Welcome back to the 37 Billfish blog!

As you know, Ocean Yachts is a leader in the innovation of new products in the sport fishing boat industry.  Innovation often involves the use of new and improved methods and materials, many of which have been incorporated into the 37 Billfish.  We’ve received many inquiries from our customers and the boating community regarding the Billfish, so we thought it would be interesting to share with you one of the many innovations.  While the 37 Billfish’s hull lamination is similar to our other models, the lamination and installation of the stringer system is a new and different process.  The following explains how our hulls and stringers are manufactured and fused together.

 Hull Lay-Up

The 37 Billfish hull lamination is completed using the same process as all of our models.  The open hull mold is first waxed and then sprayed with gelcoat.  Fiberglass mat is hand laid with blister resistant vinyl ester resin.  The hull sides above the water line are cored with a high density foam called divinycell.  The bottom from the water line down is laid up completely with solid fiberglass.

 Stringer Lay-Up

The stringer system is laid up in a one-piece, female mold in the lamination shop.  This is done in a similar manner to the hull lay up.  The mold is waxed and sprayed with gelcoat and then laid up with fiberglass mat.  The difference from our other models is that the Billfish’s stringers come from a female mold instead of a male mold.  When the stringer system is fully cured and the part is “pulled”, the top side of the stringer has a smooth, gel-coated finish.  This smooth finish is built in, as opposed to having to grind, fill, and fair.

 Stringer Install

After the stringer system is trimmed, the part is dry fit inside the hull.  This insures proper tolerances between the stringers and hull.  Then the outline of the stringers is traced onto the hull.  This ensures the stringers go back in the exact location where they were dry fit, and also serves as a guide for the application of the bonding material.

The dry-fit stringers are lifted out of the hull so the bonding agent (Ocean uses Plexus) can be applied.  Plexus is applied along the landing surfaces of all stringers, cross members, and panel stiffeners.  Plexus is a methacrylate adhesive that chemically fuses at a molecular level, forming bonds stronger than the substrates themselves. This installation process creates panel stiffness above ABYC standards.

After the Plexus is applied, the stringer system is lowered back into the hull using a weighted fixture that helps press it into place.  In addition to ensuring acceptable installation tolerances by dry fitting, inspection holes are located throughout the stringer system at inspection points so that proper bonding is assured visually.  Each panel section of the hull has bonding material applied around its perimeter.  In the center of certain panels there is an engineered non-contact area.  These “purpose gaps” are engineered so that the stringer grid makes contact with the hull around the perimeter of the panel as designed, not in the center of the panel where there is no stringer.

Once the stringers have been installed and the bonding agent has fully cured, the stringers are then foam injected for added strength and sound dampening.

 Through-Hull Installation

The hull and stringer system now bonded together as one, moves into the mechanical stage where engines, pumps, through-hulls, etc. are installed.  The stringer system on the 37 creates a unique situation when installing through-hulls.  Most through-hull fittings need to be installed in the purpose gap panels of the stringer system.  To provide the most reliable, leak-free installation it is best to install each through-hull fitting “hull to hull”.  To do this we must remove a section of the stringer liner around each through-hull installed in the boat.  This guarantees a solid installation.

Beam……………………13′10″……….4.22m

Draft…………………….2′6″…………..0.76m

Freeboard, Bow……5′6″……………1.68m

Freeboard, Stern….2′11″………….0.89m

Fuel Capacity*……..417 gal………1,578.5l

Water Capacity*…..75 gal………..283.9 l

Displacement……….23,500 lb….10,659.4 kg

Deadrise (Forward)………………….32.5°

Deadrise (Transom)…………………12.8°

Headroom (most areas)..6′5″……1.96m

Sleeping Capacity……………………..2-3

Twin Yanmar 6LY3-ETP (480MHP) Diesels

*Capacities of tanks are estimates and useable volume will vary depending upon installation requirements and conditions.

Ocean is proud to announce that the first 37 Billfish will debut in July 2007, at the Ocean-Viking Showdown. Ocean will be running her as a demo for the summer, captained by our own Customer Service Manager Scott Krawiec and mate Ryan Leek. We’re excited to put the 37 Billfish to the test, so we’ll be posting what we catch here on the web site so you can follow along with us from tournament to tournament. We’ll also be happy to answer any performance or “fishability” questions you have. And don’t be afraid to come check out the new 37 Billfish at the events listed on our Tournament Schedule.  Stop by the dock and come aboard, we’re proud to show you what our newest boat is all about.

Ocean-Viking Showdown

July 11-July 15

Canyon Club Marina

 Cape May, NJ

Mid-Atlantic Tuna Tournament

July 18-July 21

South Jersey Marina

Cape May, NJ

Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational

July 25-July 28

Beach Haven Yacht Club

Beach Haven, NJ

Ocean City Marlin & Tuna Club Overnighter

July 29-August 4

Seaview Harbor Marina

Ocean City, NJ

August 2007

Ocean City, Maryland White Marlin Open

August 6-August 10

Sunset Marina

Ocean City, MD

Mid-Altlantic Ladies Charity Billfish Release Tournament

August 16-August 19

Canyon Club Marina

Cape May, NJ

Mid-Atlantic $500,000

August 19-August 24

Canyon Club Marina

Cape May, NJ

Thanks for taking the time to look over our website and for taking an interest in the 37 Billfish. For those of you interested, nhand made a comment on our Deck Fitting post. I’d like to answer his questions here. Those seats in the cockpit are designed with a freezer under the port side and a bait and tackle center with sink under the starboard side. The seats have an angled back, so they should be pretty comfortable to sit on. Putting cushions on them will be up to the owner. There is one step up into the lower deck area. This helps with visibility and also keeps water from sloshing all the way forward towards the cabin. Our lower helm is standard, we’re not planning on offering it with a couch over there. The dinette to the port side has a hi-lo table with a filler cushion that will create a large bed-like place to lay when you are running out to the canyon. Or if you don’t want the table at all, you could just take it off and use the port side as the couch. The standard power is twin 480 hp Yanmars. I’m reluctant to give an exact top speed or cruising speed because we really won’t know until it hits the water.

Thanks for your interest,
John Leek IV

-Lauren Leek

It’s been a while since we’ve made any posts, but we’ve been making steady progress on the 37. Here are some pictures of the stringers, molded rudder board, and of the hull being pulled out of the mold. For those of you who would like to comment, don’t hold back, we’d love to hear from you.

-J4

37 Billfish Hull Mold

John Leek III Popping Hull #1

Hull Sequence - 1

Hull Sequence - 2

Hull Sequence - 3

Hull Sequence - 4

Hull Sequence - 5

Hull Sequence - 6

Molded Rudder Board

Stringer Mold

Stringer System with Lifting Rig Attached