DashewOffshore.com - the serious cruising sailor's website

For all the latest news on the FPB series, including the new Wicked FPB 97, go to SetSail.com.

What follows is a brief overview of the FPB program. Our suggestion is to read through this first, and then watch the two streaming videos linked below which will show you the real world of cruising on an FPB. Then, if the concept appeals, you will find on our web site many hours of reading and video with which to occupy yourself.

For a five minute introductory video click here. This segment will give you a feel for the DVD (or you can watch all the segments online).

To see how the FPB Series handle a strong gale crossing the Tasman Sea click here.

This website is loaded with detailed information on the FPB concept, the FPB 83 prototype, the FPB 64 Series the third and fourth of which will launch in early 2011, and the new FPB 115 shown above. By reading the articles on the sidebar you will find data on heavy weather capability, operating costs, and how we design structure and systems. The most up-to-date information on the FPB program will be found on the SetSail.com sister site, with a slide show here and sea trials video here.

At the bottom of the sidebar to the right you will find information on Dashew Offshore and some of the designs we have done over the past 30 years.

Business Model

We have a different philosophy in the marine business. Our yachts are optimized for passaging and spending extended periods off the beaten path. When it comes time to cut those dock lines and really go cruising, our designs are known for getting the job done for their owners, safely, comfortably, with minimum maintenance and maximum pleasure.

Our approach over the last 30 years is to do just a few boats, keeping the business small and tightly controlled. This allows us to build high quality cruising yachts on a cost efficient basis, and insures that everyone enjoys the process - clients, vendors, and ourselves. Although we have done 50+ cruising yachts now, at any given moment few are available on the brokerage market. This fact tells you more about our boats than anything else.

The FPB Concept

The ability to deal with heavy weather and higher risk cruising areas is fundamental to everything about the FPB Series. It affects structure, hull design, systems, interior layout, even storage. Each facet of the FPB Series which helps in extreme conditions also yields benefits in everyday cruising. In particular, the same characteristics which allow these yachts to recover from a knockdown and to steer so well up and downwind, also give the most comfortable ride to the crew.

The interior layout is based on a "great room" which contains galley, salon, and inside bridge area. The FPB 64 is shown above. This approach has numerous advantages:

Highly efficient hulls mean the boats are able to average high speeds in all conditions. Going faster on an FPB is more comfortable, means less exposure to weather risks, and allows greater freedom in choice of destination. The FPB prototype has averaged eleven knots for the majority of its 45,000 miles. The FPB 64 will easily average nine and a half.

Efficiency coupled with massive tankage equals exceptional range (5000+ miles at cruise). Lower power requirements reduce noise levels. It takes less than 120 horsepower to drive the FPB 83 at its 11 knot cruise. The FPB 64 requires just 3.6 US gallons/13.5 liters per hour at 9+ knots with a full cruising payload.

Structure

The FPB Series is designed to the Lloyd's Special Service Rule as a base. Hull plating and framing are nominally twice the rule requirements, as is the rudder system.

Tough aluminum construction allows integral fuel and water tanks of enormous capacity. These form a double bottom and, coupled with three full and two partial watertight bulkheads, makes the safest cruising structure available. The house windows are a good example of our structural philosophy. These are in excess of 3/4" (19mm) thick. There is also a storm shutter system.

FPB Prototype

It took years of thinking, seven thousand hours of design time, and extensive tank and CFD testing to get us to the FPB prototype, Wind Horse.

Five seasons of testing have now passed since Wind Horse completed her initial sea trials. In terms of fuel efficiency, noise and vibration levels, and systems performance she has equaled or surpassed all our targets. Which is why in she has comfortably covered so many miles - 50,000+ at last count at the end of summer 2010 - in such a short period of time.

FPB 64

The FPB 64 has been developed from what we learned with Wind Horse. This is an extremely capable cruising yacht, with a tough metal structure - far stronger than even the Lloyds Special Service Rule requires.

