There are big sport-fishing boats, pretty sport-fishing boats, fast sport-fishing boats—and then there is Warpath. Hull No. 29 from F&S Boatworks is a 75-foot beast that meets—and exceeds—all of that criteria. The second 75-footer to come out of Bear, Delaware, this build showcases what a true custom boat can be. Created precisely to the owner’s specifications—and then some—Warpath includes the ability to travel and fish the world extensively, and live aboard in ridiculous comfort…all the while showing off her striking lines with the speed of a bullet.
The owners had a dream layout in mind, and F&S delivered.
Warpath_MA_©Kerrigan.m4v from ScottKerrigan on Vimeo.
As you glance around the project, unable to focus on a single standout detail, you suddenly realize everything is a standout detail. From the custom, curved side glass to the unmistakable F&S profile, Warpath is a study in fishability, comfort, amenities and redundancy. So much so that I’d consider building one for myself, if it were even an option.
Salon and Accommodations
The salon door opens to the grandest of living areas, with an open layout and a U-shaped couch set against the aft bulkhead. A giant hidden television panel rises up from the starboard teak cabinet with the push of a button; and just so you don’t feel left out of the game while snacking in the galley or sitting at the dinette, there is a second hidden TV panel built into the countertop as well. The gold-and-black visual properties in the granite perfectly accent the teak cabinetry throughout. And there’s lots of teak—casework and valances included. An Instagram follower of mine said it best after I posted a photo of the salon: “The [F&S] carpentry department is not of this world.” And I’d have to agree.
The raised dinette conceals a huge drawer of fishing rods in the riser, and the accompanying reels reside under one of the stateroom beds. The galley peninsula houses the first of many drawers of refrigerator and freezer space on this boat. Passing through the galley reveals two state-of-the-art pantry closets on either side as you head toward the companionway steps: The audiovisual electronics is dedicated to the port side, as are more refrigerated drawers and more storage, and on the starboard side, a custom tackle area that would make a retail tackle store jealous. The eye candy carries on as you ease down the staircase, complete with a unique backlit handrail that somehow floats flush to the wall. The builder continued to blow my mind as I entered the companionway: a curvy space like nothing I’d ever seen on a sportboat. But then again, this is one builder that capitalizes on curvy.
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A tight turn at the bottom of the stairs reveals a semiprivate landing area with a glass-front light-tackle closet and a hidden washer and dryer. The entire companionway sports a higher-than-average overhead to take advantage of the space in the brow.
Continuing aft leads you to the incredible full-beam, king master stateroom. The space is enveloped by banks of storage drawers and closets, a generous love seat, and make-up vanity. The master head is a thing of beauty also, complete with a spacious shower. All these amenities are outfitted with 5-inch-thick sound-deadening components, making this master suite the ideal liveaboard sanctuary.
As you can imagine, the remaining three staterooms are equally impressive, incorporating the same lofty headroom and the most elegant of finishes and fixtures, including the presence of lightweight granite flooring in each head.
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co*ckpit and Bridge
Clean and concise sums up the exterior of Warpath. The co*ckpit is clad in teak, which really sets off the attention to detail. The mezzanine deck and steps solidify the builder’s iconic signature curves, and it never looked better than when paired with this 20-plus-foot beam. The oversize lounge comes complete with air-conditioning vents, and the entire mezz level is a few inches larger and deeper than most builds, giving the owner and their guests just a little more comfort on those long days of trolling in the tropical heat.
Only two hatches break the lines of the co*ckpit deck: a lazarette hatch and a much smaller centerline hatch under the rocket launcher, revealing access to the business end of an extensive pressurized livewell system. The fishing platform masks the usual assortment of refrigeration, freezer, drink-box and cold-storage compartments.
Up the ladder, the flybridge reveals the owners’ continued love of teak with a complete teak sole, teak captain’s riser and helm pod. Of course, there is a ton of plush seating, both forward of the console and running down the starboard side. Forward of the helm station, which is outfitted with three 22-inch Garmin multifunction displays each dedicated for information provided by Warpath’s plotter, radars and Furuno Omni sonar, is a large travel freezer with the capacity that would allow the owner and crew weeks of staples while at anchor.
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Custom lockers built into the hardtop and hidden teaser reels? Check. Additional recessed displays for the ship’s systems? Check. And just to solidify the thoughtful storage concerns, you’ll find a uniquely designed custom locker for the enclosure panels so they lay flat and remain clean while not in use.
A dedicated AC unit supplies the bridge with an infinite amount of cool air by way of the low-profile AC vents that are located forward and in the helm console.
Engine Room and Performance
In keeping on trend with a vessel this size, redundant systems abound. In the vast space of this engine room, even a pair of 2,600 hp MTU engines and two Onan 29 kW gensets fit comfortably. There is plenty of room for today’s high-tech accessories, such as the retractable commercial sonar boom and a center-mounted Seakeeper 26 gyrostabilizer, plus all the extras: dual ice chippers, a Dometic SeaXchange XSII that produces product water at 2,200 gallons per day, and a Spot Zero watermaker and purifying system.
My eye was quickly drawn to the custom-made tool cabinet, and don’t get me started on the lighting. I’ve never seen the inside of an operating room (at least not while conscious), but I imagine it’s similarly clean and with the same bright light, which emphasizes the impeccable finish and paint work.
It took a while for me to really notice the design features that were reworked and engineered to accommodate the full-beam master above. A separate pump room is one of those features that needed to be eliminated to accommodate the master. Instead, all of those systems are built-in but just as easily accessible.
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State-of-the-art weight-saving technologies are utilized throughout the build process, resulting in the phenomenal ride and speed for which F&S boats are known. The boat had to jet before I got on for an “official” sea trial, but from what I could tell during the photoshoot, Warpath takes no prisoners. The builder’s initial sea trial reports a wide-open-throttle average of 44.5 knots and her captain, JJ Logan, says this 75-footer casually cruises at 35 knots turning 1,900 rpm at an 80 percent load, burning 180 gph. Warpath is yet another fine example of the F&S team of skilled and dedicated craftsmen who had nearly two years to construct a dream boat for a discerning client. With the ability to go anywhere, bring everything, and stay for extended periods of time once you get there, she knows her job and does it flawlessly.
F&S Boatworks 75 Specs
- LOA: 75′
- Beam: 20′9″
- Draft: 5′6″
- Displ: 95,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,800 gal.
- Water: 400 gal.
- Power: Twin MTU 16V 2000 M96L; 2,600 hp
- Gear/Ratio: ZF 2.0:1
- PROPELLERS: Veem, 5-blade Interceptor
- Paint: Awlgrip, Cloud White
- Climate Control: Dometic
