(PORT ANGELES, Wash.) — BRIX Marine has launched Quinn Starr, the latest vessel from the company’s PaxCat portfolio. The 52-foot boat will be the fourth BRIX-built addition to the Alaska Whale Watching fleet, enhancing its tours out of Auke Bay.
Quinn Starr is built with 5086 alloy aluminum hull skins and 5052 alloy aluminum interior transverse frames, ensuring durability and performance. The vessel’s main deck includes watertight bulkheads, self-bailing aluminum decks, and multiple access hatches for ease of operation and safety. It features a full-width swim grid with a jet guard and centerline access, providing ample space for passengers to enjoy whale watching.
Main deck accessories include a forward detachable radar and antenna mast; side boarding doors, port and starboard; bow with a webbed gate for anchor access; and engine access hatches with gas struts.
The pilothouse is fully insulated with a carbon fiber finish, welded aluminum dash console, Llebroc marine vinyl seats, and advanced navigation and control systems including Garmin GPSMAP 8612xsv MFD/sonar.
The insulated main cabin also has a carbon fiber finish and features Freedman Glitz seating for 49 passengers, along with a slip-resistant vinyl and lightweight acoustic dampening subfloor.
The newbuild is equipped with twin Scania DI16 marine diesel engines and HamiltonJet HJ403 waterjets. The electrical system includes USB ports, a Fusion stereo system and a comprehensive PA system, enhancing both functionality and passenger comfort.
The vessel also features Fireboy engine room fire suppression systems, EPIRB beacon, advanced bilge system with multiple pumps and high-water alarms, and a GOST video surveillance system with Starlink connectivity.
Key specifications
Model: 5217-CTC
Type: PaxCat
Hull length: 52 feet
Waterline length: 48 feet
LOA: 56 feet
Beam: 17.6 feet
Lightship weight: 46,288 pounds
Propulsion: (2) 800-hp Scania DI16 marine diesels with HamiltonJet HJ403 waterjets
Fuel capacity: (2) 350-gallon tanks
Class: U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter T
Crew: Three
– BRIX Marine
