Wow, thought I'd be seasick, but was mesmerized instead. A smooth ride through rough seas. Love the thought put into the FPB line, rugged utilitarian on the outside, warm and inviting inside. Surprised no other manufacturer has copied the idea
As expected, increasingly confused seas between the rocks. Handled well on. It is good to see new videos. Perhaps I missed it, I wonder why you've apparently forsaken sail. O yes, that is a very impressive vessel not only in sea handling but the luxurious interior. I loved seeing the clean foredeck.
Hi Richard, Steve & Linda designed and launched their first "unsailboat" in 2005, a response to getting older and wanting to stay cruising short-crewed without having to handle sails and rigging challenges. The prototype was sought after enough to warrant the line of FPBs -- now 14 afloat and 4 more in build.
Thank you for your reply. I just reviewed your web page and see I have much to catch up. I don't mean to gush but amazing, astounding is what comes to mind with respect to the FPB. I see the sea miles on the hulls and I think that is the finest evidence of a winning design. Outstanding.
Skip, my name is Sean Coleman and I wonder if you remember me? I used to crew for you when I was a teenager for a couple of years. Lived on a boat with parents at Del Rey Yacht Club. Sailed in the worlds with you and Wild wind. Anyway glad to see you doing well, Love your boats. Especially if they sail.
I hope that I hit a rather big lottery some year and one of these FPB (I think it stands for Finest Perfect Boat) is available. I would buy one in a heartbeat and travel until I die.
Any concerns about all that glass around the cabin? Amazing views, but I've read some have concerns about integrity if that glass is compromised. Amazing way to travel! It looks like it provides the comfort and speed of a gunship but with only a single hull. Fuel burn at 22 knots?
SOG not through the water. Hull speed is something like 13 kts. John Deere's are underworked and sip fuel though. At $6.5+M per copy, there should never be an issue of structural integrity.
I am curious. If your are a reasonably good sailor that has handled near 50 foot craft under sail in heavy weather, would this be a difficult boat to learn? I do not have much time on power craft beyond launches and bass boats.
Re the learning curve, the FPBs handle so well in tight quarters that maneuvering can be learned without too much difficulty. A month of part time training will get you to the 85% point on skills. Six months gets you to 90%. After a year, 95%. That last 5% takes a lifetime. One of the most important things is learning about weather, and how to take advantage if the FPBs speed. You can start that process tomorrow, before you get the boat.
I'm a bit confused. How fast is her normal top seed under calm conditions? I understand "surfing" a boat. We use to surf 56' Mike 5 landing craft when I was stationed in Scotland in the USN. On your web site the top speed is listed as 12+ knots. So she's picking up 8+ knots, but she never slows down climbing the back of a wave---hence my confusion. Love your boats, wish I had the money to buy one and operate it.
Speed through the water is dissipating but just not as fast as a less slippery boat like a planning hull which plows through head seas as opposed to slicing through them. Also there is less motion imparting secondary forces into the wave like slamming.
