S E C T I O N S

Hull and Deck Construction

Dolce Vita is designed and built to ABS standards; it’s also CE certified Category A (unrestricted offshore use) for the demanding European market. All of this points to a meticulous, stringent set of construction parameters. The hull is built of solid triaxial fiberglass using vinylester in the outer layers to curb water penetration, then polyester behind that. It is laminated by hand in conjunction with a pressure-fed resin impregnator, and stiffened with an integrated molded-in structural grid. Island Packet’s proprietary gel coating system (Poly Clad) allows the company to offer an unprecedented 10-year limited warranty against blistering. This structure design provides the highest level of impact and puncture resistance and over twice the tensile strength of conventional woven roving laminates The deck is cored with Poly Core, an extremely tough inorganic matrix of glass microspheres and resin that is impervious to rot and delamination; fittings on deck sit atop raised platforms molded into the part and are backed by integral aluminum plates. Similarly to the hull warranty, the factory also offers a 10-year warranty against deck degradation. Typically, attention to detail at the tooling stage is superb and that is why components such as this can be rendered so professionally.  One construction item is of special note. The stainless chain plates are welded to an L-shaped flange that sits beneath and interlocks with the Deck and Rigging Layout Click on Image to enlarge in-turned fiberglass hull flange along the rail. Below this, the extension of each chain plate is secured further by long strands of unidirectional fiberglass that fan out and are glassed into the hull all the way down to well below the waterline. The result is a chain-plate assembly that successfully integrates rigging loads with the monococque structure of the hull and deck and ties virtually the entire boat together with stainless steel and uni glass. A very reassuring detail. The topside scenario emphasizes practical cruising. The cockpit is safe and secure with good high coamings for ocean work, and the seating is long enough to stretch out on horizontally should you want to sleep there beneath the stars. Safety harness pad eyes are installed at the factory. Cockpit drains are two-inch in diameter, the companionway drop boards are secured with a pin lock. Primaries are within reasonable reach of the helm, and line bins and custom bags keep spaghetti under control. The bow with its sturdy sprit is dedicated to anchoring: Dual Bow rollers that carry two anchors both with access to the powerful windlass makes it simple to store and deploy, the two-compartment chain and rode locker is deep and spacious. Ground Tackle This vessel is intended to be taken off the beaten track, so anchor systems are set up to be easy for one person to use providing the ability to set and/or retrieve two anchors at a moment’s notice . The anchor well is split into two compartments; two anchors and complete rodes are in place and ready to use at all times. The anchors sit on rollers on either side of the short bowsprit. Extending the anchor rollers on the sprit allows the anchors to be kept out of the way of sails and sheets; the sprit arrangement also keeps the tackle way from the bow and the gelcoat. 56lb Delta primary anchor w/200' galvanized chain  44 lb Bruce auxiliary anchor w/100' chain & 150' rode Bow sprit with two bronze anchor bow rollers Lofrans Kobra windlass with up/down foot controls Power deck wash system Rub rail and stainless steel strikers.

Sailplan

Cockpit