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The solution was to support the davit on a tripod of six-inch-diameter high-strength steel columns; one on either side, at the aft corners of the bridge deck, and a third built into a bulkhead in the day head. Hidden above the headliner, steel beams tie the upper ends of the tripod together to form a stout foundation that blends seamlessly into the yacht.

Carrying the heavy tender high up on the bridge deck might have posed other challenges for the designers, if it weren't for another of the owner's requirements: that Valkyrie be capable of navigating the Intracoastal circle, meaning she must be able to drop her overall height above the waterline to 19'6" or less. By keeping her profile low, Valkyrie maintains more than adequate stability even with the fully fueled tender stowed on her bridge deck. And with the tender hanging from the davit at its maximum outreach her heel angle is no more than four degrees.

To get the yacht below the 19'6" height so she can make it under the lower bridges on the inland waterways, it's necessary to launch the shore boats (the 28-foot catamaran and a smaller RIB) and lower the radar arch. This latter task is easily accomplished by simply removing a few stainless steel bolts, then using the davit to pivot the arch downward into the space where the tenders are normally stowed.

Although Valkyrie can navigate our inland waterways, her owner's cruising ambitions extend worldwide. Bountiful stowage spaces allow her to be self-sustaining for extended periods of time, and she carries 10,000 gallons of fuel, sufficient to achieve a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles at speeds of 10 to 12 knots. But for shorter sprints, and to get out to distant fishing grounds, her twin 1,800-hp DDC-MTU 16V2000 diesels push the semidisplacement hull to a top speed of 22 knots, or a normal cruise speed around 18 knots.

With a maximum draft of just over six feet, Valkyrie will be able to explore most of the world's cruising destinations. Her fiberglass hull was built at Westport Shipyard, but finish work was done at Crescent Custom Yachts in Vancouver. To meet the contract draft requirement of 6'2", Crescent fitted the hull with oversized propeller pockets at the stern, about 50 percent deeper than standard tunnels. Sarin's engineers explained that the small loss in efficiency resulting from the use of deeper tunnels was largely offset by the benefit of having a flatter shaft angle. The propellers are also smaller in diameter (50 inches) to keep draft at a minimum, with slightly increased blade area to absorb the full delivered horsepower.

Use of cored construction methods also helped in meeting the stringent draft requirement. The hull is cored with Airex foam, known to be tolerant of impact loads, while the deck and superstructure are cored with stiffer cross-linked PVC foam. Another important factor was the yard's attention to weight control; during construction, Valkyrie was weighed no less than seven times to make sure her finished weights were in line with the designer's estimates.

Notwithstanding the importance of keeping within a weight budget, there was no skimping on comfortable accommodations throughout the yacht's interior. Classic colors and textures were selected to give Valkyrie a warm and inviting feel that will not be dated soon. She's quiet, cozy, and luxurious, with an air of practicality--seats that you wouldn't be afraid to sit in and a big country-kitchen-style galley equipped to satisfy a gourmet.

To enhance offshore cruising comfort, Valkyrie is equipped with oversize Naiad roll stabilizers. Generous bulwarks, a fine forward entry, and nine-inch-wide spray flats near the bow ensure a soft and dry ride. And because one the owner's prior yachts was lost at sea in a hurricane, Valkyrie is fitted with one-inch-thick glass in the pilothouse and half-inch-thick glass in the side windows, along with back-up controls and extensive weather monitoring capabilities.

Since her launch in June, the yacht has cruised extensively throughout southeastern Alaskan waters and up into the glaciers. The owner has fished extensively from the yacht and from the Kevlacat. Doubtless he's landed some memorable fish, but the prize catch is Valkyrie herself.

Crescent Custom Yachts Phone: (954) 255-0706. Fax: (954) 255-0805. www.crescentcustomyachts.com.

George L. Petrie is a professor of naval architecture at Webb Institute and provides maritime consulting services. His Web site is www.maritimeanalysis.com.

For additional photos, visit our Web site at powerandmotoryacht.about.com/webfeatures.

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