Jarrett Bay 67

This 67-foot custom boat is all fishing on the outside and pure yacht on the inside.

Dr. Hiram Quiñones has made the run from his home port in Puerto Rico to Punta Cana on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic countless times. On a bluebird day, he says he can make it in time for lunch. But to get there you must cross Mona’s Passage, the stretch of water between the islands, where the trades pick up velocity and the ocean currents roil like river rapids, which often creates a confused sea state. Having owned a long list of classic sportfishing convertibles, Quiñones wanted a custom boat that could cut through the passage with ease and hold enough fuel to chase billfish to every corner of the Caribbean.

Quiñones chose a Jarrett Bay, and he worked closely with the builder over the three-year construction process to incorporate all of the fishing features he wanted. The end result is the 67-foot Sea Wish, equal parts stunning craftsmanship and cutting-edge performance.

“I went with Jarrett Bay because they offer a lot of new technology,” Quiñones said, referring to the lightweight composite construction methods used throughout the boat, including the floors of the staterooms, the cockpit deck, the flybridge and other areas. “It’s a light boat and it’s also durable. They did a spectacular job.”

Because the owner likes to run to the far reaches of the Caribbean, he requested enough fuel capacity that he would no longer need to carry bladders in the cockpit when running to St. Barts or beyond. Jarrett Bay delivered with a 2,000-gallon fuel capacity that feeds twin 1,925-hp Cat C32A engines. The Sea Wish has long legs but it’s fast too. She tops out at 42 knots and cruises at 34 knots with a reported range of 550 miles. Seeing the Sea Wish moving at that rate of speed, parting the chop with her traditional Carolina flared bow and classic broken sheer, is a thing of beauty.

While the fit and finish is definitely yacht-like, make no doubt about it, Sea Wish is a fishing machine. The cockpit offers completely sealed hatches so the lazarette won’t fill up when backing down on a hot fish. The expansive mezzanine houses a full tackle center and a concealed electric grill. The center of the mezzanine provides access to the engine room, which is laid out to make routine maintenance and daily checks as easy as possible.

The flybridge offers clear sightlines from the tip of the bow to the transom, and if the captain needs a better vantage point to spot fish, the tower (with a 9-foot gap) lets you run the boat from the eye in the sky. From the helm, the captain can use the Caterpillar Three60 Precision Controls joystick, which works in tandem with the bow thruster for close-quarter maneuvering. The electronics suite includes three Garmin displays: a pair of 22-inch units and a 17-incher. A sun lounge forward of the helm sits atop a 110-gallon freezer.

When entering the salon, your eyes are treated to a display of fine woodworking in all directions. The satin-finished teak is warm, and the wood grains match up like a pair of pocket aces. There’s plenty of room for guests between the U-shaped dinette, L-shaped sofa and two bar stools at the galley island. The Jarrett Bay team made the teak flooring with maple inlay, and it’s gorgeous.

The four-stateroom, three-head layout places the master amidship to starboard. The large en suite makes it a nice retreat for the owner to get some rest on a long crossing. There’s also two bunkrooms that share a head, and a VIP with a walk-around queen berth and private head. The rods and reels get their own room and are beautifully displayed behind an etched-glass door with a touch of accent lightening.

The beauty of working with a custom builder like Jarrett Bay is that you can create the exact boat you’ve always dreamt about. For Quiñones, he wanted the Sea Wish to provide the speed, range and comfort needed to take him and his family on long runs across the Caribbean. I think it’s safe to say he got his wish and then some.

Jarrett Bay 67 Specifications:

LOA: 67’6”
Beam: 19’6”
Draft: 5’4”
Displ.: 80,000 lbs
Fuel: 2,000 gal.
Water: 250 gal.
Power: 2/1,925-hp Cat C32A
Cruise: 34 knots
Top Speed: 42 knots