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sired speed. The boat has a deep V hull with Þ ne entry for wave piercing. Previous small boats regularly got the strakes hung up on the stern ramp guides not unlike on a boat trailer. Also the strakes create more transverse lateral movement for the hullÕs bow when attempting to enter the narrow gap in the stern. Metalcraft Marine looked for a larger, over-sized jet, with higher thrust capabilities, that could still meet the vesselÕs weight and fuel limitations. The range requirement was high at 336 NM, so there had to be a lot of fuel. The Ultra 305 produces considerably more thrust in the lower end where driving up the ramp would be a critical factor to crews. The ability to intuitively steer as the boat is being driven sideways by the water ß ow was solved by the Jet- master control system designed by Ultrajet, giving the boat an ability of control that no one thought possible. Also according to MCM, a third key system/hull design standard included using the hull platform for the hullÕs intact and static stability. Because fabric or foam covered paints do not like to be in salt water and will fail premature- ly, MCM had to design a boat that was exceptionally good riding in rough seas, up to sea state 5. MCMÕs Contract Manager, Bob Clark, told MarineNews in January, ÒWe may have one of the best riding long range interceptors ever designed.Ó Assisting on the design concepts in all areas was MCMÕs partner, Brunswick, Commercial and Govern- ment ProductÕs and their technical expert, Kelly Webb. A retired USN SWCC Master Chief, Webb brought years of boat handling and servicing knowledge to the design table. Over the Horizon-IV (OTH-IV)The U.S. Coast Guard selected SAFE Boats Interna- tional LLC of Port Orchard, WA, to provide future Over- The-Horizon IV (OTH-IV) cutter boats, with options to procure up to 101 over a seven year period. The OTH-IV is the quick response boat for the NSC and other host vessels. The OTH-IV features high-speed and larger passenger capacity. Like the LRI-II, the boat is capable of operating from Coast Guard cutters equipped for stern launch.BOATBUILDING MN 35www.marinelink.com MN FEB14 Layout 32-49.indd 35MN FEB14 Layout 32-49.indd 351/20/2014 3:46:43 PM1/20/2014 3:46:43 PM
