Norman Wrights and Sons The Weapon 63

In fact, its style and finish could herald a new era on the world stage for Aussie-built sportsfishers. David Lockwood tests the new Top Gun.

It was during a contemplative moment bobbing about on the Indian Ocean that Ron Agland turned to me and explained why he pursued his dream.

"A great mate of mine was terminally ill. I told him about my idea for the boat. He said just do it... So that's what I did."

From that point on the deadly Weapon became more than a puny pipedream.

A connoisseur of custom-made boats, Agland consulted Norman Wright & Sons, one of Australia's most respected motoryacht builders, and together they went to work on producing the glamorous 63ft gamefisher.

"Some people think I'm mad," he continues, fishing for a reply. I tell him I disagree, that I can see his point. What sense is there in going to the grave with a head filled with unrealised dreams?

No stranger to boats, Agland already owns a 24ft Boston Whaler Centre Console and a Caribbean 45. He bought the 45 as a family/gamefishing boat, but says it is a little too small from his family's point of view. Given his resources, bigger was better.

Having checked out all the boating and gamefishing magazines for the past four years, Agland pieced together a mental picture of how his dreamboat would look. His wishlist included words such as luxury, workability, but towards the top of the pile was good looks.

"I started with looks," he says. "I've always been a big fan of those Carolina-flared boats. So I talked to Norman Wright & Sons... They're down to earth and, well, you don't get any bullshit."

THE WRIGHT WAY
As artisans of fine custom motoryachts and commercial vessels, Norman Wright & Sons is something of a historical fixture on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Now, after The Weapon, the company is on the verge of making a quantum leap into the area of semi-production gameboats.

This follows the very first gameboat they were involved in, a Buddy Davis dubbed Big Buddy. This boat came to Australia as a separate hull and deck. Norman Wright & Sons bonded the two together, did all the engineering and fitted out the interior.

"The owner got the hull and deck for a good price in America and Buddy Davis was happy to have it off its hands," explains Ian Wright. "Some time after we finished the job, Buddy Davis himself was in Australia.

"He took a look at the boat and was blown away. When he got back to America he called a meeting with his staff and abused them for not being able to make a boat to the standard of these boatbuilders from the bottom of the earth," says Wright.

WEST COAST COOLER
Having spent a day swanning around Fremantle on The Weapon you can understand how such envy arises. This 63ft gameboat looks for all the world like the perfect apparition like an oasis in a desert.

Wright goes on to explain bit by bit how his team turned Agland's fantasy into reality.

"We drew schematic and general-layout drawings and they were close to perfect. Then everything was detailed," he says.

Agland interjects: "He means a phone book worth of details... Right down to every metre of material and every last man- hour."

"Then we drew the lines longhand, as we always do, and when we were happy with them we fed them through the computer. The boat is not CAD-designed but CAD-refined. After which we made a 1/16 scale model and tank-tested the boat up to 32kt," Wright adds.

The tank-tested Weapon has what's termed a warped hull. By definition, it has a deadrise running along its length that varies Typically, these type of hulls are more veed forward and have a slightly flatter run aft, than conventional V-hulls. This way, most of the vee is positioned where you want it.

Though I haven't been on lots of warped-hull boats because there aren't a lot around those which I have driven have been impressive. The Weapon stands out, to the point where Wright and I spent time lying on the huge foredeck doing nothing more than peering over the side.

The piercing forefoot slices the swell in an almost hypnotic way, while the displaced water slides up to the big chines where it's rolled over like a crepe.

While the forefoot cuts a smooth path through the sea, the water is turned over and down. Which makes for a smooth and dry ride.

Three days were spent in Launceston tank-testing and some minor adjustments were made to the model. Then construction got underway.

Wright terms the construction as medium-tech, with epoxy resin over end-grain balsa below the waterline and foam-coring above.

The primary structure, including stringers, has plenty of carbon-fibre, while the rest of the boat is laid-up with E-glass. Most of the boats Wright & Sons builds these days are put together this way.

