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One of the more notable changes is additional transom deadrise. Davis explains that there is about five more degrees at the transom of the 32 than on the builder's custom boats. To get the deadrise the builder dropped the keel line, which also added volume and an additional 60 pounds of flotation per foot throughout the length of the hull. This helps offset the weight of the big motors sitting on the bracket. There are also two running strakes per side and an aft centerline pad, which creates lift, enabling the boat to get up and go in a hurry (see specifications for one impressive acceleration curve).
Another change from traditional Jarrett Bay boats is that this one's fiberglass. No cold-molded Okoume plywood here. In fact, her hull is solid fiberglass with composite stringers. Davis explains that there is some coring and Kevlar but wouldn't get specific. Core-Mat is added to help eliminate print-through, and biaxial fabric is added to further beef up the structure. This light heavyweight of a vessel comes in at about 8,500 pounds (half load); all totaled, she should be around 9,000 to 9,200 pounds with a tuna tower and rigged to fish, according to the builder.
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With regards to her fishability, I really liked her deck-to-gunwale height of 27 inches, which will make it easy to release billfish and gaff big tuna that you can then drop into one of the two gasketed 63"x14"x15" in-deck cockpit fishboxes. Two more fishboxes are to port and starboard of the bridge deck, which is a seven-inch step up from the cockpit. If you need to work a fish forward, the deck-to-gunwale height transitions to 34 inches, and with the addition of some coaming padding, this area should be a great place to do some standup work on big fish. While my test boat was bare (she had just arrived from the factory), by adding a few options like a tuna tower, outriggers, and a cockpit bolster for holding pitch-bait rods, the 32 could be quite the tournament contender, or go-fast bluewater day boat when you want to leave her big sister home.
Her heavy build, big power, and fishability are in counterpoint to her admittedly light accommodations. A V-berth, which measures 72"x 69", could be used on an overnight here and there, but when Wade tried it out his feet hung over the berth. If you're at least six feet tall, your feet will hang, too. The stand-up head with Raritan MSD and shower is adequate for washing the salt off after a day offshore. After all, she's a day boat built to fish.
As we arrived back at the marina, Wade jumped out of the boat and ran over to take profile pictures of the 32 from the shoreline to show his wife. He returned excitedly and said that he had to make sure it was okay with his better half from the accommodations standpoint, but after looking at our test results and experiencing her ride, I could see the wheels turning in his head—he thought that this was the boat to get. I have to agree with him. After my time onboard, I'd say that if you're looking for a lean and mean offshore day boat or a mini version of your battlewagon, the Jarrett Bay 32 might fit your bill. She's proof that larger size doesn't always equate to ability and that style, quality, and performance always make a difference.
Jarrett Bay Boatworks
(252) 728-2690
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This article originally appeared in the May 2005
issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
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