Spirited 400 'Power'

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The brand new Spirited 400 ‘Power’ utilizes the highly successful sibling ‘Spirited 380’ as a basis for it’s design. Sporting a new semi-displacement underwater hull shape, purpose designed for power-boating with a longer hull improving long range performance, economy and ride comfort.  

The new hull retro-fits onto the existing Spirited 380 hull with only minor modifications. The natural ‘high aspect’ design of the 380 will aid in not only good bridgedeck clearance but also dry decks. Another addition is a new stylish cabin and flybridge which retains the trademark Spirited lines but incorporates good volume internally and enough space up top for a comfortable flybridge area.

Some of the changes you will notice is a different arrangement for the dinghy lift which is built into the cabin overhang with slide-out composite davit arms. This design leaves the swimming platform totally open and usable while the dinghy is not stowed.  

The cabin overhang covering the cockpit area has also been extended with support posts anchored on the cockpit seat back (usually where the mainsheet track would be).   

Access into the hulls from the saloon will also be more open with the vertical sided cabin better suited to a power boat. The extra volume in the saloon will be considerable, with more headroom forward for the option of an internal steering station.  

The large front windows will make a huge difference to the visibility and the general open-feel atmosphere in the saloon area. Because the motors are re-located into the area forward of the main aft bulkhead means the head and shower on the Port side will need to be modified. The separate shower replaces the head area on the standard 380 design with the main head directly forward of this.  

Power

As with any highly efficient power cat design, chosen horsepower could be anywhere between 50 to 75hp for super economical cruising at slower speeds between 12 – 14 knots or; to power up, 100 to 125hp will achieve good top end speeds of between 18 – 20 odd knots.

The smaller engines could be saildrives for easy and compact installation while the bigger options would suit shaft-drive installation.

The motor compartments can be totally isolated from the accommodation therefore accessed from the cockpit. This would be a priority for long passages where heat build-up and noise will be a factor. Carrying a thousand litres of fuel for the larger option of motors and cruise speeds of approximately 15 knots, the estimated range will be in the area of 900 miles.  

On Deck 

Little has changed on deck, the flat decks forward and each side of the cabin remain for inherent safety and comfort either at sea or at anchor.  

The stylish forebeam also remains unchanged for extra structural support for the hulls and usefulness for the anchoring system. Not required is the seagull striker which served it’s purpose for forestay tension support.

Solid stainless steel rails will now encompass the entire fore and side decks as is seen on most power boats for extra safety/usability.

The trampolines will still be featured for the lounging/sunbaking forward. Up in the flybridge there is ample room for entertaining featuring a small entertainment bench with fridge and basin.

The visibility is excellent for docking and the like, if the upstairs steering station is adopted. The flybridge is well-covered by a stylish composite hardtop in-keeping with lines of the boat supported by composite targa legs.

Construction 

Since the design has largely remained unchanged, so has the build process. Using flat pre-cut end-grain balsa panels for the majority of the structure and light weight honeycomb panels for furniture creates an accurate, superior quality and high strength CNC-cut kit.

The Spirited Assembly System (SAS) is still utilized for the build process of the Spirited 400 ‘Power’ model. As per usual the bulkheads drop into the hulls with most parts above this unchanged from the now well-refined 380 kit-system confidently ‘de-bugged’ from multiple build’s and continual feedback.

The moulded rounded decks fit on exactly the same way. The larger ‘power’ cabin will be built using the same method as the Spirited 380 in flat sheet foam bent over MDF pre-cut frames.

The cabin sides are flat panel also, delivered with windows pre-cut to shape as are all hatches, portlights and plumbing holes.

A substantial amount of work can be cut out of a power cat compared to a sail boat. Things like chainplates, mast compression post, seagull striker, deck gear reinforcement pads etc. There is however much more that goes into the engine room on a power boat which to some extent offsets this.

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