Suzuki are engine of choice for the Coast Guard

Capricorn Coast gets power boost with Kevlacat and Suzuki

QF 11 Coast Guard Yeppoon has added a new custom built Kevlacat vessel to its fleet, to service the Capricorn Coast extending northward to Broadsound and southward to Cape Capricorn.

The Kevalcat 3700 took sixteen weeks to complete at the company’s Warana factory in Queensland and was delivered on schedule.

The vessel has been custom built to meet the search and rescue requirements of the Flotilla.

With considerable input from the QF11 committee and the experienced build team at Kevlacat the vessel has exceeded all of the performance and function requirements of the build specification.

Being built to meet Queensland 2C Survey requirements ensures the safety of the volunteer crew is not compromised.

Powered by twin Suzuki DF300 outboards, the Kevlacat craft was put to work in mid-August, replacing QF 11 Coast Guard Yeppoon’s 9.6m Nustar Cat, which has been in service for ten years.

Kevlacat Power Boats Australia Director Andrew Earle said the 9.8 metre Kevlacat 3700 was one of the fastest response offshore vessels on the market, designed to operate in extreme conditions.  

“With an overall length of 37 feet this boat is no toy and subsequently has earned itself a reputation as being one of the best sea boats in the country, and the boat of choice for many rescue organisations, commercial fisherman and charter boat operators,” Andrew said.

Able to achieve a cruise speed of 25knots and a Wide Open Throttle of 38knots, The Kevlacat 3700’s hull is constructed of glass reinforced vinylester, polyester isothalic resin and chopstrand, with reinforced layers of Kevlar unidirectional materials that meet U.S.L. specifications.

All Kevlacat vessels bulkheads and bearers are constructed from G.R.P. which is reinforced and laminated to the hull with stiffeners. The Kevlacat 3700 also incorporates Balsa reinforcing in forward sections of the tunnel, superstructure F.R.P. chopped strand glass and divinycell core construction.

The transom is reinforced without the use of timbers and has been partnered with twin Suzuki DF300 four stroke outboards, the world’s first 300HP four-stroke outboard.

Designed with a 4.0-litre V6 engine to give the largest displacement found in the industry, Suzuki’s latest in state-of-the-art outboard power is designed to power big performance-oriented boats with plenty of low-end torque, smooth acceleration and exciting top-end speeds.

Andrew Earle said Suzuki’s DF300 four-stroke outboards were chosen as the power of choice for this application for the fuel economy they delivered at cruise speeds and the mid range torque to tow heavy loads.

“The electronic throttle/gear set makes vessel control easy, which is important in the line of work it has been created to do.

“These impressive four stokes are fast becoming the first choice of water police, customs, air-sea rescue and various other rescue services for their unrelenting power and top performance on rough open waters,” he said.

QF 11 Coast Guard Yeppoon Coast is located at Rosslyn Bay, about 7 km south of Yeppoon along the Scenic Highway. Roslyn Bay is the port for ferries servicing the Keppel Islands.

Coast Guard Yeppoon staff the double storied, white painted headquarters building from 0600 Friday morning to 1800 Monday evening. Neighboring Keppel Sands Coast Guard share the week’s watch by staffing their headquarters from Tuesday to Thursday.

The new Kevlacat 3700 will join the QF 11 Coast Guard Yeppoon’s existing vessel, a 7.3m Shark Cat.

Specifications:
•    LOA – 37ft
•    Beam – 3.2mtrs
•    Fuel – 1200ltrs
•    Fresh water – 90ltrs
•    Cruise speed – 25knts
•    WOT – 38knts
•    Displacement – 6000kgs (fully laden)
•    Electronics – Furuno Navnet VX-2 system including 3 x 10.4″ screens/36Nm radome/Nav pilot
•    Communications – 3 x ICOM VHF radios all with DSC, 1 x 27meg radio, Sat phone
•    Search lights and Infra-red camera