Cheetah Marine introduces new walk-around cabin workboat

Cheetah Marine has introduced its Marine Walk-Around Cabin catamaran, highlighting a customized version recently launched for the Fluid Water Taxi service on the United Kingdom’s south coast.

 The 9.95-meter length, 3.6-meter beam (32.6’x11.8’) catamaran design aims to combine the practicality of a workboat with options of a high-end finish. Cheetah boat builders are looking to widen the market for their vessels and say the design is suitable for patrol craft, crew transfer vessels, corporate events, and small ferries.  

 The Walk-Around Cabin was customized for Fluid Water Taxi with an internal cab with generous seating for 12 passengers, alongside a customized hull and cab branded with the taxi service colors. 

“Currently operating an on-demand water taxi service on the south coast, Fluid Taxi has commissioned a fleet of Cheetah Marine catamarans to operate across a variety of destinations,” according to Cheetah Marine, based on the Isle of Wight. “These agile, stable craft are the ideal choice for transporting passengers around the picturesque shores of the Solent and beyond.”

The Walk-Around Cabin for Fluid Taxi meets the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's (MCA) current MGN 280 Code for small boats operating commercially with 12 passengers, with the primary aim of ensuring the highest standards of safety and protection are met for all on board. This includes a watertight weather deck, reinforced hull, robust guardrails and tinted windows. 

The catamarans are also designed to meet the UK’s recently adopted Workboat Code Edition 3, which provides standards for vessel construction, electrical systems, and fire protection, as well as requirements for firefighting, lifesaving, navigation and radio equipment.  The code, adopted Dec. 13, 2023, is designed to ensure the safety and protection of the crew, personnel, passengers and other marine users, and to maintain environmental standards.

 Beyond its high-end finishes and spacious seating, the Walk-Around Cabin affords high performance even in challenging conditions. The walk-around design also allows for easy movement around the deck for fishing, cruising or sightseeing.  

"Our latest Walk-Around Cabin represents a ground-breaking fusion of workboat practicality and yacht-like high-end finishes, designed to cater to a wide range of activities, from crew transfer vessels to corporate events,” says Ed O’Kane, general manager at Cheetah Marine. 

"With the launch of the Fluid Water Taxi service, we're proud to see our customized Walk-Around Cabins in action. These vessels, with their bespoke internal cab and branded hull, offer unmatched stability and performance, making them ideal for navigating all the extreme conditions of UK’s unpredictable seas.” 

“Safety is at the forefront of our design, and we are pleased to confirm that our customized catamarans also meet the highest standards of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's newly released Workboat Code 3.”

“Collaborating with our entire team, we pooled our collective years of industry expertise and knowledge to craft a fresh, modern design that maintains the rugged, all-weather spirit for which Cheetah is renowned,” said Chris Sheaff, head draftsman at Cheetah Marine.