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Norman R Wright Sportsfisher 65

One of Australia’s oldest yards continues to evolve with new designs, like this 65 foot sportsfisher concept, reports Kevin Green.

The banks of the Brisbane River at Norman R Wright’s yard has been busy recently with the launches of several new pilot boats. On shore, meanwhile, the outstanding craftmanship of this 112-year-old yard has been on display in a high fashion house in Sydney. There, an immensely complex stairwell was crafted to become the centre piece in the high-end French store. 

This may all sound a long way from competition game boats, but not when you consider the tradition of this family owned yard, as designer Bill Wright explained, “By the 1990s we began building fully infused glass fibre hulls, as well as in metal and wood and we continue to do different projects.” 

Their early days involved building sailing skiffs, fishing boats, war-time patrol boats, to every kind of commercial vessel. Today, their 40 staff, who are mostly boat builders, continue to fabricate a mix of commercial and recreational vessels in Brisbane. 

GAME CHANGERS

The latest game boat to come from the pen of Wright’s head designer Adam Evripidou is this 65ft game boat. It’s the result of extensive research, especially in the huge American market, so is more than a simple evolution of their last custom game fisher Aura, said Evripidou. 

“This is the boat I wanted to design for a while now, a boat without limitations”. 

Just like the 60ft Aura, the new concept 65-footer is a go-anywhere serious sport fishing boat. However, performance has been given more emphasis, so apart from uprated engines, the beam has been kept the same as the 60ft to reduce drag. 

Having sailed the immaculately built Aura, I saw first-hand the exceptional quality of finish, and also Wright’s new yard which was established to cope with even larger builds. 

Their track record is also worth a mention, including the 63ft Weapon which began their Carolina style flared bow hulls, and the 58ft Eagle.

However, no one at the yard is resting on their laurels, said yard manager Tony Riek — not when there’s opportunities in the local market presented by the retirement of game boat specialist Barry Martin at Assegai Marine.

AGGRESSIVE STYLING

Styling has moved well and truly forward since the 2018 hull, and needs to look fast even when sitting still, so the 65 has been penned accordingly. The additional five feet has allowed for a more aggressive stem line, while also giving more volume, with a two foot larger cockpit and two feet more in the accommodation dimensions. This sportfisher wants to not only go fast but look good doing it, albeit in competition mode or recreational mode. 

“We want this boat to be a work of art in all areas. From the construction to all of the features and fixtures. The best of the best, no compromises, whilst being as pure a sportfishing boat as good as you will get anywhere,” explained Evripidou.

Stand-out attributes are the wrap-around full glasshouse, and the cabin side windows. The front windows are all-toughened glass, with the front being a complex curve in two dimensions. 

Inside, there are no overhead cupboards in the galley, which means you will have all round visibility in the saloon, so good for spotting fish without climbing the tower. 

“This kind of styling is not easy to do, but we have the ambition and expertise to make it happen, for the right client,” said Evripidou. 

For the owner who wants to make the ultimate statement, Wright would make the side and front windows in a mirrored finish externally similar to what you find on some high-end Italian motoryachts. They can also offer a more traditional layout with a painted solid fibreglass cabin front if desired.

COMFORT AND FLEXIBILITY

Standing or sitting in the saloon when doing close to 50 knots will be spectacular for a pure sportfishing machine, making the popular run during the game season from places like Cairns to the reef an enjoyable ride. To be able to sit in air conditioned comfort when heading out to the fishing grounds and see all around will set the tone on this 65-footer.

There are three layouts for the new boat, with elements of each seen in the 60 footer Aura. Option A is for dedicated family-oriented private use, bespoke entertainment and high-end cruising. Option B is more for family-oriented private and occasional charter/tournament use, while Option C is a serious charter/tournament use with crew cabin. However, since this is a full custom boat, any combination of the three can be specified. 

Option A and B both include a ‘rod cellar’ —  think of it as a wine cellar for your bespoke rods — down between the engine room and accommodation. This is a showroom for all the serious rods, which are works of art in their own right. The entrance door is clear glass with the interior mirrored and lit up with LEDs, so it’s a spectacular space to show off what sportfishers are all about. Additionally, this space can also be fitted with more freezer capacity and a washer dryer. Option A and B also come with a day head at the base of the stairs as well. 

Flexibility is a key feature of this design, hence the forward cabin from Option B can be used on any layout to increase capacity. 

Finally, the aft cabin on Option C provides for an additional private twin berth cabin with private bathroom, also doubling as another day head. This option has a smaller but still ample rod room at the base of the stairs. 

Fresh air into the accommodation is via split opening portholes, flush deck hatches, and a duct at the base of the saloon windscreen with electrically actuated flaps to regulate air flow through the saloon. These would work well in conjunction with Aura’s electrically sliding aft window.

