With the "sail vs. power" thread running, here are a few comments on a
powerboat built by a gentleman who is reputed to have built just a few (about
11,000) sailboats. :-)

If anybody is interested in viewing some photos of this boat, send me a request
by e-mail.
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Bob Ross owns a highly successful "J Boat" dealership, (Sail NW), as well as
Seattle Sailing Club. He's a key figure in the annual Whidbey Island Race Week
regatta, and well known among the sailing fraternity in the Pacific Northwest.
Last year, Bob mentioned that he was going to begin representing a new
powerboat. We surmised that it must be a remarkable vessel to attract the
attention of a dedicated sailor. It is.

General history and concept:

The MJM 34z is a "down east" design. The hull form falls into the express
cruiser category, with a raked stem, a flared bow, modest sheer and freeboard,
and a flat, tumblehome transom. The superstructure consists of a trunk cabintop
on the foredeck, a windshield bulkhead, and a permanently fixed hardtop. The
pilothouse is enclosed by abrasion-resistant, 40 mil Strataglass (tm) windows
and aft doorway enclosures. The canvas can be easily rolled up against the
hardtop or stowed below for an "open air" experience when weather permits. The
34z will appeal to boaters who want to get as close as possible to the water,
without getting wet.

MJM's founder, Bob Johnstone, founded the J Boat company in 1977. J Boats have
earned an excellent reputation during the first 27 years of operation. About
11,000 J Boats have been sold, and the company is used as a case study at
Harvard Business School. When Johnstone first began to consider establishing a
powerboat company, he evaluated the marketplace and discovered there were
already more than enough powerboat builders. Johnstone concluded that it would
be pointless to enter the powerboat side of the industry unless he produced a
boat that was uniquely designed, and engineered to a very high standard.

Johnstone collaborated with acclaimed designer Doug Zurn, (the "z" in the model
designation) and tapped high-end custom builder Boston BoatWorks to handle
construction. The MJM 34z demonstrates what can happen when innovative
professionals begin with many decades of experience but without preconceived
limitations.

The MJM34z breaks a few old rules, with such notable results that the vessel is
likely to write some new ones. The 34z is built to exceed ISO 2003 "ocean"
standards, the most stringent small craft category. Vessels in this class must
be proven suitable for seas up to 7 meters (23 feet) and in winds of up to
47-knots. The ISO calculations are carried out at the vessel's top design speed
of 50 knots. Traditional design would dictate a heavy displacement, deep draft
vessel for such conditions. The 34z displaces only 10,000 pounds and draws 28
inches. A unique approach was required to meet the rigid durability standards
with a comparatively featherweight hull.

ISO standards specify material properties based on E-glass fabric saturated
with polyester resin, the most common approach to fiberglass hull construction.
MJM does not use polyester resin, but rather a more expensive epoxy resin to
create a layup that offers superior adhesion, improved resistance to fatigue,
and greater overall strength. The upper layers of the laminate are Kevlar,
rather than fiberglass, to provide greater strength and abrasion resistance.
The hull is laid up over a closed-cell Core-Cell (tm) foam. Core-Cell is
reputed to be impervious to water, and is more tolerant to collision than other
types of core materials. ISO "ocean" standards call for a minimum glass/resin
ration of 50%, and the 34z incorporates a ratio that exceeds 60% for additional
strength.

Structural integrity is enhanced by the use of a solid, laminated network of
stringers and ribs. There is no wood used in the hull. A solid, fiberglass keel
and chines make critical contributions to the MJM's handling and performance
while providing additional hull stiffening and protection against grounding.

In an era when many boat builders are emphasizing exaggerated beams, the MJM
34z is relatively slim at only 11'0". The narrow beam reduces both weight and
drag, improving the vessel's performance. An 11-foot beam doesn't allow a
sloppy approach to interior design if a vessel is going to become a workable
and inviting environment. Well-considered and skillful use of proportion is
required. The MJM 34z succeeds in accomplishing what many express cruisers have
failed to do: creating an interior where boaters will spend time because they
want to, rather than have to.


