The story of Windhawk (from Tim Barnett, designer)

The Tortuga Steamship Company Ltd’s quest to develop a small displacement launch led the company back down the maritime path to the 1920s. The hull forms in use at that time were easily driven and extremely sea-kindly due to the shortage of horsepower. Since then, horsepower has become readily available and designers have neglected to follow the philosophy of a small engine being led by a graceful hull.

The bulk of hulls available today are ungraceful hulls being thrust around our waterways by unnecessarily large and expensive horsepower.

The Windhawk 35' is a development of the Tortuga 35' which the company produced in the early 1990s. The Windhawk 35' is identical in hull design and interior, however, the exterior has been modified to ensure minimal maintenance. The boat that John Hogan is offering for sale is the first Windhawk 35', and was named Windhawk.

The inspiration for the design came while I was crewing a large motor yacht in the Caribbean. After a tortuous navigation through coral heads we arrived at a small cay in the Western Caribbean. This small island was not more than 150 yards long and 4 or 5 feet high. I was aware of some other boats anchored in the lee of the island and when I awoke in the morning, I was pleased to find two small boats swinging peacefully at anchor with native fisherman aboard quietly beginning their day. With the tropical sun rising behind coconut palms, the picture of these two boats remains to this day fresh in my mind. I was invited aboard one of the boats and was immediately impressed by the spaciousness, charm and warmth exuded by these small ships.

The Windhawk is a boat with which owners will develop a companionship and affinity difficult to achieve with so many of the rakish cold and noisy vessels available at twice the cost to purchase, let alone to run.  With Windhawk's engine installation, the engine noise and vibration levels are so minimal that cruising is a true pleasure. At a cruising speed of 8 - 9 knots, Windhawk will quietly take you to your destination before you know it.