BALTIC 87, CUSTOM
Autumn 1996 (middle of November) the Baltic 87 sailed away from Pietarsaari heading for warmer climates and Blue Water Sailing. The test sails carried out with this yacht here in Pietarsaari showed a boat with extremely good sailing performance and easy-to-handle characteristics for its size. Due to the high tech building techniques the yachts final weight could be kept fairly low, considering the type of yacht and equipment level, and this greatly contributed to the good performance. Hull laminate was basically in Carbon fiber's with some addition of Aramide in the outside skins for added impact resistance. The deck and structural bulkheads were in full Carbon laminates. All laminates was made using Epoxy resins and vacuum bagged plus post cured at higher temperatures for maximum strength and durability.
The Baltic 87 had a very high equipment level for it size. To mention some of the equipment/concepts:
- Pilot house
- Lifting keel. Stainless steel keel fin with a large lead bulb.
- Twin rudders. This reduced draft with the keel up plus allowing for the dingy garage
- Twin MTU engines
- Controllable pitch propeller systems
- Twin Northern Lights Diesel generators
- Twin steering wheels including twin engine control systems
- Bow thruster
- Water maker
- Washer
- Dryer
- Trash compactor
- Carbon spar and booms with In-Boom-Furling mainsail system
- Hydraulic winch systems including two Line Management winches
- Totally over 45 hydraulic functions in the yacht
- Satellite communication
- Nav. Computer
- Auto pilot
- Etc. etc.
However the perhaps most unique feature on the 87 was the stern Dinghy garage. There are two large stern deck hatches and a transom hatch all opening up hydraulically to reach the dinghy. The stern center part could thereafter be lowered until the dinghy floated free. This resulted in a system where this large dinghy, with inboard motor and water jet, could be stored fully inflated and covered but still was easy to launch. A yacht full of new ideas and features that lives up to the original ideas generated by the naval architect Judel/Vrolijk in co-operation with the owner.
| L.O.A. | 26.500 m | 86.942 ft |
| L.W.L. | 22.400 m | 73.491 ft |
| Beam | 6.200 m | 20.341 ft |
| Draft (up) | 2.800 m | 9.186 ft |
| Draft (down) | 4.7 m | 15.420 ft |
| Displacement | 52000 kg | 114641 lbs |
| IG | 32.500 m | 106.627 ft |
| J | 9.540 m | 31.299 ft |
| P | 29.500 m | 96.785 ft |
| E | 10.340 m | 33.924 ft |
E-Mail Baltic Yachts, USA
53 America's Cup Avenue
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-846-0300
Fax: 401-846-5757