Interior Layout

The 34z joinery is crafted by East Coat Interiors, the company that builds
interiors for the Cessna Citation business jet. Cherry battens, lockers,
forward bulkhead, and adjustable hi-lo table contrast smartly with dark blue
Ultraleather (tm) settee cushions and a teak/holly sole. The effect is
impressive.

The enormous settee just aft of the forward bulkhead is a dining and social
center by day, and converts quickly to a 6'6" x 7' double bunk. An
entertainment center with a 22.5" Samsung flat screen TV an AM/FM/CD player
with 6- disc changer, and a DVD/CD/MP3 system is efficiently positioned at the
starboard end of the bunk/settee. Aft of the bunk and to starboard, a compact
but extremely workable enclosed head with shower features a VacuFlush head, a
stainless hand basin set in a Corian countertop, and a shower sump. The shower,
the galley sink, and all deck drains are plumbed to a single through hull in
the transom, eliminating any streaking or staining on the hull of the 34z.

The galley is to port, at the base of the companionway from the bridgedeck. The
5 cu ft top-loading, 12-volt holding plate refrigerator/ freezer is one of the
largest standard systems in a vessel of this size. A Corian countertop provides
plenty work space, and includes covers for the recessed sink and the Princess
ceramic electric cooktop to increase countertop area even further when the sink
or the cooktop are not in use.
A Panasonic 850-watt convection/microwave oven will accommodate traditional
baking chores as well as nearly instant warming of leftovers or snacks. The
all-electric galley is powered by a Westerbeke 3.8kw generator, or by
shorepower at the dock.


On deck:

The 34z has a starboard helm, with a generous reservation of space for
electronics. Prominent among the navigation aids is a Northstar 958 10.4" color
display screen for a GPS WAAS plotter with radar overlay. (The Northstar screen
can be connected to the DVD player to allow movie watching on deck.). A
Raymarine digital sounder is standard, as well as an ICOM M-502 VHF radio. MJM
thoughtfully included a 9-pin GPS connection and 300-watt inverter to
facilitate PC based navigation assistance.
Our test boat was equipped with optional autopilot, FloScan fuel monitors, and
electronic wiper controls. The wheel is a stainless "destroyer" style wheel
with a teak rim, while shift and throttle commands are transmitted through a
Kobelt single lever system.

The helmsperson and the navigator share matching Stidd chairs. These high
quality, infinitely adjustable Ultraleather seats are state of the art
accessories.

There are port and starboard pilothouse settees with Ultraleather seat
cushions. The settees can be pressed into service as single berths, expanding
the practical sleeping capacity to four. Each settee can be lifted to provide
access to a huge storage space in the bilge, on either side of the engine.

All exterior decks are non-skid FRP.

Heavy duty, stainless cleats and bow chocks will accommodate serious dock
lines. Stainless handrails on the cabin trunk, the pilothouse roof, and on the
aft hardtop supports provide plenty of confidence-boosting grab points when
going forward to handle lines and fenders. The welded, stainless bow rail is
solidly affixed to the deck.

An Adirondack style slat-back bench functions as a full width transom seat. The
Ultraleather cushions and glossy brightwork make a traditional and classy
statement.
A weather cover is provided to protect the transom seat from the elements.


Engine and propulsion:

MJM 34z owners will enjoy one of the best engine access systems ever devised. A
switch in the cockpit tilts up the entire pilothouse deck, allowing full stand
up working room on both sides of the engine. The downside of the system is that
there is no access to or from the forward cabin when the engine is being
serviced, but that is a small trade-off in exchange for the luxury of the
additional space.

The standard engine is the turbo-charged, 440HP Yanmar 6L Y2A-STP. A high
performance ZF-80 marine gear (1.1567:1 ratio) drives a 1 ¾" stainless shaft
that turns a
4 blade, 20X21 prop. A PSS "dripless" shaft seal is standard. A bow thruster is
optional.

With a low profile and low draft, the 34z hull incorporates a prop tunnel. Prop
tunnels increase the number of engine mounting options available to a marine
designer, with slight tradeoffs in aft buoyancy and a theoretical increase in
the possibility of prop damage underway. (Once drift becomes "caught" in the
tunnel, it will almost certainly whack the prop.) In addition to greater
flexibility in hull design and engine mount, the prop tunnel has been credited
with improving efficiency in a manner not completely dissimilar from a prop
"nozzle"; the thrust is directed more directly aft with less energy wasted
through a lateral escape.


