Norfolk Swift - Survey Vessel

12m Survey / Windfarm Catamaran

This vessel was brought to Southwold Boat Yard in the autumn of 2011 by Norfolk Marine Ltd, based in Ireland but with extensive operations in the North Sea and off the east coast of the UK.    www.norfolkmarine.ie

The design also had to incorporate a new survey table and work area as well as maintaining the toilet facilities and the fitting of a holding tank.

To complicate the design, the extension would have to be narrowed to allow access to the large engine access hatches.

Consideration also was given to ensuring that the extension matched the existing wheelhouse as much as possible in order that we maintained the roof line and original styling.

Without access to the original tooling or molds we had to manufacture our own, whilst utilising as much as possible of the sections that would be removed.

Luckily the width of the heads and main access door would just fit the new width.

As this job would be carried out on the water on our main pontoon, our first task was to build a canopy which would provided protection from the elements during the late autumn and early winter.

The existing rear wall was then cut out and after being "trimmed" down, was positioned in it new aft position,allowing wo of the original heads walls, heads door and main door to be reused.

It's always important to keep additional weight down to a minimum so the new walls were laid up in our main boatyard workshop using grp sandwich construction.
These were then carried out in sections before erecting and laminating in place.

We built molds for the eyebrow that creates an overhang on the roof.
Aesthetically this was important to ensure the roof line was continuous without any major changes in line. The canopy was lifted numerous time to ensure everything was running as it should.

Once the walls were laminated in position, further laminating and strengthening was carried out to ensure there would be minimal drumming due to engine vibration.

Corners, edges and joints were all glassed, faired and sealed.
A very strong but very light roof frame was laminated using 3" square section tube and then lowered and glassed into place.

A new raised cabin sole was built to maintain the existing sole height.
This was epoxied in using West and bolted through.

Measurements were then taken for the windows.
The original frosted heads window and the rear double window in the old aft wall were reused and three new windows with matching trim and surround were purchased.

The windows were then seated on mastic and bolted through.
It was interesting to note that the original windows were just fitted on tape with no mastic or sealer !

The main roof panels were laminated in the yard workshop using a 3/4" honeycomb core.
The two large roof panels were laminated to the roof frame, wall top and existing roof.
Inside additional knees made also with a honeycomb core were laminated under the roof frame and laminated to the walls, giving a very strong and lightweight structure. Two hefty boat builders bouncing up and down on the roof resulted in little if any movement.

Coated 18mm marine ply was laid out on the floor after all the wiring had been run.
The roof line eyebrow was then fitted. The lower section was bolted through the walls and the upper flange was laminated to the roof panel.
 

The orange non-slip gelcoat was then applied to the roof and upper part of the eyebrow.
Stern and deck lights were fitted and additional air vents fitted to the underside of the eyebrow.

A blue vinyl stripe was applied to the side walls which aesthetically tied the whole extension into the original wheelhouse.
High grade non-slip rubber matting was fitted to the new floor, matching the original style.

A plug and then a mold was made to manufacture the additional GRP seat pods. The original seat pods were very heavy so we made the new ones using honeycomb core which were just as stiff but reducing the weight by half. (They JUST fitted through the door, nearly a very embarrassing moment)

Each seat pod has access under the seats for life jackets and other safety gear. The fully adjustable sprung seats were fitted along with seat belts, arm rests and head restraints.

The original seat height was quite high so alloy foot rests were manufactured and then fitted into the bulkhead wall and the rear of the seat pods.
This arrangement also allows plenty of space below the footrests for kit bags and gear.

The heating system was rebuilt and an additional heating element fitted along with coat and gear hooks.

New headlining was fitted throughout along with additional lighting and plug sockets.
The survey table was fitted along with a stainless steel sliding drawer cabinet.

A removable swivel seat was fitted. This could be stored when not in use in the heads.

The end result is a very serviceable and adaptable craft that can operate as a wind farm vessel, survey vessel, crew transfer vessel, dive boat or general work boat.

Completed Jan 2012.