In 2007 Winston Knauss took delivery of his twelfth vessel designed by DeJong and Lebet. This is the sixth vessel built for him at Keith Marine, Inc. of Palatka, Florida.  These vessels have many unique features including an elevator from the hull to the top deck and spuds for convenient mooring in the canals of south Florida. The vessels are also  certified for carriage of a helicopter. Previous vessels built for Winston include the KANAN I, GRAND FLORIDIAN and the FANTASEA ONE. Other of his vessels have been relocated as far away as India and China.

SIR WINSTON

The new 120’x33’ SIR WINSTON was recently delivered to Sir Winston Luxury Yacht Charters.  The company is owned and operated by PVA Member Captain Winston Knauss out of Bal Harbour , in Miami Beach , Florida .  The vessel was designed byDeJong and Lebet, Inc., Naval Architects, Jacksonville , Florida .  The new vessel is the tenth in a line of DeJong and Lebet, Inc. designed SIR WINSTON vessels starting in 1993.

SIR WINSTON features five levels that are accessible to passengers, all of which can be reached by an elevator.  The hull level contains passenger and crew staterooms.  The Main Deck has a 1600 sq.ft. lounge/dining room and a large galley.

The Second Deck features a 2600 sq.ft. dining room with a capacity of 200.  Both the Main and Second Deck passenger areas have large windows the full length of the spaces.

The Third Deck space is a partially covered and enclosed passenger lounge and dining area.

The Fourth Deck is an open passenger deck with a hot tub.  The pilothouse is also on the Fourth Deck.  Restrooms are installed on all levels.

SIR WINSTON is U.S. Coast Guard certificated under Subchapter K, and measures less than 100 gross tons.  She is licensed to carry 400 passengers on Protected Waters, and 300 passengers on Partially Protected Waters.

Another unique feature of SIR WINSTON is the three mooring spuds.  These spuds allow the vessel to be moored at virtually any location that will accommodate her shallow 5’-10” draft, without needing a dock.  She can be moored next to any dock without being tied to it, or she can be moored offshore.  SIR WINSTON carries her own tender to ferry passengers ashore, and has a swim platform aft for convenient boarding.

The vessel was constructed at Keith Marine, Palatka , Florida .  SIR WINSTON is powered by a pair of 450-HP Cummins 6CTA diesels with ZF gears.  Electrical power is provided by two 95 kW Cummins 6BTA generators.  Another Cummins Diesel powers a 150 HP bowthruster.

The previous SIR WINSTON’s have been sold to other operators in both the dinner cruise and casino businesses.  They are operating in Florida , New York , New Jersey , Los Angeles , and San Francisco Bay .  A recent vessel was sold to an interest inChina and operates in Shanghai .  The previous vessel delivered in June 2002 is currently for sale.

SIR WINSTON is the second passenger vessel delivered by DeJong & Lebet, Inc. this year, with a third delivery scheduled for December 2004.  DeJong & Lebet, Inc. currently has three other passenger vessel designs under construction, as well as a 137’ luxury expedition yacht.