Underway:

We tested the MJM 34z one cold February morning at Shishole Bay. Our test boat
did not have a bow thruster, but reversed smoothly and predictably to port. We
backed away to clear a crowded dock from a starboard side tie without any
drama, and the 34z proved to be very responsive to the wheel during close
quarter maneuvers. Some lightweight, shallow draft boats seem "skittish" at low
speed, but the 34z does not.

We idled through the marina just a wee bit faster than the 5-mph speed limit.
At idle, the GPS read 5 knots. The Kobelt control got a little bit of a workout
in the marina as we occasionally selected "neutral" to keep from picking up too
much speed.

At slow speeds, one of the most pleasant aspects of the 34z design becomes
apparent. There is the happy sound of water gurgling past the hull; a sound one
expects to hear in a dinghy or on a sailboat but less predictably part of the
experience in a 34-foot cruiser.
Being close to the water rather than isolated from it must have been a major
design goal in the 34z. There is no "floating condo" sensation aboard the MJM.

We cleared the north end of the breakwater and experimented with different
engine speeds. Acceleration was lightning quick. The MJM 34z seems to love to
run at speed.
Without trim tabs, the bow seemed somewhat higher than many boaters might
prefer but a very modest application of trim tab achieved a running attitude
that provided excellent forward visibility. The MJM 34z is on plane at
surprisingly low speeds, with less mass to drag over the bow wake. At any speed
at all, the 34z is skimming the surface and leaves only a very slight,
exceptionally flat wake astern. Although the 440HP Yanmar is almost immediately
underfoot, engine noise is well within acceptable levels even at WOT.

The MJM 34z is fast, and fun! We had to search diligently for wakes and swells
to try and simulate how the 34z would respond to snotty conditions, and we were
impressed by the extreme solidity of the hull. It is almost difficult to
believe that a vessel of such light weight can seem so heavily built. One of
the features that MJM prioritized during the design was a "dry" ride, and our
experience would suggest that was well accomplished.
We took advantage of a moderately calm day to put the MJM through its high
performance paces.

We observed:

1000 rpm 6.5 knots
1500 rpm 9.5 knots
2000 rpm 14.7 knots
2500 rpm 21.8 knots
2800 rpm 25 knots
3000 rpm 27 knots
3500 rpm 31 knots


The 34z is a water rocket. As we began to approach Kingston in what seemed like
mere minutes since leaving the Shilshole breakwater, Bob Ross commented, "I can
remember days when it has taken me about three hours to get this far under
sail."

Speed and fuel efficiency are rare bedfellows, but the lighter displacement,
shallow draft, and narrow beam of the MJM 34z permit some relatively impressive
numbers.

When cruising at 2500 RPM, the 34z will burn 9 gallons per hour. Based on our
observations, that's about 2.4 nmpg. There are any number of cruisers in the
same general size category that struggle to reach 1 nmpg efficiency at similar
speeds.
Fuel capacity is 150 gallons, so with a 20% prudent reserve the MJM 34z can
claim a range of about 290 nautical miles at almost 22 knots.

Breakfast at Shilshole, early lunch at Friday Harbor, dinner at Chemainus.
Easily accomplished in a 34z, and without a wallet-walloping, disastrous fuel
bill.


Conclusion:

J Boat's Bob Johnstone felt there would be no reason to bring another powerboat
to market unless the vessel was very well done and offered an alternative to
the vast fleet of "me too!" products currently available. Johnstone obviously
realized his goal with the development of the 34z. It appears to be a natural
fit for weekend and vacation cruising in the Pacific NW, with a good turn of
speed expanding the number of practical "overnight" destinations.

Prospective boat buyers will want to take a close look at the MJM. Many will be
impressed, (as we were), and the boat fills a unique niche that isn't
ordinarily addressed by other manufacturers. Base price on a new MJM 34z, with
a long list of standard equipment, is $375,000.