Brian and Karen Trautman and their daughter Sierra will be well known as one of YouTube’s most popular cruising vlogers. They have been cruising for 15 years and creating high quality videos for 13. Aboard their Amel Super Maramu Delos, they’ve logged 85,000 miles and visited countries all over the world.
Their latest adventure, which has been underway for a year, is the building a new Delos 2.0, a 53-foot Explorer Cat which is being made in aluminum near Brisbane Australia. It is scheduled to launch in December.
With all of their cruising experience, Karen and Brian know what works for them in a floating, voyaging home. Working with an existing custom design from Kiwi designers DeVilliers, they chose to go with a forward helm, a huge cockpit complete with an outdoor kitchen and a spacious after deck that doubles as the dinghy davits.
Brian is an electrical engineer so it is no surprise that they chose to go with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system in combination with a massive solar array and lithium battery bank. Delos 2.0 is going to be self-sufficient and have a small carbon foot-print.
The hull design is fairly conservative and has modest cruising keels instead of dagger boards. This simplifies construction and reduces the risk of getting a deep dagger board damaged. Instead of sail drives, which are common on cats, they have gone with 25kW electric motors with straight shafts.
The propellers and rudders are fully protected by robust skegs. With the combination of fixed keels and skegs aft, Delos 2.0 will be well protected from damage from a collision with flotsam or a grounding. Plus, she will stand on her own when hauled, which is an advantage for cats of this size cruising in third-world countries.
The sloop rig has a double headsail configuration with a self-tacking jib on the inside and a roller furling reaching sail forward. With all lines leading to the forward cockpit, a single watch-keeper will be able to manage sail trim, reefing and furling alone.
For Karen, Brian and Sierra, SV Delos 2.0 will make a marvelous floating home and will have the legs to take them anywhere in the world they desire.
