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Breakaway Adventures
Eric & Roxanne Yancey
Wrangell, AK
Phone:907-874-2488
Visit
Breakaway Adventures
Website at
www.breakawayadventures.com Email
Eric at
eric@breakawayadventures.com
View
Spec. Sheet (.pdf)-Stikine Dream
View
Spec. Sheet (.pdf)-Ocean Pro
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The
Ocean Pro sets the standard for jet boat tours in
Wrangell
AK
. It is the most comfortable boat for clients as
far as the ride, visibility, and over all comfort namely because of the bus
style seating and sliding glass side windows.
A majority of our tours are operated in saltwater so the 18 degree bottom
is great when the saltwater chop develops. Comparing the two boats. Both the
Stikine Dream built in 2000 and the Ocean Pro built in 2003 have the same
propulsion packages (Yanmar 6LP-STE diesel coupled to
Hamilton
241 jet pumps).
The Ocean Pro runs a little slower (2-3 knots) than the Stikine Dream
does. This is because the Stikine Dream is a 11 degree bottom canvas top and
soft side windows, The Ocean Pro is 18 degree bottom, hard top, sliding glass
windows and a 3/8 inch bottom so this all adds up to more weight.
To run both boats at the same speed the Ocean Pro has to run approx. 200
rpm's more than the Stikine Dream. The Ocean Pro really does shine when it comes
to choppy water, I can maintain a running speed with out any of the traditional
"slam" that one gets with a shallow degree dead rise of the usual
river style jet boats. It really pays off as I operate year around here in
Alaska
. Even though I have to run the Ocean Pro rpm's
up a bit, the fuel consumption doesn't increase much. Both vessels run at 34-38
mph range depending on load and burns less than 7 GPH per engine. I use 7
gallons to calculate consumption which does give me a safety margin. The Ocean
Pro gives me a feel of being in a airplane when it corners, because of the
deeper vee it leans or banks into corners, more so than the Stikine Dream, I
kind of think it feels neat from the drivers perspective. Both vessels are USCG
cert. for Lakes, Bays, and Sounds exposed water routes. Cert. for 18 passengers
2 crew complete with 20 person IBA's and other required safety equipment.
Thanks,
Eric
Yancey
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Doug Ward
Dolphin Jet Boat Tours
9571 Meadow Lane
Juneau, Alaska
99801
Telephone: (907) 463-3422
Visit
Dolphin Jet Boat Tours
Website at
dolphintours.com
Email Doug at
mail@dolphintours.com
View Spec.
Sheet (.pdf)-Big Blue
View
Spec. Sheet (.pdf)-Sommer Star
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Dolphin Jet Boat Tours searches
for whales on the Alaskan open waters, and in June of 1999 we extended
our fleet with the addition of Big Blue. This 40' triple diesel engine
Bentz Boat has run almost every day since it's June arrival.
The factor limiting our ability to use Big Blue is the
comfort of our passengers, not the ability of the boat to handle the seas.
When the weather gets to the point that the majority of the passengers
would be uncomfortable, we will cancel a tour. In addition, we are
on a tight schedule and cannot afford to drop off step. Another operator
with a different type of passengers and different operating schedule could
continue to operate at reduced speeds through worse water.
The size, steepness, frequency, direction and uniformity
of waves all effect the severity of the seas. To date, we have not
encountered seas too severe for Big Blue. I have seen seas that were
too rough for Big Blue during a winter day in Juneau, but to build a 30
passenger boat that could handle those seas would not be practical for
everyday use. On that day the 85' catamaran to Greens Creek did not
run.
Any boat is a compromise between fair-weather performance
and rough water survival. Big Blue is an eminently capable fair-weather
boat with outstanding characteristics in marginal weather. When we
buy another boat, it will be built by Bentz. |