The one limitation of this approach, however, has been the long lead time between a client wanting a boat and JP Crafts being able to deliver the finished product, since much time is spent on the design aspects of each bespoke build. This was the inspiration for the Code 9.8 product, which in Edgar’s words “will reprogram their production, to be able to more effectively provide a faster delivery of our high-end product to discerning customers around the world”. Although each boat will still be meticulously hand-crafted, by using a standardised design they can increase the speed at which the boats come out of their facility.
And so, the design of the Code 9.8 has taken the very best aspects of their 25 previous custom builds, ensuring they retained user-friendliness on the water. In the process, they make no compromises in comfort or safety and have also retained exceedingly high standard of finish.
Jonathan credits his father Phil as the driving force for this design, which starts with their base 9.8m composite hull, forward cabin and galley. To this they have added a beautifully crafted aluminium hardtop with striking aesthetics and impeccable finish. The maximum beam of 3.6m provides a smooth ride and seakeeping that is second to none.
And then they top off the whole package with the engine that is redefining outboard technology, the Mercury Verado 600hp V12, a naturally-aspirated motor with a massive 7.6-litre displacement. This beast features a unique two-speed gearbox with a steerable gearcase – the powerhead remains motionless, while the bottom end with those contra-rotating propellors swivel to turn all that power into ‘go-fast’. Despite its size it is super quiet, and murmurs along almost silently at idle.
There are considerable benefits to one large engine rather than the more common twin configuration. Efficiency is the biggest of these – every outboard lower unit causes drag, and a single 600hp only has about half the drag of two 300hp units. It also occupies less transom space, thereby maximising the usability of the boarding platform.
This translates to better top speed, improved responsiveness and superior fuel economy. A single large motor is cheaper to service than two smaller ones, and with the reliability of modern outboard technology, there are no safety concerns. In fact, Mercury only requires the motor to be serviced every 200 operating hours, further reducing maintenance costs.
Another innovation is the rotating gearbox, which makes the boat extremely easy to steer, both at speed and in the marina. This unique design also provides significant handling benefits, as the weight of the powerhead does not move from side to side. Mercury’s electric steering and digital throttles make everything super-light, and there is no sensation of the massive forces you are controlling with a finger-light touch. The rotating gearbox also turns up to 45o either side, somewhat more than the usual 30o turning arc of a conventional outboard. And if that is not enough, the manoeuvrability of the Code 9.8 is further enhanced by a bow thruster with joystick control.
It was a sunny but windy day when we stepped aboard the boat at Auckland’s Westhaven Marina. As with all JP Crafts’ vessels, the boat looks stunning with an impeccable interior to match the quality of its hull and cabin. The steeply-raked tinted windscreen and the black carbon-fibre-effect Hypalon tubes contrast with the bright-white hull and topsides. The join between the aluminium hardtop and composite hull is so seamless that you cannot tell where one ends and the other starts.
Jonathan says they have developed a full set of tooling to enable them to output more boats of the same high standard with less manual finishing required. The use of carbon-fibre detailing on the dash complements the same finish on the tubes, and the luxurious interior furnishings and cabin linings are white to match the composite hull colour. An artificial teak deck completes the package.
The 9.8m hull features a plumb bow, which gives a longer waterline and a smoother ride than a conventional raked bow. The inflatable tube extends right around the bow, which creates a challenge for the anchor. JP Craft gets around this by fitting a drum anchor winch inside a hatch that is accessible from inside the cabin. This drops the anchor from below and behind the bow tubing, and they have also engineered an extending fairlead that automatically deploys to keep the anchor well clear of the hull.
The forward cabin has twin bunks, with a plumbed toilet hidden beneath. Custom mouldings inside the cabin complement the interior upholstery, and the layout is neat and efficient. The rear cockpit is open with no transom door, although there is a step up to the boarding platform and we had no issues with water ingress. A central pod holds a sink and space for a gas cooker.
