DeJong and Lebet, Inc.

Recent Vessels:     California Spirit    Sir Winston     Solaris    Majestic     Atlantica   Endless Dreams    Newcastle Voyager   Willamette Star   Sunrise     Key Largo Princess II    Explorer   Newcastle Expedition   Grand Luxe    

Recently launched at Keith Marine, this will be a 158x37x13' Dinner Cruise Vessel.

The vessel features integrated side and aft boarding ramps.

Following is the text from the press release in May of 2005:

160’ CALIFORNIA SPIRIT Dinner Cruise Yacht  

The 160’ Dinner Cruise Yacht CALIFORNIA SPIRIT was recently delivered to San Diego Harbor Excursions, San Diego , California .  The vessel was designed by DeJong and Lebet, Inc., Naval Architects, Jacksonville , Florida .  The vessel was built by Keith Marine, Inc. in Palatka , Florida .  Styling of the vessel was done by Mike Dockter of Marine Design and Drafting.  Todd Roberts , Special Projects Director at San Diego Harbor Excursions, contributed significantly to the vessel design and styling.  

CALIFORNIA SPIRIT represents a new concept in Dinner Cruise Vessels over 150 Passengers, in the U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter K class.  The lines and outward appearance are that of a large private mega-yacht.  The interior features two large dining rooms capable of seating 450 passengers.  The interior finish features the maximum allowable amount of wood trims and veneers.  This combines with a leather-like wall covering and coffered ceiling tile to create a very warm, rich-toned, high quality interior.  The wood finish required a special fire-load calculation by DeJong and Lebet, Inc. to obtain approval for this installation.  

The vessel features two large restrooms below decks, as well as smaller restrooms on the dining room levels, and a handicap restroom in the Main Deck dining room.  The two main dining rooms are served by an elevator, which also has access to the galley and storeroom in the hull.  

Food service is provided by the spacious 900 sq.ft. galley, which is connected to a 500 sq.ft. storeroom.  The storeroom includes an 8’x10’ walk-in cooler and 8’x10’ walk-in freezer, as well as dry stores.  The galley is fully equipped to provide all the food preparation and dishwashing requirements of the vessel.  

The aft decks and swim platform are covered in Flexiteek synthetic teak.  All the exterior rails are polished stainless steel.  The vessel’s swim platform provides convenient boarding at floating dock levels.  The platform has port and starboard stairs up to the aft Main Deck.  These features along with flush-stowed boarding ramps and the passerelle aft are features normally found on large personal yachts.  

CALIFORNIA SPIRIT is powered by a pair of Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines, 475 HP @ 1800 RPM.  The engines are coupled to Twin Disc MG-5114 DC reverse/reduction gears, driving 3-1/2” Aquamet 17 shafts and five-blade Nibral propellers by Ellis Propeller.

 Electrical power is provided by two Northern Lights 150 kW generators, with sound shield enclosures.  The generators are set up for split-bus operation, so one can run the bowthruster while the other one runs the vessel electrical load.  The main switchboard was furnished by Industrial Power Systems.  

The vessel is equipped with a Wesmar V2-24 150 HP electrically driven bowthruster.  The steering system is by Kobelt.  The vessel has two wing stations and an aft steering station in addition to the pilothouse helm station.  Engine controls are furnished by Detroit Diesel as part of the DDEC package.  

Other notable features of the vessel include a Bride’s Room aft of the pilothouse, and an open third level Sun Deck.  The Sun Deck is fitted with water, electrical, and drain connectors for portable bar set-ups.

 The vessel is fitted with two 40-ton Carrier Transicold chillers.  The A/C system is a chilled water loop system.  Carrier Transicold also furnished the air handling units, which are fitted with electric heat strips.  All passenger spaces are heated and air-conditioned, including the galley and storeroom.  

Principal characteristics of the CALIFORNIA SPIRIT are as follows:  

Length Overall:                                                   160’

Beam:                                                                 37’

Depth:                                                                13’-6”

Gross Tonnage:                                                  99

Passengers:                                                         600

Crew:                                                                 100

USCG Certification:                                            Subchapter K

Fuel Capacity:                                                    4100 gallons

Water Capacity:                                                 8200 gallons

Sewage Capacity:                                               4000 gallons

Grey Water Capacity:                                         4000 gallons  

CALIFORNIA SPIRIT is the fourth vessel designed by DeJong and Lebet, Inc. delivered this year.  They currently have a 138’ Expedition Yacht and 120’ Subchapter K vessel under construction.  For more information, please visit their website at www.dejongandlebet.com.

And in California . . .