News
As seen in the Belleville Intelligencer, September 3, 2008:
Custom-made catamarans
'All our dreams are right here'
by Jeremy Ashley, The Intelligencer
The Last of the Red Hot Lovers has set sail.
Last weekend, Randee and Roger Dann arrived on the southern shores of Prince Edward County to showcase their latest adventure and business venture: a custom-built, eight-metre long catamaran.
"Isn't she beautiful?" Randee asked as the boat was being outfitted with the final high-tech touches.
"All of our dreams are right here, floating in the water before us."
Randee and Roger Dann stand aboard their Catamarin - a vessel they designed and now are selling locally and on the international markets. In addition to featuring the latest technology, the vessel is demountable - meaning it can be shipped anywhere in the world, which is unheard of for Catamarans.
But the story behind the couple and their unique company 'Rodann Yachts' is in itself about as interesting as taking to the waters on the innovative, head-turning craft.
An engineer by trade, Roger emigrated to Canada in the 1970s and eventually moved to Prince Edward County.
Soon after the move, he joined the Picton theatre club to meet new people and maybe pick up an occasional role on a local stage.
Around the same time, Randee -- who was born in Vancouver and grew up in Toronto before settling locally -- happened to walk into the same club.
Both ended up landing lead roles in the popular comedy 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers' -- and haven't been apart since.
"Wouldn't you know that we both got lead parts -- it's certainly something neither of us expected, I think," Randee recalled with a smile.
Over the years, the pair, who live in Bayside, carved out a special niche on local waterways: Roger found he had a knack for buying, fixing and selling sailboats.
"But my dream always was to own a cat," he explained, adding the incredible cost of the vessels far outdistanced the couple's pay-cheques.
A catamaran is a type of multi-hulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls joined by a frame, which are either sail or engine-powered.
The ships are very fast, extremely stable and can sail in much shallower waters than their single hull cousins.
Catamarans are a relatively recent introduction to the design of boats for both leisure and sport sailing, although they have been used for centuries in other parts of the world.
Several years ago, however, a chance opportunity for the Dann's to travel and work in China through Roger's employer -- Belleville-based EMS-Tech -- led the couple to realize their dreams.
| This video was filmed on location in Asia in 2008 |
While in the Orient, both used their time off to establish a network of ship-building contacts.
Soon they were in collaboration with one of the world's most renowned catamaran designers, John Shuttleworth, who put together a special blueprint of a smallish- version of the boat which could be transported and assembled with relative ease.
"One of the reasons cats cost hundreds of thousands of dollars is because they can only be transported by water because of their size," Roger explained.
By designing a catamaran that could fit in a 53-foot container -- and thus be shipped anywhere in the world -- meant the overall cost was lowered substantially, to around $100,000 a boat, while still using the highest-grade materials such as Airex foam core and sails made from the venerable Pentex material.
Earlier this week, the first Rodann Yacht was delivered to the Morch Marine harbour to be assembled, the Dandee 8M.
"It went together without a hitch," Randee said while the sails were being installed on the 40-foot high mast.
Despite being tucked away in a small harbour, the boat drew dozens of curious onlookers over the several days it was docked in Belleville.
"Every 15 minutes there is someone new coming over and wanted to take a peek on board," Rand said, laughing. "It's great to see, and that's part of the reason why we are taking her on a tour around Prince Edward County, to show her off and get people talking."
Inside, the impressive vessel are sleeping quarters for up to eight people (four doubles), a full galley, stand-up room and dining area.
And, the boat is charting a course into new environmental waters -- while powered mostly by wind, the motors on the boat are electric and recharged whenever the vessel is moving.
"These are very new, state-of-the- art regenerative drives," Rand said. "So while the boat is sailing, it's charging the batteries used by the electric motors.
"So in theory, we can have this boat on the water forever under wind power, sleep eight and still enjoy wine and cheese at sunset."
The green technology wasn't lost on long-time harbour businessman Bob Keegan, who's spent the majority of his life on the water.
"She's a beauty, this is the Cadillac," he mused while standing on the end of a dock overlooking the marina.
Pointing to a nearby yacht with dual inboard motors, he said the initial cost of the Rodann Catamaran doesn't compare to the fuel burned up travelling in a larger, motorized vessel.
"When you think it costs about $800 in fuel to go to the Thousand Islands and back in that thing," said Keegan of the dual engine barge. "And there (the cat) it wouldn't cost you a buck, it's a no-brainer.
"That's incredible. That's green ... really green.
"And I bet you could get some terrific speed out of her ... I can't wait to see her sail."
For the Danns, the work has just begun in promoting the latest edition to the CFB Trenton Yacht Club.
"We did not cut any corners on either the design or construction of this boat, and really think people have to see it to appreciate it," Rand said.
While the couple is still happily employed with EMS-Tech, both are looking forward to a future selling differing versions of their catamarans around the world.
For more information about Rodann Yachts or the Dandee 8M Catamaran, visit www.rodannyachts.com or e-mail info@rodannyachts.com.