COMMERCIAL BOATS & RESERCH VESSELS
Watsons Marine has been commissioned to build several commercial vessels for prestigious Universities & Commercial operators. These vessels have been designed for a specific purpose and with the need for excellent performance, endurance and reliability.
We work closely with our clients to ensure all their specifications are met on time and on budget. We understand most or part of the funds often comes from grant money, as such there are guidelines and time frames that need to be adhered to.
When designing a boat with a specific purpose in mind it sometimes requires thinking outside the box to find the right product or component to achieve the desired function.
The Australian Government supports organisations to engage in the management of Australian Marine Parks. They support projects that help ensure marine parks are healthy, resilient and well managed. Part of the management is encouraging ongoing research and management of our parks, and that means these departments and universities need boats.
This is where we can help, having already been part of this process with James Cook University, Griffith Universities and The Australian Institute of Marine Science, as well as others conducting private research.
If your organisation is in need of new or replacement boats, talk to us about your requirements. Our previous clients are so please with the outcome they are happy to discuss our service and the end product with any prospective clients.
JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY
TOWNSVILLE
James Cook University (JCU) Boating and Diving is the largest-scale marine research operations facility in Queensland. Their focus is on well maintained, quality equipment that meets stringent Australian safety standards and AMSA.
On the 18th of November 2019, JCU took delivery of their new 680 Vindicator Quality Plate Alloy Boat & Trailer, powered by twin 130hp Yamaha Four Stroke Engines, built under AMSA for 2C Survey 6 persons and up to 50nm, named “Kasmira” This vessel will be monitoring Seagrass Ecology, Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem water quality, hydrology, engineering, physics, oceanography, modelling and resource economics.
Watson’s Marine Centre of Gympie, builders of the boat and trailer along with Yamaha Motor Australia are proud to be associated with JCU ‘s research vessel that will undertake the study of our Great Barrier Reef marine environment.
The Vindicator 6.80 survey vessel is 7.20m overall with a 2.5m Beam making it very stable on the water and delivering an excellent stability test. The Vindicator 680 delivers safe, predictable handling and the ability to handle rough conditions with ease on trials. It offers high performance running to 35 knots fitted with the twin Yamaha
F130hp Four Stroke Outboards with Binnacle Controls and Single Gauge. Being trailed by a Vindicator Quality Aluminium Trailer on 15” wheels with a Boat Catch fitted to the boat & Trailer making it very easy to launch & retrieve.
JCU work with undergraduate and postgraduate students, external organisations such as CSIRO and AIMS, other universities and research institute through the world. JCU’s Boating and Diving division in Townsville and Cairns campuses are uniquely situated on the doorstep of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef.
Orpheus Island Research Station is a very important natural laboratory, home to 1100 known species of fish and 340 of the 350 known species of reef coral. With over 3000 individual reef systems, the Great Barrier Reef is a hotspot for marine diversity, attracting researchers and students from across the world to study marine biology and ecology, coastal management, climate change, and veterinary science, among many other fields.
680 Vindicator Half Cabin - Kasmira
The 680 Kasmira is a well-equipped vessel with the following:
- Side Door & Removable Ladder for easy access for divers,
- Rear Transom door and Fold Up Ladder
- Removable Sorting Tray
- Tow Point at the back of the vessel
- 12v Stress Free Electric Pot Hauler Winch for hauling up samples.
- 12v Electric Bilge Pump and Manual Bilge Pump.
- Non-skid Rubber flooring with sump pump under floor to expel excess water bought onboard from the divers.
- Full length canopy gives protection for the on- board crew from the heat.
- A removable dive rack with folding seats,
- Folding seat behind seats for the Skipper & Navigator making seating for the six crew.
- Forward cabin providing storage for operational equipment.
- LED Lighting Nav Lights, Stern Light, Cabin Light, Night Light & Back Deck Light.
- VHF Radio, Battery, Battery Box, Isolator Switch & Aerial
- AM/FM Radio, Aerial & Speakers
- Garmin 8412 built into dash
- Zip Wake Trim Tabs and Dash Switch.
- Sat-Phone hard wired to the vessel
- Off-Shore Survey Safety Equipment
- Dual Battery system with Electrical Board at the back of the vessel with Hatches
- Deck Wash Pump & Hose Assy
- Life Buoy & Light fitted to the vessel
- Fresh Water Tank & concealed Hose assy.
