Design
The Voyager 45 is a unique solution for those individuals who require an "all weather" motor yacht for extended cruising. Although the Voyager has a modified planing hull, the unique design avoids the pounding motion found in most constant dead rise planing boats. In addition, the design is easily driven, with excellent lift coefficients creating fuel economy for a range of over 700 miles. The Voyager will operate comfortably at speeds from 5 knots to 29 knots. The skeg keel protects the running gear and provides directional stability in a quartering sea. Unlike slow trawler designs that require large engines just to reach top speeds of 15 knots, the Voyager 45 operates at only 60 per cent ratings at 20 knots, saving fuel and engine wear. The fuel economy claims of trawlers are accurate only at 8 knot displacement speeds, as their fuel-burn more than triples when they are powered by large engines in the attempt to reach 15 knots. Trawlers are semi-displacement chine hull designs that provide little hydrodynamic lift from forward motion. Parasitic drag increases dramatically on semi-displacement boats at higher speeds because the hull digs into the water instead of lifting. This creates a large bow wave and a very wet boat. The rolling motion on semi-displacement hulls can be violent and very uncomfortable. A semi-displacement hull is fine for work boats where large changes in weight and load-carrying requirements occur, but the design offers no real advantage for a yacht where weight is relatively constant.
A displacement power boat, properly equipped, can be a solution for long passages where 8 knots top speed with a small single engine gives the necessary range. Unfortunately, true power displacement hulls are very slow and tend to roll excessively without the expensive addition of some method to dampen the motion such as stabilizers or paravanes. Besides being very expensive, recent displacement hull power boat ocean trips have proved that such incredible complicated vane stabilizers are very unreliable and almost impossible to repair underway. On sailboat displacement hulls, the ballasted keel, mast and sails create the equilibrium to limit rolling motion. There is no similar counter weight and force on a displacement power boat.
The Voyager 45 's proven hull design is seaworthy, fast and economical to operate. A sea trial will quickly confirm the virtues and capabilities of the Voyager design as the perfect solution for long-distance cruising while still retaining good top end speed. In addition to speed, range and motion, the flared bow sections keep breaking seas and spray off the deck. The ability to go either fast or slow in any wind and sea condition makes the Voyager 45 a yacht that can leave the marina when even larger boats are forced to stay in harbor.
The Voyager 45 is truly a remarkable motor yacht. The hull design takes advantage of the latest hydrodynamic technology for comfort, speed, economy and seaworthiness. The possibilities of custom interior accommodation plans maximize real effective utilization of space. Shannon's construction and engineering standards are unmatched in the boating industry. All of these factors are combined in the Voyager for absolute luxury and safety. A close inspection will verify that the Voyager 45 is designed and built to be the final word in mid-sized offshore motor yachts
