Gh74

[Spottsville]

Originally Posted by BandB

Delivered sort of. Has it been completed in every way and turned over to the owner to go cruise? And let's not overlook that there are things about the first group they say they're modifying for future builds, so in a way they're all somewhat like prototypes.



They use Mz. Tron's quote liberally on their web site and state she subsequently became owner of hull #1 and yet they haven't finished the boat, haven't delivered it, and both parties have become very silent in all regards to it. They post the sea trials of the shell of that boat on their site, sea trials from nearly a year ago, and still no boat. Notice no updates on #3 or #4. So they got one boat partially finished in #2 just to put in a show.

Wow, you speak as if you know for certain............


Here is an excerpt from the current, Great Harbour Newsletter:

Spirit Song and the Great Loop

Spirit Song cruising on the Intracoastal waterway near Jacksonville, Florida.
The first TT35 to leave the Great Harbor yard is now being readied for a year-long cruising adventure on the waterways of North America. From name to color scheme and interior décor, Spirit Song is a reflection of owner Jim Lowe's patriotism and faith. “Spirit Song is the title of a hymn [from the United Methodist Hymnal] that we were married to,” he says, “and it was the name of our ranch in Missouri.” The red-white-and-blue theme that is carried through the boat is a tribute to Jim's love of country. He served in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader, then later became a military aviator, flying the Army's OV-1 aircraft.

“I did a brief stint as a commercial pilot after the service,” he recalls, “ but didn't enjoy the routine nature of the job.” He instead became a specialist in organizational management, a career which he says proved both challenging and rewarding. “I'd be called in to find things that were broken, and look for ways to fix them.” It wasn't until later in life that he came to boating, after moving to Jacksonville Beach, Florida. “I got an offshore, twin-engine boat, but didn't enjoy going out and getting beat up at high speed,” he says. “I found that I really enjoyed cruising at a relaxed pace on the waterways.”

Jim Lowe and Coco in the saloon of Spirit Song.
Initially, Jim confined his cruising to local waters, but eventually set his sights on doing the Great Loop. “As I began to make plans for the cruise, and read the lessons learned from other 'Loopers', it became apparent my current boat was not what was needed,” he notes. “Running the numbers showed that the twin 250 HP outboards on that boat couldn't deliver desirable fuel efficiency for long range cruising,” he says. In addition to efficiency, Jim's other primary criteria for his new boat were interior comfort and the capability for single-handed operation. Research lead him to the TT35 project while the boat was still in the development stage. “[The TT35] appeared to meet all our requirements,” he says, “and after a visit [to the Great Harbour yard] and a review of design specifications, we were confident it was our answer”

Among the features that drew Jim to the TT35 was the shallow draft, which his research told him would be a benefit on certain sections of the Loop. Another was the choice of gas outboards instead of a diesel inboard. “I'm not a diesel mechanic,” he says. “The outboards represent a lot less maintenance, and I know there are more people who can work on outboards” The TT35's four-stroke 60 hp Suzuki engines also met Jim's goals for fuel efficiency. “I plan to do the Loop cruise at an average of 8 to 10 knots,” he says. “I was pleased to see real-world fuel consumption of 2 gph at those speeds. Some cruisers spend up to $30,000 on fuel to complete the Loop, I figure to do it for around $5,000."

Jim's first mate for the Loop cruise will be his service dog Coco, who is a three-year-old Goldador. Jim's wife Joy will be joining him at times, as will other family members. But for most of the trip, he will be operating solo. To facilitate single-handed operation, Spirit Song is fitted with a bow thruster and joystick control system, which allows Jim to easily pivot and position Spirit Song when docking. In addition, the sliding helm door provides direct access to the bow and starboard side deck.


An overhead view of Spirit Song shows the large solar array carried on the roof.
Jim will spend the first months of 2018 cruising in the Jacksonville area, honing his boat handling skills and gaining familiarity with Spirit Song. He anticipates an April 1 start on the Loop cruise, with the intention of arriving at the entrance to the Erie Canal in time for its mid-May opening. Though he has generated a wish list of places to stop and sights to see, Jim says he is leaving a lot of flexibility in his schedule. Quoting one of his fellow Loopers, he notes that “the most dangerous thing every carried aboard is a schedule.”
“Between the Loop and its side trips, you have more than 22,000 miles of inland waterways to discover,” Jim says. To further highlight his anticipated adventures, he shares a list posted by another fellow Looper known as Capt. John, who writes that “On the way around the Loop, you will cruise right by: 59 forts & fortresses; 52 National Parks; 48 lighthouses; 46 US Historical Sites; 42 top-listed vacation spots; 40 famous grave sites; 18 pirate & Civil War shipwrecks; 12 Civil War battlefields; the oldest city on US; the oldest city in Canada; and the Statute of Liberty.”

In addition to these highlights, the Loop is certain to provide Jim, Coco and the Lowe family with a wealth of personal life-list experiences and memories. He'll be chronicling his cruise as a blogger, and we look forward to reading and sharing more of his adventure.

[Donsan]

Originally Posted by Spottsville

Wow, you speak as if you know for certain............

