In April, Storm Kathleen hit Ireland’s west coast as a powerful Force 10 gale with winds reaching 70 mph and waves up to 15 feet high. While residents prepared for damage by sandbagging their homes, Frank Kowalski thought it was the perfect day for a boat ride.
As the owner of Safehaven Marine located in County Cork, he had just launched his new 70-foot T-2000 Voyager all-weather power catamaran. Kathleen provided an opportunity to test the capabilities of this newly built super-catamaran.
“We conducted scale-model tests suggesting she could handle waves exceeding 65 feet,” Kowalski explained to Robb Report. “But you won’t know for sure until you’re on the water. During the storm’s peak, she effortlessly dealt with the waves and weather and functioned perfectly.”
This is how the boat appears when not battling 20-foot waves.
Safehaven Marine
Developed from the 75-foot XVS20 monohull launched in 2018, Kowalski utilized his experience in creating commercial work-vessels to ensure the twin-hull T-2000 Voyager combines speed with stability.
“The key factor is its stability in beam seas,” he states. “Recently, we were out in a Force 8 with winds over 40 knots and 12-foot seas; we could stop and let the boat drift while retrieving a drone. It handled the waves effortlessly, unlike a monohull, which would have made standing on the deck impossible due to rolling.”
Moreover, the remarkable speed from its twin, slim hulls slicing through waves is noteworthy. With two 1,550 hp MAN V12 engines powering France Helices SD5 surface drives, the Safehaven can reach a maximum speed of 57 mph.
“The view is incredible from the stern, watching massive roostertails in tow,” Kowalski remarks. “Additionally, we have retractable swim platforms to showcase the spinning props on the water’s surface and valved exhausts that alternate between muffled and direct output. The sound from those V12s is exceptional.”
Since Safehaven has developed the Wildcat series of 40-, 53-, and 60-foot power cats for various uses like oil-rig support and military purposes for the Royal Navy, they have been strictly practical. With the T-2000, Kowalski aims to attract private buyers seeking something unique.
The first demonstrator boat features all-diamond-quilted marine leather, high-quality cabinetry, LED lighting, and accommodations for six in three cabins below deck. Hull No. 2, sold and set to be completed in 18 months, will enhance the luxurious experience further.
“It is being delivered to a client in the Middle East for him and his wife,” Kowalski shares. The client wants a luxurious owner’s suite that includes a central king-size bed and spacious his-and-hers bathrooms and closets in each hull. “He intends to travel fast—very fast,” Kowalski adds. “So we’ll fit him with twin 2,000 hp MAN V12s, paired with surface drives and a central hydrofoil to reduce drag, aiming for over 69 mph.”
The new T-2000 is designed for long journeys. With 2,900-gallon fuel tanks, it has a range exceeding 1,000 nautical miles at 34.5 mph, and can travel 1,700 nautical miles at 18 mph. At a more moderate speed of 12 mph, the range extends to over 3,000 nautical miles.
This impressive range is largely due to the yacht’s symmetrical, semi-wave piercing hulls built with a carbon-fiber composite, featuring inverted lower bow sections and a double-chine layout, allowing spray to be deflected away from the boat. When moving fast in moderately calm waters, the T-2000 can rise with half of its hull out of the water due to the mid-position hydrofoil.
To prevent waves from crashing into the bridge deck windshield, Kowalski positioned the pilothouse further back, giving the T-2000 a sleeker silhouette, resembling a single-hull sports yacht.
For passenger comfort, the open-concept main salon features an L-shaped Corian-topped galley opposite a U-shaped dinette. For an engaging experience, the captain and co-pilot have bucket-style, shock-absorbing seats, along with a wraparound sofa on the port side and a single bucket seat starboard.
The helm area benefits from ample light streaming in through the four-panel, angled windshield and four fixed skylights above. A glass panel in the floor allows for viewing the boat’s hydrofoil action while providing a glimpse of marine life beneath it at night. Most windows are made with half-inch-thick toughened glass to withstand cascading water.
In better weather, the T-2000 is equipped with a small flybridge that includes a helm station and sun-lounger area above, as well as a covered rear cockpit furnished with sofas and a table for outdoor dining.
This storm-tested, metallic-red demonstrator can be purchased for approximately $3.35 million.