b'MEMBER NEWSMEMBER NEWS Michigan Pilots Take Delivery of NewGladding-Hearn Launch G ladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, has delivered a new pilot boat to the Lake Pilots in Port Huron, Mich., by road transport. The Resilient Class high-speedlaunchisthepilotsthirdboat built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard since 1979. Gladding-Hearn is a PVA member.Thewaterjet-driven,all-aluminumlaunch measures 42.5 feet long overall with a 14-foot beam and a 2.5-foot shoal draft. The deep-V hullfeaturesasteep24-degreedead-riseat thetransomthatincreasestoaveryfine entry forward. The perimeter of the launch isfittedwithalargefoam-collarfendering system. A flat chine and multiple spray-rails provide an efficient running surface and de-flect spray away from the collar to produce a dryer ride and reduce collar maintenance. A heavy-duty pipe guard is installed across the transom,alongwithaplatformabovethe launchs waterjets.The boat is powered by twin Cummins QSL-9dieselengines,whicharefullyaccessible through large lift-assisted deck hatches. The engines, each rated at 450 bhp, at 2100 rpm, turn a pair of Hamilton Jet HJ-322 waterjets through Twin Disc gearboxes. Fuel capacity is 300 gallons. Top speed is over 37 knots.The vessel is an excellent summer complement to the Lake Pilots 53- foot Chesapeake Class, burning half the fuel at higher speeds, said Gladding-Hearn Co-president Peter Duclos.Analuminumpilothouseonaflushdeck, withforward-leaningfrontwindows,isset aftofamidshipswith18-inchwalk-around side decks. Access to the pilothouse is through the aft hinged door. The pilothouse has five Llebroc Stalker XT seatsfour pilot seats and onehelmseatandacontrolconsolewith RENDERING COURTESY OF GLADDING-HEARNinstruments and controls. A portable toilet is installed in the forecastle. The launch is outfit-ted entirely with LED lighting.The Lake Pilots pilot boat is the fourth of the Resilient Class built since its introduction in 2005. The three previous vessels, operat-inginTexas,Virginia,andSouthCarolina, combined have more than 45,000 operating hoursofcontinuousservice,accordingto Gladding-Hearn officials.FOGHORN 42'