Spirit Song owners blog paints a slightly different story but not anything particularly damning. What is damning is the way GH has let the ball drop on hull #1 no matter how you slice and dice it.

[knotheadcharters]

I too would build the 74 if I hit the lottery, although I think a 60 foot would be a little more optimum for my needs. I have always liked the GH47's.

[JLD]

GH has a facebook page, but I don't see any easily to find facebook link on the GH website. I think that someone should suggest to the company that they have a more apparent link. Facebook is a great marketing tool, even for folks, like myself who don't usually use facebook.

So, looking at both the GH website and their facebook page, it appears to be that GH has delivered only one TT35 to a customer, Spirit Song, which apparently was delivered this past November? I, too, wonder what happened to the other 3 hulls, and if there has been any more TT35's built?

Having basically built 4 prototypes seems to me an odd way to launch a new boat. I wonder why they didn't build a single boat, get all the kinks worked out, and then ship it to the major boat shows (Annapolis, Miami, and Seattle (?), others(?)) and market the heck out of it to drum up orders?

I think the very long time span from the announcement of the TT35 to the delivery of TT35's, have some questioning what the delivery time would be for a GH74, a boat that would be a much more complicated build.

Jim

[dhmeissner]

Originally Posted by leeman

I love it. My kind of boat.
I feel the same about this one.

60 ft Seahorse survey vessel

Thanks for that link.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by BandB

Tell me why you would choose the GH 74 vs all the other boats in that range? Vs. the North Pacific 62. Vs. Outer Reef 72 and 70', vs. Grand Banks 60, Hatteras 75, Marlow 66, KK 55, Nordhavn 68 and 72, Searay 65, Ocean Alexander 70, Cheoy Lee 72, Horizon 72, 73 or 74?

Originally Posted by wannaboat

I don't like the look of those other boats, they're to flash....

There is a market for larger yachts without too much flash, or *bling*

Check out this one, which isn't a converted vessel...it's a new build:

Whitby Yachts | Appearance

[wannaboat]

I ike the look of the Whitby but the single engine concerms me.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by wannaboat

I ike the look of the Whitby but the single engine concerms me.

Main: Mirrlees Blackstone ETS8 720hp @ 750rpm

Auxiliary: Cummins NTA855M (14 litres) 400hp at 1800rpm

Whitby Yachts | Outline Specification

[wannaboat]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

Main: Mirrlees Blackstone ETS8 720hp @ 750rpm

Auxiliary: Cummins NTA855M (14 litres) 400hp at 1800rpm

Whitby Yachts | Outline Specification

I stand corrected, thanks. It's what I get for responding before caffiene injection.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by wannaboat

I stand corrected, thanks. It's what I get for responding before caffiene injection.

Snorting regular grind wakes me up

[BandB]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

There is a market for larger yachts without too much flash, or *bling*

Check out this one, which isn't a converted vessel...it's a new build:

Whitby Yachts | Appearance

How many of those has Whitby sold?

[MurrayM]

Oh...and it has a 360 degree azimuthing stern thruster as well.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by BandB

How many of those has Whitby sold?

Don't know.

If I was in the market for a vessel in this size range I'd rather have an understated vessel such as Able One rather than one who's design was driven by a marketing team subscribing to the Aaron Spelling school of management...higher sales catering to the lowest common denominator within the large yacht purchasing crowd.

[Ski in NC]

What the heck is that 400hp aux engine for?

[BandB]

Originally Posted by MurrayM

Don't know.

If I was in the market for a vessel in this size range I'd rather have an understated vessel such as Able One rather than one who's design was driven by a marketing team subscribing to the Aaron Spelling school of management...higher sales catering to the lowest common denominator within the large yacht purchasing crowd.

Well, you said "there is a market." No evidence at all there is. Someone trying to establish one but making some drawings or a design and putting it on a web site isn't evidence of a market. Sales are evidence of a market. You say "if I was in the market for a vessel in this size range" but you're not. This brings us back to the GH74, that the market has shown no interest in it while others in that size range are selling. Good marketing teams subscribe to designing what the consumer will buy.

[MurrayM]

Originally Posted by BandB

Well, you said "there is a market." No evidence at all there is. Someone trying to establish one but making some drawings or a design and putting it on a web site isn't evidence of a market. Sales are evidence of a market. You say "if I was in the market for a vessel in this size range" but you're not. This brings us back to the GH74, that the market has shown no interest in it while others in that size range are selling. Good marketing teams subscribe to designing what the consumer will buy.

Good point, but sales numbers do not necessarily mean it's a good design, only that the boat satisfies a small segment of the herd that'll absorb the added cost of *bling* and marketing campaigns into the purchase price.

[wannaboat]

I would own this 1996 ABD Aluminum Enclosed pilothouse Power Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com

[wannaboat]

But I still prefer the GH74.

[MurrayM]

We'd never go for any in this size range anyway because we love to explore hidden corners of places like Betteridge Inlet on Campania Island:

https://mapcarta.com/24144082

[Donsan]

Originally Posted by wannaboat

But I still prefer the GH74.

Keep buying those lotto tickets!