Green Marine, the high performance composite racing and performance cruising yachts builder, has been designated by yacht designers Claydon Reeves as the official production partner for their extraordinary new Aeroboat.
This remarkable-looking boat will be built in carbon fibre with wood veneers, and will be powered by the Rolls Royce Merlin V12 engine, which famously powered the Spitfire WWII fighter plane. With a length of 14.6 metres the design combines old-school romance with contemporary technology and, while intended as a high-speed day boat for up to seven passengers, it will have a small forward cabin complete with double berth and bathroom.
Production will be limited to a maximum of ten Aeroboats, with the Merlin engines now a scarce and prized resource. Capable of delivering up to 2,100hp and famed for their wonderful, full-throated roar, the engines will be fitted with two-stage exhausts providing a fully-silenced system when in port and the option to bypass when offshore for the full Merlin experience. The fit-out for each boat will be fully customisable to create a series of unique craft. The top speed will be around 50 knots.
“We are really looking forward to building the Aeroboat,” commented Green Marine Technical Director Geoff Stock. “Until three years ago Green Marine worked out of the original Spitfire assembly plant at Woolston in Southampton, so the Merlin connection is part of our own story as well as an important part of the local heritage. It is going to be something very special to hear the roar of Merlin engines across the Solent after all these years.”
The Aeroboat was officially introduced at a reception recently held at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showroom in Berkeley Square, London. Depending on the individual specifications the Aeroboat will cost €2.5 to €3.0 million.
- LOA: 14.64m
- Beam: 2.98m
- Max draught: 1.14m (depending on propellers)
- Weight: 7,700kg
- Passengers: 7 max
- Power: 1600-2100hp
- Max speed: 50 knots