Almost as impressive is the in-house joinery. All external timbers are teak, with American cherrywood used inside and burl myrtle on the benchtops and horizontals.

BRIDGE TO THE STARS
Considering I'd be driving the boat at some stage, I started my onboard tour by climbing the transverse ladder on starboard-side of the cockpit.

Stepping into the bridge, you're greeted by a huge teak console with pop-up electronics and an overhead electronics box a-la-Davis.

There are twin pedestal helmseats mounted on a raised platform offering a great view ahead and down to the dash. Immediately to your left is a JRC Plot 700FX plotter/fishfinder and an impressively-lengthy switch panel running along its base.

Either side of the wheel are the twin T-bar controls for the big MTUs.

The electronic controls are finger-tip sensitive and they take some getting used to. Override switches allow you to use various modes, such as synchro and the built-in trolling valves. Meantime the ECU panels for the MTUs tell you everything at a glance.

There was also an oversized Suunto compass, trim-tab switches, rudder-angle indicator, and a button for the Muir windlass. Ahead of the wheel: a Hitachi colour VDU screen linked to the detailed plotting charts from the Navy's Hydrographic Office. Across to the right was a massive JRC JMA 3254 radar with a 64nm range and the keyboard with joy-stick for the GPS chartplotter.

The overhead radio box is alive with control panels and various LED or LCD monitoring devices. These report on the fire system, water tanks, fueltanks (forward, port and starboard), and the separate sullage tanks for grey water (shower and sink) and black water (head).

The electronics package was put together by TMQ in Brisbane, hence the TMQ Bosun Autopilot, TMQ Sea Water Temp Gauge, and Icom 2 Meg radio and VHF radio. The wind gauge was from Logic, while the twin pedestals have Softrider suspension systems.

Lovely stainless work was used for the seven-rod rocket launcher behind the helm and the supports, which the photographer noted were slightly uneven, that hold up the hardtop. The boat was fitted with clears which incongruously flapped when travelling at certain angles to the breeze. Note that an enclosed helm is available and, for my money, a tower would help finish off the boat.

In keeping with family needs, the bridge was fitted with giant lounges that could seat five either side of the helm. There was a fridge built into the forward face of the teak console and room to sleep if needs be. In effect, the bridge is a boat in itself.

But if you're looking for the gamerods under the flybridge lounges, held in special clips for straight and bent butts, you better ask first.

Each locker is locked and alarmed, as is every square centimetre of floor and air space onboard The Weapon.

COCKPIT TO DIE FOR
Despite its immense proportions, the cockpit is an absolute gem. It was neither too high off the water nor so low that you might get wet when travelling in strong crosswinds. Big teak covering boards, stylish fibreglass mouldings, a teak floor and padded coamings ensure safety and comfort.

There was a useful amount of bridge overhang for shade. Deck fittings include oversized horn cleats, heavy-duty stainless hinges on the hatches and stylish Italian-made snap-lock catches that, despite beginning to tarnish, seemed to work really well.

The Weapon was built to survey so, despite being self-draining, it had additional bailing capacity provided by a gap under the offset marlin door. When backed-up hard a fair bit of water came into the cockpit, not that it could climb the steps into the saloon.

Built into the transom was a huge central livebait tank with twin hatches. Underfloor are two big fish/bait/storage holds with moulded inserts for easy cleaning, with a lazarette offering additional storage and access to the steering gear.

Elsewhere are sidepockets for gaffs and tagpoles, other holds for storing hardware, even a dedicated glove drawer near the chair.

Moulded steps in the cockpit and handrails alongside the cabin together provided a safe journey to the foredeck. With a Carolina flare and a sexy sheerline, the boat's beautiful foredeck has plenty of room for the RIB tender, Davco davit, and liferaft.

Back under the flybridge overhang are two separate moulded service centres that, with lids down, provide great seats for trolling. The port-side cabinet includes a stainless Rinnai icemaker and a bait freezer with dividers (removable when fishing big baits in Cairns).

