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"Why Buy?" Nautical Structures’ Products.
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We are pleased to offer this brief white paper discussion regarding the benefits of Nautical Structures’ equipment used in the construction of your vessels. There are several experience and design elements common to all of the large-vessel equipment that we manufacture which we believe should be considered when determining the “value” of using Nautical Structures’ equipment in your project.
All large-yacht projects are considered unique, and treated as such. That said; Nautical Structures has hundreds of existing designs that are fully engineered, previously built and in-service providing exceptional service to existing clients. We always begin any new project with our analysis to determine if any of our previous experience is applicable to the new project. We work with our clients to determine the proper specifications required for the project(s), and then begin the engineering process. Nautical Structures maintains an on-site staff of two engineers and five designers, headed up by Jim Baumann; Director of Engineering. Working with computer aided design software, AutoCAD®, SolidWorks®, and finite element analysis, we design each deck crane, beam-system crane, passerelle or other structure to interface with the vessel properly, to function as specified and styled to look commensurate with the architecture of the vessel. Our structures have been described by some as “very robust”, and to be sure they are sturdy. Our design philosophy is safety first, then operational ease and styling.
Nautical Structures’ Deck-Cranes are designed “state of the art”, and are recognized to be the finest of its type of equipment produced at any price. Our Deck Cranes are not “marinized truck cranes” or “copies” of other existing designs. We design our all of our Deck Cranes as Yacht Cranes or Marine/Ship Cranes. Each Deck Crane is built primarily from 5086 aluminum alloy and incorporates into its construction only marine-friendly materials, is designed to interface with the vessel properly, engineered to function as specified and is styled to look commensurate with the architecture of the vessel. Using aluminum alloys as the basis of almost all of our crane designs provides our clients with a lower-weight structure, providing reduced corrosion potential and lower maintenance costs over the life of the equipment. Sometimes “less is best”. Our cranes are built upon ‘Platforms’; structural designs based upon the maximum moment capacity of a given hoisting parameter. This allows us to maintain strict design and manufacturing standards, building even very large cranes reliably in aluminum alloy. All Deck Cranes are capable of operating through their full range of motion under the full rated load capacity without limitation of capacity or boom position. This ability ensures that the equipment will always perform without risk of overloading the mounting structure. You will never find a load-graph or angle indicator glued to the side of a Nautical Structures Deck Crane!
Nautical Structures has perfected the design and function of the “Non-Fouling Hydraulic Linear Winch” in our Hydraulic Deck-Cranes. The hydraulic linear winch system is a nearly-silent operating system engineered to safely handle the hoisting line in the Deck Crane. The hoisting-line is routed over a series of pulleys, half of which are fixed into the end of the boom and the rest moving on the piston of the winch cylinder within a containment box. As the moving pulleys are pulled away from the fixed pulleys the line is drawn into the Crane. This type of “reverse purchase” system protects the line from wearing on itself and crushing itself as is always the case with a “drum-type” winch. It is impossible to payout too much line or two-block this type of linear winch system. Nautical Structures has Linear Winch Systems in capacities from 1,000 pounds to over 20,000 pounds single-purchase hoist. Typically AmSteel Blue or Spectra-12 Plus fiber line is used in the design of our winch systems, with stainless steel wire rope our second choice. When the Crane is fitted with a telescoping boom extension feature the Hydraulic Linear Winch is built into the extension member. This allows the winch and line to travel with the extension, alleviating the concern of two-blocking the line while extending the boom. This is one less opportunity for the crane operator to inadvertently cause damage to the crane during operation.
The Deck-Crane Rotation System is also unique. Utilizing a either a single or dual gearbox drive, the Crane rotates smoothly and silently on a radial crane bearing. The fully classed crane is capable of slewing and braking while operating at a 20-degree list and 10-degree trim, per the IMO/LSA rules.
Nautical Structures incorporates a wireless proportional control system with which to operate any of our crane systems with the greatest precision. Two functions may simultaneously be operated with fingertip control through motion sensitive joysticks. The tender may actually be “flown” across the deck in the horizontal axis by functioning both the winch and boom functions. The control valves are typically ‘Sauer-Danfoss’ proportional valves with manual lever-function back-up. The Deck Crane may be operated manually if the electrical control system was to go down. The wireless proportional control system is a standard feature of the deck crane. Nautical Structures has engineered out the need for electronic limit switches, Programmable Logic Controls (PLC) or proximity sensors from our crane systems; recognizing the fact that the most dependable and durable control system in the marine environment is a fully hydraulic control system.
Nautical Structures Hydraulic Deck Cranes are available in mono-boom, single-telescoping, double-telescoping, lay-down, folding and knuckle-boom and knuckle-boom types. Nautical Structures also manufactures a large variety of Overhead Beam Cranes. These Overhead cranes are configured to operate from an aft tender garage in dual telescoping sections, work in synchronized tandem-pairs when launching from tender-bays, or run athwartship the full beam of the vessel for a more conventional open-deck launching configuration. Nautical Structures’ overhead beam cranes are truly large-yacht lifting appliances, capable of safely handling the largest tenders. All Nautical Structures crane systems may be delivered with class certifications; LAME (Lifting Appliance Marine Environment) Section VI, Manned Submersible Launching, LAME-Cargo, LSA (Life Saving Appliance) SOLAS for launching Rescue Boats and/or Life Boat Launching. Nautical Structures works with most classification societies (LRS, ABS, GL, BV) and is approved by MCA-UK and MCA-Cayman Islands.