- 16 Row Circuit Breaker Switch Panel & Compass
- Boat Catch fitted to Boat & Trailer.
Specifications
|
Type of vessel: |
Half Cabin Research Vessel |
|
Classification: |
AMSA – 2c Unrestricted |
|
Designer: |
Vindicator Quality Aluminium Boats – Gympie |
|
Builder: |
Watsons Marine Centre |
|
Construction material: |
5083 Plate Aluminium |
|
Length overall: |
7.25 metres |
|
Length survey/ measured: |
6.80 metres |
|
Beam: |
2.50 metres |
|
Draft: |
.500 mm |
|
Displacement: |
2.20 tonnes Light Ship |
|
Load Capacity |
1,030 kgs |
|
Main engines: |
2 x 130hp Yamaha Four Stroke Engines |
|
Fuel capacity: |
1 x 350 Ltr |
|
Range: |
190nm @ 22 knots with 10% Reserve |
|
Propellers: |
Dual 16” Talon SDS Stainless |
|
Crew: |
5 + 1 |
|
Trailer: |
Vindicator Quality Aluminium Trailer |
|
Wheels & Tyres: |
Alloy Wheels with 225 /15” Light Truck Tyres |
|
Boat Catch: Tare Weight : Trailer Rated: |
Heavy Duty Large Boat Catch 820Kg 3.495 Ton |
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE of MARINE SCIENCE
TOWNSVILLE
The Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville Queensland is committed to undertaking research that addresses real needs and provides impartial authoritative advice. Our marine estate is the third-largest in the world, covering 10 million square kilometres. This huge area is home to some of the most diverse and iconic ecosystems and species on the planet.
In the past 25 plus years AIMS focus has turned to monitoring and understanding the changes we see in these ecosystems, from Western Australia’s Scott Reef to Darwin’s coastal waters and the Great Barrier Reef. To achieve this successfully they must have the most up to date reliable equipment.
Building “Aquarius” a 6.80m Vindicator Centre Console under 2c survey was a pleasure and an honour. Working alongside their Boating & Dive Officer made it easy for us to deliver exactly what they needed in a vessel to do the job that was required. Keeping in contact with the Officers, updating them with photos during each step of the build was a great help to them in many ways.
Aquarius was commissioned on the 4th December 2014 and delivered to Townsville by Watsons Marine Gympie for their formalisation tour and test run. We still check on Aquarius and talk to the same Boating & Dive Officer using the vessel today along with other skippers.
The vessel is well equipped with everything that is necessary for the 2c/2D Survey requirements along with the specialist equipment. The vessel is involved in keeping the reef healthy, resilient tropical marine ecosystems, including the coral reefs, testing on the quality of the water within and around the tropical marine ecosystems.
After the initial operating period, Vindicator Aquarius performed so well and exceeded AIMS Boat & Dive Officer to the point that major operations were removed from “Apollo” their 10M vessel and the jobs were reassigned to “Aquarius”.
680 Vindicator Centre Console - Aquarius
The 680 Centre Console Vindicator Aquarius is a well-equipped vessel with the following:
- Side Door & Removable Ladder for easy access for divers,
- Front Raised Platform with storage under & a waterproof hatch
- Rear Transom door & Heavy-duty Dive Ladder
- 12v Electric Bilge Pump and Manual Bilge Pump.
- Sump Pump under floor to flush out excess water bought onboard from the divers.
- Checker Plate Flooring
- Full length canopy gives protection for the on- board crew from the heat.
- Centre Console with windscreen, shelves & door
- Large Glove Box with waterproof Hatch
- Seat Box with storage and flip back seat fitted to the Box & rear folding seats
- Icom DSC VHF Radio, Single Battery, Battery Box, Isolator Switch & Aerial
- GME -AIS & Aerial
- Scuba tank bottle racks with holders
- LED Lighting Nav Lights, Stern Light & Extended LED Light
- QL Trim Tabs and Dash Switch.
