BYD Turns the new Fugu 29 Boat into a Lightweight Rocket Ship

The Right Stuff

BYD has deployed its skills to create a lethal combination of speed, strength and pure adrenaline in the form of the new Fugu 29 sports RIB. Capable of fast economical cruising as well as turns of speed in excess of 50 knots, this break-out boat owes much of its safety and economy to the technical work of the Palma-based design outfit BYD.

When the Swedish start-up first got in touch with lead architect Tia Simó, the hull shape for the 29ft rocket had already been set in stone. What was missing was the structure to support the high performance PeteStep hull at great speed and under huge loads. Not only that, but the result had to be well balanced and comfortable. It is not a common way to design a boat, but it was nevertheless a challenge that BYD was happy to take on.

PeteStep is a Swedish business that has designed a patented fast hull form with lower wetted surface than normal V-shaped hull and deflectors that direct spray aft. It results in a quieter, more stable ride with much lower slamming and half the G-force, as well as a third less fuel burn. But in order to see those benefits the design and engineering of the boat is critical.

As befits its lethal pufferfish namesake, the Fugu 29 is a lean black monster of a day boat. It totes four Ullman Bulldog shock-absorbing seats complete with flip out foot pedals to make light of rough conditions at speed. There’s a ghost of an aft sun pad and simple interior with a V-berth and an optional heads cubicle. Inboard engine options run up to an 8.2-litre Mercruiser V8 with a whopping 430hp capable of speeds up to 60 knots.

And yet, despite all this, the Fugu 29 offers staggering efficiency – consuming around 1lt of fuel per nautical mile at an exhilarating 40 knots. At a still-respectable 20 knots, range moves out to more than 300 miles.