Our deck cranes are structurally designed and tested per class protocols. All running rigging is designed and specified to a minimum of 500% design load. Each Deck Crane produced is live load tested after assembly as part of our quality assurance program. Nautical Structures provides a full test certificate; “Statement of Fact” to support our testing. This is provided in addition to any class certifications that may be applicable.
Nautical Structures’ Passerelles are truly the state of the art today. We believe that just as in entering a fine home or building, the entrance onto the yacht sets the tone for the quality and expectation of the rest of the yacht. Step onto the end of our extended plank and immediately you will notice the stiffness, the lack of deflection and side-to-side warble that we design into our Passerelles. Our typical plank is wider than most. Into this width we provide a 78mm / 3” wide toe-kick on each side. Into this toe-kick we fabricate the handrail mounting sockets. This simple hallmark of a Nautical Structures plank is both stylish and safe. The lines of the deployed plank are not diminished by cumbersome externally mounted stanchion sockets, and the toe-kick provides a greater level of visual comfort and confidence while walking along the plank. The integrated stanchion sockets mount standard hoop-style stainless steel rail sections, more than capable of resisting the force of a large person falling against a rail section. Passerelles provided with stanchions and lifelines are just not as sturdy and safe. The outside edge of all Nautical Structures Passerelles are formed with a 26mm/1” radius for style and paint adhesion, adding to the elegant appearance of the passerelle. The addition of teak decking and in-laid lighting embellish both the style and safety of the plank, offering better traction in wet conditions as well as visual guidance and enhanced beauty at night.
Nautical Structures’ Passerelles are reliable and simple to deploy and retract. Our Passerelles drive in and out of the vessel on stainless steel wheels, self-propelled. Noisy cables and / or chains are not utilized in our drive system. This drive system is quiet and reliable, yet in the event the gangway suffers a heavy impact to its end, the drive mechanism will not be damaged.
We do not use electronic position sensors and / or limit switches to position the plank properly centered for travel in and out of the vessel. Instead we use a hydraulic control feature we describe as “self-center”. Utilizing back-to-back cylinder pairs, a one-button command will cause the plank to self-position for travel. Although this feature uses two-times the hydraulic cylinders, valves and hosing as compared to most other planks on the market, we feel the extra expense is worth the benefits of reliability. This type of positioning is reliably-repeatable, and because it is a mechanical/hydraulic positioning system it is far more reliable than the combination of electronic and mechanical components in the marine environment.
Our “float” feature allows the plank to rest on the dock in a relaxed condition, or the plank may be maintained in a “self-supporting” condition hovering over the dock. Differing from others, our float feature does not limit how fast the plank can elevate, but it limits the speed in which it can fall so that in the event the unit is in the float mode, and a surge pulls the plank off the end of the dock with a passenger on it, it will not come crashing down, but fall at a slow metered rate. Again, our design incorporates safety over cost savings. In a tide-fall condition the plank will be pushed up if it falls against the dock, and locking valves will hold it in its raised condition for additional safety. Nautical Structures’ passerelles are produced with the rotation feature we describe as “slew-lock”. This feature holds the rotating plank in position utilizing a third rotation cylinder fed by a hydraulic accumulator. The “slew-lock” feature ensures safety and a firm feel under foot when boarding from the side or walking down its length, as this eliminates the side-to-side warble, or “sway” so commonly experienced in most large passerelles. Again we feel that the comfort and safety of the individual boarding on our passerelle justifies the additional expense to produce this type of equipment.
Nautical Structures’ Craftmanship: All of our equipment is meticulously produced and highly finished in either of our two Florida-based factories. Nautical Structures’ products reflect a true definition of hand-craftsmanship coupled with modern day manufacturing methods. Manufacturing techniques that have been honed over our past twenty years of being in business are utilized daily in the production of our yachting equipment. In-house CNC lathe and milling centers produce the base-components for our equipment, to very close tolerances. The fabricators and machinists who produce our products are truly artisans, many of whom have been working for Nautical Structures for well over a decade. Each crane or passerelle is built by-hand by a fabricator specializing in that product-type, using a combination of MIG and TIG welding techniques. Every piece of equipment is hand-buffed and then fit-up prior to the painting processes. Composite bushings isolate the stainless steel structural components from the aluminum structure. Composite materials are also often used in the manufacture of wheels, slides and guides. Stainless steel components are 316-L and mirror polished or properly painted. Our comprehensive one-year warranty is a standard for all of our yachting equipment.
Nautical Structures’ Support Network: Ultimately when it is time to make a purchasing decision, the issue of value comes into focus. Nautical Structures does not make the “price” argument when proposing equipment for any given project, we simply cannot. Our organization has been built over two decades to be the supplier for “the long run”. We have been in the large yacht industry through both good and bad times. We have learned the art of being an exceptional supplier to shipyards, understanding our impact on the build schedule of a yacht. We pride ourselves with our on-time deliveries. At the heart of our company exists our Service Department, headed by Mr. Eric Johnsen. Eric has been with Nautical Structures since August 2000, and in over nine years has built a very effective service network. Eric manages the warranty and service needs of all of our clients, using both in-house service technicians as well as a large number of contract technicians world-wide to support the thousands of products we have in the field. Combined with our dealer and distributor support network across the USA, Europe, the Far East, South America and the Pacific Rim, these attributes make Nautical Structures the logical choice for supplying your large-yacht equipment. We have completed significant projects with boat builders around the world, and are always pleased to provide a list of professional references upon request.
Thank you for considering Nautical Structures. |
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