The Build - E01 - Building A One Of A Kind Boat
The Build; a new series designed to show you the innovations, designs, engineering and hand-crafted builds of the industries latest center console yacht brand. Founded on four brand pillars; Family, Fishing, Luxury and Performance, Phenom Yachts is proud to take you inside our factory and show you steps taken on each of our builds and more. In our first episode you'll meet a few of our team and get to see the final touches of Phenom 37 Hull number 7 and the first steps on our next 37 build, hull number 8.
Welcome to "The Build" by Phenom Yachts, our periodic update series that provides an in-depth look inside our factory to show you the steps necessary to create our semi-custom performance yachts.
Today, we are at the Phenom production facility in Summerville, South Carolina. Here, we build semi-custom center console yachts that offer extensive customization options for each customer. These options include colors, faux teak, engine packages, and upholstery packages. For example, we have a custom-colored boat, internally called the Bentley boat. This is the Phenom 37, Hull number 7, which a customer requested to be painted in Silver Lake blue to match his car. We achieved this custom color through a meticulous post-paint process.
We also have the Phenom 37, Hull number 8, which has just come out of the mold. Our fully infused full grid Stringer system is a key feature of our boats. This system reduces noise and vibration throughout the boat by making contact with the hull sides on the inside of the boat. The Stringer grid extends high up the hull sides, which enhances its effectiveness. Additionally, the full grid Stringer system allows us to design integrated components, such as fish boxes, directly within the Stringer system. These boxes are foam-filled to provide excellent ice retention for on-water activities.
After a boat is pulled from the mold, the mold must be cleaned and prepped for the next spray date. This involves removing dust and residual particles to prevent imperfections in future boats. The mold is then waxed to ensure it releases easily. This cleaning and prepping process is a crucial first step in creating a world-class product.
Next, we took Hull number 7, the Bentley boat, to the water for its first test. This water commissioning test involves running through all the boat's systems to ensure they are functioning correctly. The motors are primed, and various performance tests are conducted. We also test the Seakeeper, a gyro stabilization system, which takes about 35 to 40 minutes to spool up. This test ensures the Seakeeper pumps water, actuates properly, and holds in place. We also fill the sea chest and test all the live wells, bilge pumps, and the air conditioning system to ensure they work correctly.
During the live well tests, the wells are filled in manual mode and then switched to automatic mode, where they fill to the top and maintain a low PSI. This low PSI keeps the bait fresh without blowback. The sea chest is also checked for leaks, and the entire system is reviewed during the commissioning process.
After completing the water tests, we identified a few small punch list items to fix back at the plant. The boat still needs some upholstery work, but overall, it performed very well. We then pulled the boat out of the water and headed back to the plant to finish it up.
Thank you for following along with our first episode of "The Build" by Phenom Yachts. If you have any questions, please post them below and be sure to visit our website at phenomyachts.com for more information and updates.