The interior layout works well offshore, and provides wonderful ambiance at anchor whether you are visiting Greenland or cruising the tropical South Pacific.

Systems are rugged, simple, and reliable. You can sit for days at anchor without starting the generator.

Offshore she comfortably averages 9 to 10 knots using less than half of available power. She has fuel capacity to cross the Atlantic Ocean, twice, without refueling. It is worth noting that the second FPB 64 was delivered by her new owners from New Zealand to the Seattle area, on her own bottom, within 100 days of her launching. She averaged 9.95 knots on the last leg from Hawaii to Neah Bay.

FPB 115

The FPB 115 is a natural evolution in the FPB Series. Preliminary numbers indicate better efficiency than her smaller sisters. She has trans-ocean range at 12.5 knots/300 nautical miles per day, and given her increased size she will be even more comfortable than the FPB 83.

The FPB 115 is available in a variety of configurations, all based on a standard structural plan and common systems.

This approach allows flexibility with the interior layout while maintaining the efficiency of a series build. The result is a yacht built to a very high specification at modest price for the quality delivered.

Playing the Odds

Our experience in the real world of cruising - with over 250,000 miles of personal voyaging and another million plus by our clients - is that given the right boat, the risk factors are minimal. This applies to weather, navigational mistakes, and including bad actors. Even so, we still want the odds in our favor. We want to know when we head out across the ocean that we have the safest, most reliable, and seaworthy craft possible.

Get the design and systems right and you will have thousands of comfortable trouble free miles of experience. Get them wrong and passaging becomes a worry, something to be avoided, and the boat doesn't move.

We've alluded to some of the features that we've learned help our clients to fulfill their dreams. In the following sections, and in our books and videos, you will find lots more detail. The bottom line is this: our yachts are optimized for ocean voyaging, engineered to allow a healthy degree of user error, with systems that maintain a wonderful ambiance yet are simple for the owner to maintain his or herself in remote parts of the globe with a minimum of frustration.

If you are like us, and want the odds in your favor, read on.

Getting Up To Speed

The FPB 64 is being built in a limited series, completely outfitted including electronics, extensive ground tackle, para anchor and drogue, even complete tools, and spares. When builder's sea trials are completed, add groceries and you are ready to cruise.

If you would like more information, contact ToddR@SetSail.com.

To reiterate what we said in the beginning, if we have piqued your interest, or you are thinking about a different style of cruising yacht, we recommend a look through the details in the articles listed in the left-hand sidebar.

The first articles deal with what we have learned about cruising with the FPB prototype.

Then come a series covering design factors in detail. This is somewhat technical, but the information is universal in its application. If you are considering cruising offshore in any type of design, you will find these pages helpful.

From here on you will find lots of details on both the FPB 64 and FPB 83. There are also links to an extensive array of articles covering the construction of the FPB 64, systems and use details, and literally hundreds of our blogs covering the testing of the FPB prototype in a wide array of tropical and high latitude locations.

There are also the previously mentioned videos which you can watch from the web, or on a DVD optimized for wide screen high definition TV.

A Final Thought

We could be biased, but we think an FPB is the perfect antidote to the times in which we find ourselves. You have the structure to protect you in almost any imaginable scenario (with 12mm - 15/32" thick bottom plating), fuel reserves to last years, huge freezer and fridge capacity and bulk storage area to take spares and supplies to last a very long time. You could easily cruise for years in the South Pacific or Tierra del Fuego, with hardly any contact with "civilization". Best of all, you get pleasure, security, and the ability to live life on your own terms.

Thanks for taking time to visit. We look forward to seeing you out there cruising.

FPB Series

Videos & Slide Shows

Recent Press

An Introduction to the FPB Program

Design Objectives

FPB 64 - Reality

FPB 83

FPB 83 On Deck

FPB 83 Interior

FPB 83 Systems

FPB 115

Dashew Offshore

Dashew Logs