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A New King of the Seas - Kingcat M270 By
Dag Pike
The style of this new yacht is striking and it will be the focus
of attention in any marina. Whilst it is the dramatic exterior
which will draw the admiring glances, the real innovation of
the Kingcat lies in the way it embodies the latest technology
to advance motor yacht design. Incorporated into the Kingcat
is cutting edge technology which uses the latest composite techniques
for construction and the latest electronics for control.
In setting out to develop the Kingcat M270, the starting point
was the technology now being used in the fast ferry market.
By contrast to the ferry market, the yacht market is extremely
conservative and it is the fast ferry market which is setting
the standards in new marine technology. The use of catamarans,
wave piercing technology, foils, electronic control and ride
control, all have their origins in the fast ferry market. Whilst
a number of yachts have adopted some of this technology, the
Kingcat M270 is by far the most advanced.
Extensive hydrodynamics and aerodynamics testing in tanks and
wind tunnels were used to develop the hull design. This is basically
a symmetrical, planing catamaran with moderate vee hulls and
with the addition of multiple chines along the curved angle
between the hull and deck. These chines gradually increase the
lift if the waves should reach a height where they would start
impacting on the cross deck, and reduce the advent of slamming.
The vee of the hull and the fine bows produce a wave piercing
type of hull which minimises pitching. To this shape has been
added foils based on the Hysucat principle which generate additional
lift at speed to reduce the wetted surface area of the hull.
On the Kingcat there is a full width foil between the hulls
aft and two canard foils forward. For the first time, these
canard foils have been made adjustable, there are two alternative
positions, and these can be used to adjust the hull trim for
different sea conditions. From this installation, it is a relatively
small step to a full computer control of these adjustable foils
to create an effective ride control system, something Kingcat
will no doubt be working on.
The hull construction is a combination of balsa and closed cell
foam sandwich construction. Carbon fibre has been added to the
laminate in high stress areas such as the cross deck and the
whole structure has been built using the SCRIMP resin infusion
moulding process which creates aircraft quality composite structures.
The egg-like shape of the top structure creates its own inherent
strength and there is barely a straight line in sight in the
smooth exterior of the superstructure.
This is a four-engined yacht with considerable power, nearly
5000 hp for a 21.33 metre (70 ft). The four MAN 1200hp diesels
are installed two to a side hull in staggered formation so that
they can be accommodated within the narrow hulls and each engine
drives its own Lips water jet. The staggered layout necessitates
a drive shaft on the inboard engines and this is a lightweight
composite shaft, the first time such a shaft has been used on
production yachts. This composite shaft is light enough to be
lifted by one person.
Another innovative aspect of the machinery is its control system.
The controls of all four water jets and the engine throttles
are combined in a single joystick control in the wheelhouse.
Simply point the joystick in the direction you want the yacht
to travel and the computer works out the necessary control combination
of the jets and throttles and issues the appropriate instructions.
There are no thrusters fitted to the Kingcat because the water
jet controls allow for sideways movement. In theory, this control
system also allows dynamic position, the capability to hold
the craft in a designated position. This could mean doing away
with mooring ropes, but that would mean keeping the engines
running all the time and the current availability of GPS is
not an accurate enough position reference for this type of operation.
At sea, the joystick is simply pushed forward until the yacht
attains the desired speed, and then it is set on the desired
heading by moving the joystick sideways. Push a button on the
top of the joystick and the computer takes over, maintaining
both course and speed. If the electronics fail, then the skipper
reaches down to a locker in front of him and pulls up a full
set of manual controls on a panel to take over, and redundancy
has been built into the computer system to ensure reliability.
There is all around vision from the wheelhouse but this does
not extend down to the hull sides. For close quarters vision
of the hull when docking the captain has to rely on TV cameras
to provide a view, and this is just one of the many images which
can be called up on the array of flat screen displays in front
of the skipper. There are five of these screens in the main
panoramic dashboard, and a further two wing displays which allow
other crew members to participate, perhaps in fog or other difficult
conditions. All of the displays are interchangeable between
screens and these displays are used both for presenting information,
and being touch sensitive, for control of the on board systems.
The two primary displays are the electronic chart and the radar,
both Kelvin Hughes units with remote control. The remaining
three controls have a variety of optional displays, but the
central one would normally be dedicated to navigation information,
log, compass, depth etc., one side display to main engine monitoring
and the other to auxiliary system monitoring.
With the totally smooth, steeply curved deck and sides of the
Kingcat, a new system of fendering was required. Fenders are
deployed at the push of a button through side ports, rather
like the gun ports on sailing warships. The fenders are height
adjustable with the ubiquitous TV monitors showing if they are
in the right position when coming alongside. Mooring lines are
handled manually from the forward and aft cockpits, but the
concealed windlass in the forward cockpit is controlled from
the wheelhouse screens.
Even the passerelle has a degree of automation. It can be swung
in any direction and up and down, and the steps automatically
adjust to the angle. It stows out of sight, across the transom.
Below there is a tender garage built into each hull with doors
which fold down to create bathing platforms.
The saloon is stunning, with the lounge area to port and the
dining area to starboard, the latter adjacent to the galley.
A bar is built into the port side of the entrance and opposite
is the spiral stair to the wheelhouse. The lounge has large
settees and individual chairs and the dining table seats eight
in comfort.
The same can be said for the two main deck cabins where the
large windows and the square shape make them akin to very smart
hotel bedrooms. These are a matching pair of cabins at the forward
end of the main deck and a watertight door gives access to the
forward cockpit, which is like a private balcony for the cabins.
The bathrooms are stunning with white marble tops, a mosaic
floor and shades of blue used for chequered lacquer work panelling.
There are two more cabins down below, but the layout here can
be flexible.
Behind the raised helm station, there is an intimate lounge
with a curved settee facing aft. By opening the curved outer
doors, this can be linked into the open deck outside where there
are acres of sunbeds, a barbecue and a spa bath. Below in the
aft cockpit there is a large oval table with seating for ten.
The Kingcat has been aimed at the performance market with speeds
up to 46 knots. The difference between the static waterline
and the running waterline shows how much the hull lifts under
the influence of the foils to reduce the wetted surface area.
The static draft is just over 1 metre (3ft 3in) which allows
the Kingcat access to shallow bays, and the range at slower
speeds of 10 knots is around 1500 miles, whilst at the cruising
speed of 40 knots, 600 miles can be covered.
| Length |
21.33m (70ft 0in) |
| Beam |
9.60m (31ft 5in) |
| Draught |
1.10m (3ft 6in) |
| Weight |
60 tons |
| Engines |
4 x 1200hp MAN D 2842 diesels |
| Fuel capacity |
25000 litres |
| Water capacity |
2000 litres |
For further information:
Kingcat SA Chantier Naval,
Tel: 33 (0) 2 51 23 799
Fax: 33 (0) 2 51 23 7999
The Regal Rolly Tasker
A New King of the Seas - Kingcat M270
The King's Cup Collision
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