Cheetah Marine LLP

7.9m Survey Cheetah with Hydropod and Moonpool installation

This is 7.9m White Ribon purchased by the British Geological Survey in 2009. The Cheetah was built to provide the BGS with a specialised road towable hydrographic survey catamaran designed to collect data in the nearshore zone where traditionally data collection has been difficult. The clip features Cheetah's unique hydropod design which houses various sonar heads and survey installtions.
For full details of various turn - key survey installations available onboard Cheetah Catamarans visit http://www.oceandtm.com/wassp_boat.html

Thanks to British Geological Survey and OceanDTM for use of this clip

Wetwheels Launch at the Southampton Boatshow

The Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan DCVO, was joined at the PSP Southampton Boat Show by distinguished representatives from the marine industry and media, to formally christen Wetwheels, a purpose-built powerboat for disabled people. New owner, Geoff Holt is known worldwide for his contributions to disabled sailing and holds the title as the first Quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the Atlantic. Although Geoff isn't hanging up his sailing wheels, he is currently working on several projects which will introduce Wetwheels as the first wheelchair driven charter boat in the UK.

Single handed recovery of the 6.2m Cheetah

This clip shows the ease at which the 6.2m can be recovered on its trailer. The catamaran is powered on and up the trailer using the engines. A small amount of hand winching secures the hulls snugly into their supports ready for towing.

The Drop Test: 4.5 tonnes of water

The drop test was carried out to see what would happen to the catamaran if a significant amount of water was taken onboard. Weights were used to simulate the engine weight. A crane rig was set up above the deck and 4.5 tonnes of water from a Seaflex lifting bag was dropped onto the deck. The vessel remains stable under full flood. Complete draining time through the two aft scuppers was 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Thorough examination of the vessel following the impact proved there was no internal or external structural damage - but a muddy wheelhouse ceiling!

1995: ‘Ventnor Pride’ surfing

'Ventnor Pride' 9.95m Cheetah designed and built in 1995 surfs up Ventnor Beach - a regular site until the Haven was constructed in 2003. The 6.2m and 9.95m Cheetahs were worked hard and tested for many years by fishermen Sean Strevens and Geoff Blake. The catamarans had to be built very strong to cope with surfing onto the beach at 20 knots, often in very rough weather. The boats were then pushed back down the beach by hand on plastic rollers to be launched. This meant that in addtion to being very strong, they had to be lightweight. Testing the boats in this way and using the latest high tech materials led to the Cheetah success story.

Tank testing

Tank testing of the 9.95m at GKN Westland Aerospace. Tank testing helps to establish hull resistance, trim angles and wash characteristics under different loads and speeds. It also helps to establish outer chine slope critical in keeping spray to a minimum giving a comfortable and dry ride. Look at the way the water acts in the tunnel with the centre wave break on both the model and the real thing. The combination of the hull shape and the wavebreak creates the soft cushioned ride.

7.9m Cheetah Sea Trials

Sea trials of the 7.9m Cheetah built for operation by Skipper in wheelchair. Read the full story written by customer Vic Toy

9.95m Commercial fishing at Cromer

9.95m ‘Laura Ann’ has become a familiar site surfing up the beach at Cromer over the past 14 years. This Cheetah was the second of the 9.95m series designed by Sean Strevens back in 1995 and has been worked continuously by John Davies since he drove it home in 1996. John is now awaiting delivery of the new 10.2m Cheetah. Read the full story in the news section.

Many thanks to Sue White for this superb footage http://suewhite.livejournal.com/

2009: Free Spirit, Cheetah ‘Sea Safari’

In 2007 Cheetah Marine started running Sea Safari's from Ventnor Haven. The idea was to give locals and visotors the chance to get out and explore our spectacular coastline whilst learning a little about what lives on our shores. Summer is a great time for mackerel fishing and the popular 'Lobster Safari' runs year round.

Courtesy of Onboard TV. For more details contact Onboard TV: Bob Ede 023 9263 7755

2009: ‘Ventnor Pride II’, Ventnor Haven

This 9.95m Cheetah has clocked up over 20 000 hours. 8 000 were whilst working from the beach before the Harbour was built in 2003. 'It's like working from your front room' Geoff Blake, Skipper and Owner