Our company’s quest to develop a small displacement launch has lead us back down the maritime path to the 1920’s. The hull forms in use at the time were easily driven and extremely sea kindly due to the shortage of horsepower. Since then horsepower has become readily available and designers have neglected to follow the philosophy of a small engine being lead by a graceful hull. The bulk of hulls available today are ungraceful hulls being thrust around our waterways by unnecessarily large and expensive horsepower. 

The Windhawk 35’ is a development of the Tortuga 35’ we produced in the early 1990’s. The Windhawk 35’ is identical in hull design and interior, however the exterior has been modified to ensure the concept of minimal maintenance is achieved. 

The inspiration for this particular design came while crewing a large motor yacht in the Caribbean. After a tortuous navigation through coral heads we arrived at a small Cay in the Western Caribbean. This small island was not more than 150 yards long and 4 or 5 feet high. We were aware of some other boats anchored in the lee of the island and when we awoke in the morning I was pleased to find two small boats swinging peacefully at anchor with native fisherman aboard quietly beginning their day. With the tropical sun rising behind coconut palms the picture of these two boats remains fresh in mind to this day. I was invited aboard one of the boats and was immediately impressed by the spaciousness, charm and warmth exuded by these small ships.

 The Windhawk 35’ is a boat with which owners will develop a companionship and affinity difficult to achieve with so many of the rakish cold and noisy vessels available at twice the cost to purchase, let alone to run. With the Windhawk 35’s engine installation the engine noise and vibration levels are so minimal that cruising is a true pleasure. It is not the speed of the vessel that takes the time to get to your destination, but rather the level of noise. At a cruising speed of 8 - 9 knots the Windhawk 35’will quietly take you to your destination before you know it. 

Happy Cruising

TIM BARNETT MANAGING DIRECTOR