SPACIOUS SALOON

The main deck saloon is similar in proportions to Aura, with the same length and beam. There is a space for a raised dining table forward to starboard. You will be able to see out the forward windows when seated here as well as when you are standing in the galley. The cooktop will now have an in-counter extraction fan. Dining space has also been better utilised, with a large slide-out drawer in the base of the raised dining table for more rod storage. As mentioned, there is no cabinet work in the saloon above bench top height, allowing the wrap around glass vista. 

The galley is of similar proportions to Aura, with the breakfast bar intended as a comfortable perch and a place to see forward when underway. Entertainment is via an elevating television from the starboard sideboard, so nothing to wobble around when underway.

Stepping out from the lounge into the cockpit will be a more protected area thanks to a new mezzanine deck one step down from the saloon. This allows you to see over anyone seated on the mezzanine settee and they don’t have as far to jump down to the cockpit deck. It should also stay dry when backing-up hard on a fish. The new mezzanine settee is long enough to lay on and a great place to watch the action under the cover of the overhead awning. In addition, the area under the settee can be used for storage or additional freezer space.

TOWER AND FLYBRIDGE

The flybridge remains open to the elements to cater for the needs of the serious fisher. This provides the best of both worlds as it is surrounded by clears that can be rolled up in good weather or fully enclosed when the going gets rough. Air-conditioning can be added if required. 

The flybridge will remain the control centre of the high performance craft. A central pod as seen on Aura is fitted with electronics to suit each owner’s requirements along with an overhead console. All the controls are within reach from the main helm, so the skipper never needs to leave the position. Good ergonomics are present in the form of twin release marine adjustable pedestal seats located aft for excellent visibility to the cockpit when fighting and backing down on fish. Visibility to the bow is also excellent. 

A settee is located along the port and starboard sides with removable back rest at the aft end. This way you can sit facing aft to enjoy the fishing action or lounge around when cruising. There is also a settee facing forward along the front of the electronics pod. All settees are fitted with storage/refrigeration under. The tower shown is a 6ft gap tower in anodised aluminium. 

A 9ft gap tower can be fitted upon request.

HULL AND DECK

The hull will feature the same amount of flare as Aura, while parts of the superstructure and flybridge are carbon to reduce weight and minimise the centre of gravity. The hull is also fitted with a NACA style air scoop and three opening split portholes which are both pierced with a chromed feature strip along the topsides. A chromed feature strip also pierces the aft end of the saloon side windows. The transom design is all about fish-ability with large radiused corners for working rods from. 

“Fish-ability was one thing we learnt from designing Aura for such an experienced and passionate owner,” says Evripidou.

The standard boat is not fitted with a bow rail, tender or davit. These could be fitted, although this is a pure sportfisher to compete with the best in the USA. If required, semi-recessed side decks from the front of the saloon to the bow sprit could be fitted to retain the clean lines. 

These, combined with a low handrail on the foredeck, will assist in safer movement to the bow if required.

ENGINEERING DIFFERENCE

In terms of engineering, this design can accommodate twin air-cooled gyro stabilisers such as Quick or ARG in the engine room wings, or, a single water cooled Seakeeper under the cockpit sole as in Aura. Alternatively, twin Seakeepers could be installed forward outboard in the engine room.

Twin generators are now aft in the engine room allowing the engines to move further forward and providing a shallower shaft angle and greater efficiency to reach the desired 50 knot speed. The extra five feet in length has allowed for a full equipment space across the front of the engine room which is usually lacking in high powered sportfishers.

The other point of difference is the power plant. Caterpillar C32 1800hp engines are used in Aura. However, Caterpillar has just released these in a 2400hp version, which will give the 65-footer significantly more cruising speed and top speed. 

“Really, this is what this boat is all about — not only looking fast but going fast, with speeds approaching 50 knots!” says Evripidou. 


FACTS & FIGURES

PRICE POA

GENERAL

Length 65ft (19.8m) excl. bowsprit, 68ft (20.7m) incl. bowsprit

Beam 19ft 2in (5.84m) 

Draft 3ft 11in (1.19m) hull only, 4ft 8in (1.42m) to underside of props in deep tunnels

Shape Warped planing hull, 24 degrees midships 

Displacement (lightship) 34,000kg with carbon structure and hardtop

ENGINE

ENGINE Caterpillar C32 1800hp, 2000hp or 2400hp or MAN V12 1800hp or 2000hp

CAPACITIES

Fuel 7500L

Water 1000L

DESIGN AND BUILD

Design Norman R Wright & Sons/Adam Evripidou

Builder Norman R Wright & Sons, Brisbane

MORE INFO

Norman R Wright & Sons

39 Rivergate Pl, Murarrie, QLD 4172

PH (07) 3399 3911

E info@wrightsons.com.au

W wrightsons.com.au