- Dive Flag Holder
- Lowrance HDS7GPS/Plotter/Sounder/Side scan Transducer,
- C821 Auto Pilot,
- 3G mobile Aerial,
- Hydraulic Steering
- Sat-Phone
- Life Raft with locking straps- mounted in front of console
- Life Buoy & Light fitted to the vessel
- Epirb Box with GME Epirb
- Dual Battery system, Battery Boxes, Battery Shelf & Cover
- Deck Wash Pump & Hose Assy
- 12 Row Circuit Breaker Switch Panel & Compass
- Fuel Tank, Cell Dual Breathers S/S Fuel/water filters built under survey rules
- Davit Point on side if vessel for lifting Coral Samples.
- Muir Anchor Winch, Rope Chain & Anchor
- Off-Shore Survey Safety Equipment & Labelling for all switches.
- Dual 115hp Four Stroke Yamaha Engines,
- Dual Binnacle Controls, Tie Bar Kit & Lan Gauges
- Engine Cowl Covers for protection
- Spare Propellers
- All Certificates needed for 2C Survey requirements.
Specifications
|
Type of vessel: |
Centre Console Research Vessel |
|
Classification: |
2c Unrestricted & 2D |
|
Designer: |
Vindicator Quality Aluminium Boats – Gympie |
|
Builder: |
Watsons Marine Centre- Gympie |
|
Construction material: |
5083 Plate Aluminium |
|
Length overall: |
7.25 metres |
|
Length survey/ measured: |
6.8 metres |
|
Beam: |
2.50 metres |
|
Draught: |
.500 meter |
|
Displacement: |
1.800 tonnes Light Ship |
|
Load Capacity |
930kg |
|
Main engines: |
2 x 115hp Yamaha Four Stroke Engines |
|
Propellers:
Max HP: Fuel capacity: |
Dual 16” Talon SDS Stainless Steel
Dual 130hp’s 1 x 250 Ltr |
|
Range: |
135 nm @ 22 knots with 10% Reserve |
|
Survey 2C:
Survey 2D: |
MSQ NSCV 2c Restricted 4 persons within 50nm from the QLD Coast within the GBR or Torres Straight Zone. 2D Partially smooth waters 5 Personal |
|
Aluminium Trailer: |
Vindicator Tandem Axle Trailer on 14” Wheels |
|
Weight : |
.620KG |
|
Tyres & Wheels : |
Alloy 185/14 Light Truck Tyres |
|
Trailer Rated: |
3.200 KG |
GRIFFITHS UNIVERSITY
Coast Coast Campus
Griffith University has an excellent reputation for turning out graduate students with a good working knowledge of the marine environment and its inhabitants. We are pleased to be part of that, by supplying their Marine Research Vessels.
With cutting-edge teaching and research strengths, Griffith University is an ideal location to study marine biology. Their graduates are equipped to tackle problems that affect our oceans, tourism, fisheries and food production, climate change, maritime pollution and waste management. This is largely due to the highly motivated and professional teachers and state of the art equipment. Griffith University focuses on practical experience, which helps in expanding their students’ knowledge and understanding of the ocean ecosystems. To do this they need the best quality marine equipment and this is why they chose Watson’s Marine to build their boats, built with pride, passion and quality.
Griffith University latest marine research vessel is ready for a full year of operations to deliver the maximum benefit for the Marine Ocean Science Technology, Wildlife and Environment within our Blue Planet. The research is helping to maintain the integrity of our environments and ensure our natural resources are used sustainably. This 6.80m Vindicator “Medusa” is 7.25m overall giving the sciences a large deck space with a length of 3.65m and a width of 2.50m to work, at the moment with Covid 19 two people can operate and remain 1.5m apart with the latest restrictions. “We could not do this work in any other vessel, so we are grateful we have this vessel,” said Jody Kreuger the Boating and Diving Officer.
One of Medusa first projects is a survey of where exactly bull sharks are located within the canal estates of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. “Once we are able to determine where these sharks are most likely to be found, we can then consider how we can manage this hazard. These are areas where people swim, go fishing etc., so it is important to understand the implications of entering the water in ‘hotspots’. The study involves deployment of nets, it is useful to have a vessel with the decent deck space to hold the nets and the side door is also extremely helpful”. This vessel has been purpose-built for many of Griffith Research Teams with an extended bow spit for Whale Research.