The helm position is similarly clean and simple, with two touchscreens set into the carbon-fibre dashboard. Onboard switching is digital, and there are just four physical switches – on and off, and day and night modes. Of course, full control is available through the Garmin touchscreen, which features a custom boat interface to control individual items. However, Jonathan says most users will simply use the two operating modes most of the time.
The second touchscreen on the dash is the Mercury VesselView digital display, which is linked through the Enterprise bus to all the onboard devices. This technology also allows the vessel to be controlled by smartphone and monitored remotely. Other controls include the joystick for the bow thruster, a Fusion Stereo, a Raymarine VHF and of course the Mercury Digital Throttle and Shift. There is a 220V inverter on board for the fridge and accessories, and the vessel is wired for shore power. One of the optimal uses for all this technology is turning the fridge on remotely a few hours before coming down to the boat, to make sure it is properly chilled by the time you head out on the water.
Soon we had run out of things to look at, and it was time to head out. The big Mercury is super-quiet, and the boat is highly manoeuvrable around the marina, although the lack of an obvious visual clue as to the direction that the propeller is pointing is a little disconcerting at first – a steering indicator on the helm display is a future upgrade from Mercury. We headed out of Westhaven and off to Motuihe Island for lunch.
Many boats struggle with Auckland’s inner harbour 12-knot speed limit, but the Code 9.8 seemed to be able to hold to this speed consistently. Once out of the low-speed zone we couldn’t help ourselves and opened the throttle wide open. And whata blast that turned to out to be! The acceleration really hits you in the small of your back. The smart engine quietly did its thing, with the gear change from low- to high-range happening so seamlessly that unless you were listening for it, you would miss it. The Active Trim feature automatically adjusts the motor’s trim angle to suit the speed, and we were soon flying.
This boat is undoubtedly the fastest I have ever tested, with a reported top speed of 52 knots. We ‘only’ got to 48 knots in the conditions, which would have slowed down any typical sized runabout. However, the swell and chop ideally suited the big RIB, with the rigid deep vee hull and plumb bow easily cutting through the water. When we did lift over a big wake or extra-large swell, the massive tubes acted like big marshmallows, allowing the hull to come down softly on the other side, with the touch down barely noticeable.
We threw the Code 9.8 about with some abandon, and had no concerns cutting through big wakes or performing hard turns in the stiff chop. Luckily, we had a big Riviera as our photo boat on this occasion, so we could do donuts around them without worrying about swamping their boat. However, we reached our destination well before they did and were able to choose our lunch spot while waiting for them to arrive.
Fuel consumption and performance of the big Mercury is excellent. Wide open throttle fuel consumption is 196 litres per hour, which is about 20% more efficient than a pair of 300hp motors would be. At the most economical cruise speed of 25 knots the motor was ticking along at 3,500rpm and using 48 litres per hour, an astonishing 1.65 litres per nautical mile. Even at a fast cruise of 30 knots at 4,000rpm the consumption was 2.17l/nm. This gives the 500-litre fuel tank a range of 275 nautical miles (Allowing a 10% safety margin) at cruise, and even running at 40 knots you will still get around 170nm of range.
During our break and while we took more photos, we discovered that the JP Crafts Code 9.8 had been selected as the main film and media boat for the Auckland leg of the SailGP regatta, which will be happening as this issue goes to print. This is a great opportunity for the brand, as that sort of coverage is ideal for this type of boat: elegant performance and impeccable finish making it a smart corporate or family-friendly craft for every occasion.
The JP Crafts Code 9.8 is not a hardcore fishing boat – in fact there are no rod holders installed anywhere. It would almost be a shame to sully the boat with fish blood or smelly bait, although it would be an ideal soft-baiting platform. However, it is perfect for just about every other type of water activity, and with that speed and ride quality you can quickly get anywhere you want to go. A daytrip from Auckland to Great Barrier Island would be perfectly feasible, with the trip taking under an hour each way.
This is a beautifully-finished boat with an attention to detail that we don’t often see. It will suit the discerning buyer who wants the superb performance and the quality of a handcrafted boat but prefers not to wait while a custom build is completed.
