galley has cupboards and shelves. There is also a large central cabinet made to hold our 22kw house lithium battery bank, with room to add the 11 kWh tender batteries in when needed. (Storage areas are shown marked in red.
Towards the stern, there are two good size work compartments accessed through hatches. One will house a dive compressor and water makers. The other will be for the electrical systems (inverters, isolators, converters, bus bars, MPPTs, etc.).
Layout & Customization
This gives you a look at the galley in the salon. The u-shaped galley has a large farm style sink with good counter space and plenty of storage beneath and to the sides. The two openings above it are for a microwave and electric oven. To the right of that, there is a large gray rectangle, which is a large refrigerator. Below that are two drawer style refrig./freezers. To the right is an arm showing a white rectangle, which is the 8 cu. ft. top loading freezer.
Here you get a view of the forward facing navigation station on the right, the forward seating area that converts to a single bunk, and the u-shaped table that converts to a queen bed. Built into the face of the center counter of the galley is a 42" flat screen TV, which faces the main table for good viewing. To the right of the TV, above, is the electrical panel, while below that is a cabinet for an ice maker. The 22 kWh lithium batteries are stored under the desk on the left hand side of the nav. station.
This gives you a look at the the cockpit seating area. The L-shaped seating area has been increased in width for a larger table. The long bench at the back has had angled ends added in case someone want to louge there. We kept the lounge seat opposite the table, but moved in inboard to make room for the expanded helm. There is a padded daybed above the L-shaped table (dark rectangle). We also added a flat space for a bar-b-que, with some prep area (white shape, top right). Store lockers are under all seats and there is a huge bike locker underneath the helm station, accessed from the passage by the stern bench.
We changed the bulkhead style helm to a sports top style, with a forward winch station in front of the helm. We prefer this because two people have room to work, and if someone needs to access the side deck, they can get past the helm without squeezing past someone seated at the wheel. The steering console has a nice raised place for instruments, including full size chartplotter and auxiliary screen as well as other instruments below. All lines run to the main winches at the winch station. Also note the new outboard position of the stern winches for the dagger boards or parasail/or other light wind sail.
This was an aerodynamic configuration, but just does not work for our crew height when standing forward. It also takes up some deck space to the port and starboard with those sloped extensions.
These taller windows give us better interior height for our tall crew members and we should get great views from inside the salon with a little more seating space up on the bow deck.
Head Layout
New bow cabin Layout
$514,539
S/V Lynx
INFORMATION
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