There is a lockable hatch next to the saloon door that leads to a set of steps and the engineroom. It has headroom, elbow room, room for ancillary equipment, oil-drum holders, fans drawing in fresh air and lots more.

The cockpit includes what must be the best tackle centre ever seen on a gameboat. It was designed with the aid of John Bennetts from Black Watch and features doors with shelves and lots of slippery teflon drawers.

There were separate compartments for lures, line, hardware, pliers, bait needles and so on, plus a sink to wash you hands.

The riggers are triple-spreader jobs from Rupp, the chair an interesting custom-made model from Perth.

There's no doubt The Weapon is beautifully equipped for long days of lure trolling in five-star comfort.

THE LIVING ROOM
"What do most people do when they're trolling at sea?" asks Agland. "Lie down, of course."

This reality for many recreational and charter anglers had a bearing on the way the saloon was designed.

The massive U-shaped lounge to port and a settee opposite were finished in cream-coloured Connolly leather the same stuff they use on luxury European cars.

As demonstrated, there's room for four people to lie down within a hop, skip and jump of the cockpit.

Sitting upright, you can enjoy 270° views of the ocean and lure spread.

With Rottnest Island as the backdrop, we devoured lunch and a bottle or two of chardonnay from the Margaret River region.

Now, the surprises. Look for a little black switch on the cherrywood cabinet as you walk inside. Press the switch and, hey presto, up pops a large-screen television with VCR. The television is mounted on a special turntable so it can be viewed from all angles inside the boat.

While watching the cricket and devouring sandwiches presented by Agland's daughter, I found another of these secret switches at the base of the dinette. It's for a colour laptop which rises like a phoenix from the centre of table. All very high-tech, indeed.

An office, familyroom, livingroom, sleeping space and entertainment centre rolled into one, the saloon has non-opening windows to help avoid leakage. There is air-conditioning, overhead halogen lights, and stylish control panel near the companionway leading down to the accommodation.

There's also an impressive surround-sound system with the facility to play DVDs. Details, such as drawers that float on German-made stainless runner systems, are the product of a custom motoryacht maker rather than a production-boat builder.

The finish is also world-class, with no rough edges on the upholstery and relatively even gaps between headliner panels throughout. The carpet was a jade colour which hit it off with the buff-coloured leather lounges, tartan scatter cushions, neutral headliner and the rich-red tones of cherrywood.

While the cream and parsley marine-vinyl wall-liner looked for all the world like wallpaper, it's practical in that it can be wiped clean.

The air of elegance is exemplified by a handcrafted Bodo Muche statue of a jumping marlin on a sea of opal.

SHIPBOARD LIFE
Unlike some showboats, The Weapon was built to be worked.

Behind a high servery designed to keep food preparation out of sight is an L-shaped galley to port. It's better than what you'll find in most homes, with stainless-steel splash backs and long black-and-silver granite benchtops, a view of the sea, cupboards to fill and a walk-in pantry a few steps away.

Amenities include a Gaggenau two-burner electric stove and barbecue top with built-in extractor fan, a big stainless sink with single-action Grohe tap, Miele microwave/oven, domestic-sized fridge with cherrywood facia, Miele dishwasher and an intercom so the skipper can place his lunch order.

Down five stairs, a long companionway reminiscent of what you can find in a cruise ship leads to the accommodation and the laundry.

The idea behind the accommodation is to provide comforts and storage in separate, private cabins with at least bigger-than-usual single bunks.

The first cabin on the starboard-side has a single berth mounted on a cherrywood base with an inner-spring mattress, big hanging space, plethora of huge drawers, airconditioning and music. There's a dressing area with mirror, jade-velour bedspread, halogen lighting, floor-space to dress and music if you want it.

Opposite and amidships is the best cabin in the boat, with a big double berth covered in a royal-blue velour bedspread.

There are hatches beside the bed, a recessed television and video player, curved ceiling liner, timber trim, air conditioning and an en suite.

Like a superyacht's, the en suite has benchtops finished in marble, three mirrors along a wall, a big vanity and sink, plus towel racks, stylish chrome fittings, an extractor fan and a shower with massage nozzle.

