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dry stores. The galley is fully equipped for food prepara- tion and dishwashing requirements for 500 diners. The galley in the hull is connected to the main deck and second deck dining rooms by a 4 x 3-ft. elevator. A Flexiteek material covers the aft decks and the swim platform. Power for the California Spirit is via a pair of Detroit Diesel 60 engines rated at 475 hp each. Twin Disc pro- vided the reverse/reduction gears that power 3.5-in. Aquamet shafts driving five blade-Ellis propellers. Two Northern Lights gensets rated at 150 kW each provide electrical power. A split bus enables one genera- tor to power the 150 kW Wesmar bow thruster while the other handles ship's power. Both generators have sound shields to insure the lowest possible noise level, espe- cially during food service. The vessel has a large main floor dining room as well as a second deck dining room and a Bride's Changing Room forward of the dining room and aft of the pilot- house. The Bride's Changing Rooms has become a stan- dard amenity on many luxury dining yachts recognizing the importance of wedding charters as a major source of business. The third deck is an open sundeck with water, electrical and drain hookups for portable bars. Steering of the vessel is vial Kobelt equipment. The California Spirit has the normal pilothouse helm control but also two wing stations and an aft control station. A chilled loop system provides air conditioning to pas- senger spaces plus the galley and storeroom in the hull. The system is by Carrier Transicold and includes air han- dlers with electric heat strips. The vessel has a draft of 6.5 ft. and gross tonnage of 99. Crew is 100. Capacities of the vessel include 4,100 gallons of fuel, 8,200 gallons of potable water, 4,000 gal- lons of sewage and 4,00 gallons of gray water. The California Spirit is one of eight passenger vessels operated by San Diego Harbor Cruises. The company specializes in charters, but also operates regularly sched- uled cruises and special event trips. Also offered are water taxi and ferry services and whale watching trips. Ovation No shipbuilder builds more passenger vessels than Skipperliner of Lacrosse, Wisc. The company builds a 98-ft. Island Girl Subchapter T vessel every year for their own passenger vessel opera- tion in Lacrosse. After operating the vessel a year, it is sold and another vessel is built. To date 17 Island Girl vessels have been built and are in service around the country. Skipperliner also typically builds a Subchapter "K" vessel each year and in 2005, and Ovation was delivered to Infinity Yacht Charters of Detroit. The 138-ft. yacht-styled vessel features a tri-deck design with two enclosed cabins for dining and an open, yet partially covered third deck. The first deck features a full length clear span dining area with no stanchions and the second deck has a large entertainment space forward with a full-service bar, cocktail area, a private bride's executive suite and dining aft. Capacity of Ovation is 300 guests. The initial design of the vessel was developed by Skip- perliner with engineering and design by Timothy Graul Marine Design of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc. Overall length of Ovation is 138-ft. with a 28-ft. beam. Infinity Yacht Charters also owns the Infinity, a 90-ft. Skipperliner purchased in 1998. The new vessel will be based at two locations; the docks at the General Motors Corporation headquarters and Jefferson Beach Marina in St. Clair Shores. General manager of Infinity Yacht Charters LLC is Steven Rybicki. "I knew that we were passing up on char- ter business with a single 150 passenger vessel, so the Ovation gives us the extra capacity for larger parties," Rybicki said. "The new vessel is a perfect compliment to the new $11 million Detroit Wayne County Port Authority now being built at the GM Center," Rybicki said. In the Great Lakes area, passenger vessel business is seasonal, but Rybicki hopes to operate until at least New Year's Eve. As to whether the vessel can operate around the time of the Super Bowl in Detroit February 5, Rybic- ki sad he would evaluate that situation as the date approaches. All food for the Ovation is supplied by the parent company Continental Dining and Refreshment Services in Bellville, Mich. Ovation is powered by twin Caterpillar 3406 CTA engines developing 480 hp each. Two Cummins 150 kW gensets provide electrical power and there is a 125 hp Wesmar hydraulic bow thruster to provide excellent maneuverability during docking , undocking and other maneuvers. HVAC is provided by a 672,000 BTU system by Cruiseair. 28 • MarineNews • January 2006 PASSENGER VESSEL ANNUAL The California Spirit at dockside at the Keith Marine Shipyard. The vessel's mega yacht styling fits in perfectly with the upscale lifestyle of the San Diego waterfront area. (Photo: Keith Marine) JANUARY MN2006 4(25-32).qxd 1/4/2006 8:09 PM Page 28