Medusa is powered by twin 130 hp Four Stroke Yamaha Engines with binnacle controls, single multi-function gauge, 16-row circuit breaker switch panel, two bilge pumps & a sump pump. The automatic sump is a great addition for when divers re-enter the vessel dispersing the water from the floor. The full-length canopy gives the crew full protection from sun & rain. Medusa has seating for the skipper, navigator and 6 crew, two wonderful comfortable flip back seats, two fold-down seats behind the skipper and navigator and a removable, folding seat at the rear of the vessel for two. A removable electric crane is fitted to the vessel for lifting samples from the seafloor and other uses. One other great addition to this vessel is the side door, a must for loading, unloading, access at ramps, and easy retrieval for many researchers uses, especially in conjunction with the lifting crane. This Vindicator model comes with our Vortex Hull giving you better performance & economy, lifting the vessel out of the water cleaner and quicker. A Vindicator Quality Aluminium Custom Built Trailer has 15” wheels, 50 mm axle, X/large Japanese wheel bearings, X/large buddy bearings, spare wheel & spare wheel carrier are just a few things that come on the trailer for the vessel. A large boat catch was fitted to the front of the trailer and vessel for easy launch & retrieve. The fully welded aluminium trailer was built to last and built for the long haul.
Medusa was built under 2c Survey requirements with all Surveyor Certificates, Design & Flotation plans, Stability Report, E.L.V Electrical Drawings, Bilge Pumps Semantics, Compass, and Compass Adjuster Certificates just a few of the things needed for 2C. Survey.
Vindicator Quality Aluminium Boat &Trailers are built to suit the needs of our clients, delivering commercial and recreation vessels all over Australia.
680 Vindicator Half Cabin - Medusa
The 680 Medusa is a well-equipped vessel with the following:
- Side Door & Removable Ladder for easy access for divers,
- Rear Transom door and Fold Up Ladder
- Tow Point at the back of the vessel
- 12v Stress Free Electric Pot Hauler Winch for hauling up samples.
- 12v Electric Bilge Pump and Manual Bilge Pump.
- Non-skid flooring with sump pump under floor to expel excess water bought onboard from the divers.
- Full length canopy gives protection for the on- board crew from the heat.
- A removable rear folding seats,
- Folding seat behind seats for the Skipper & Navigator making seating for the six crew.
- Forward cabin providing storage for operational equipment.
- LED Lighting Nav. Lights, Stern Light, Cabin Light, Night Light & Back Deck Light.
- VHF Radio, Separate Battery, Battery Box, Isolator Switch & Aerial
- AM/FM Radio, Aerial & Speakers
- Garmin 8412 built into dash
- Zip Wake Trim Tabs and Dash Switch.
- Off-Shore Survey Safety Equipment
- Tri Battery system with Electrical Board at the back of the vessel with Hatches
- Deck Wash Pump & Hose Assy
- Life Buoy & Light fitted to the vessel
- Fresh Water Tank & concealed Hose assy.
- 16 Row Circuit Breaker Switch Panel & Compass
- Electric Anchor Winch, Chain, Rope, Dual Swivel & Anchor
- Boat Catch fitted to Boat & Trailer.
Specifications
|
Type of vessel: |
Half Cabin Research Vessel |
|
Classification: |
AMSA – 2c Unrestricted |
|
Designer: |
Vindicator Quality Aluminium Boats – Gympie |
|
Builder: |
Watsons Marine Centre |
|
Construction material: |
5083 Plate Aluminium |
|
Length overall: |
7.25 metres |
|
Length survey/ measured: |
6.80 metres |
|
Beam: |
2.50 metres |
|
Draft: |
.500 mm |
|
Displacement: |
2.20 tonnes Light Ship |
|
Load Capacity |
1,030 kgs |
|
Main engines: |
2 x 130hp Yamaha Four Stroke Engines |
|
Fuel capacity: |
1 x 350 Ltr |
|
Range: |
190nm @ 22 knots with 10% Reserve |
|
Propellers: |
Dual 16” Talon SDS Stainless |
|
Crew: |
5 + 1 |
|
Trailer: |
Vindicator Quality Aluminium Trailer |
|
Wheels & Tyres: |
Alloy Wheels with 225 /15” Light Truck Tyres |
|
Boat Catch: Tare Weight : Trailer Rated: |
Heavy Duty Large Boat Catch 820Kg 3.495 Ton |