The loos are special units called Headhunters from America. They use a venturi principle which is said to be better than a Vacuflush unit. Not sure how to put this, but the waste doesn't run through a pump but is sucked away. The loos run on freshwater to avoid further fetidness.

The next cabin to starboard is reserved for the laundry. Cherrywood joinery, teak-and-holly flooring and separate Miele Novotronic dryer and washer, make even the most menial tasks aboard something to look forward to. There's room to iron, plus storage for towels, linen and dirty clothes.

Next, the third cabin. Another single for guests or children on the starboard-side, it mirrors the former single cabin except for two portholes. The single is also oversized and with all the comforts it's not at all like sleeping on a boat.

Finally, the forepeak cabin. With an island double berth that can be split into singles, cherrywood steps up to the bed, his and her hanging lockers, big sidepockets for open storage and nice curves. It's possible to sleep in here while underway.

My notes say something about this forepeak cabin being good enough for Betty Windsor. So, too, the second head or en suite. It also has a door through to the companionway for guests and more floor-space room than the other private head.

DRIVE TIME
As you can gather, there's a lot to appreciate inside The Weapon. Outside, en route to Rottnest Island with a southeasterly (or was it a northwesterly) belting across the Indian Ocean, there was even more to talk about.

The Weapon is powered by Series 2000 M90 MTU engines that put out 1350hp aside. The V-12s have sequential turbo-chargers and, with five-bladed props, they pushed the hull to 33kt at 2300rpm.

The props are being reworked so the boat does 35kt, which is what it did in seatrials before the wheels were tweaked after pitting was found on their blades.

Handy cruise speed is 26.2kt, but above 24kt the flanges on the side-exiting exhausts kick up a noticeable rooster tail.

Wright explains that the MTU mechanics in Brisbane insisted on these side exhausts, however, the MTU people in WA beg to differ. Aside from creating drag a shame on a hull that's been so thoroughly tank-tested theses exhausts also blew spray into your face every time your peered over the side. One can imagine the expletives from the deckies as they leaned over to unhook a billfish. Agland plans to convert the exhausts into more traditional outlets in the transom quarters.

While the swell was tame off Fremantle when we ran around offshore, Agland remains enamoured by the seaworthiness of his boat. During the delivery trip from Brisbane to Cairns across to the Top End to Perth, he found himself driving the boat into 22kt of wind and a big sea at 24kt without a worry in the world.

(Ed: Yes, you read it right about the delivery run... Rumour has it Norman Wrights has another client that has built a number of motoryachts who insists on taking each boat on a shakedown run straight after it's put in the water. The shakedown run is from Brisbane down around the bottom of Tasmania and back!).

With a 2G rating, The Weapon can handle the impact, while Norman Wrights' engineering a bit more conservative than most peoples' is designed for a life at sea Hence, the 3000lt/day Dolphin desalinater, 23.5kVa Seawasp genset, three airconditioning units, 70lt hot-water service, 7500lt of diesel and 1500lt of water. Fully laden, the boat weighs an efficient 41,200kg. The delivery trip took four weeks, plus a week of fishing at Lizard Island. Here, Agland lost a grander to the local, well-fed, tiger sharks. While it's a big boat to hot-dog, it can run down a flighty fish; it's also one of the most comfortable to fish from.

Driving the boat seated or standing felt fantastic, with a huge view forward. But backing down requires getting used to the feather-light electronic controls. And as is typical of the new-fangled, the boat exhibits a degree of lag when you advance the throttles.

Interestingly, the boat actually gains speed when you run with some in-trim, even when running down swell.

At rest, the hull is more stable than conventional deep-vees, while trolling speed sees a lovely wash with some deep-blue windows fanning out behind.

The Weapon is a new force on the West Coast. Agland plans to fish the FADs, the trenches and the tournament at the Houtman Abrolhos out from Geraldton. I don't doubt he'll follow these plans through.

If The Weapon is a dream come true, then Agland is most definitely a man inspired.