Meet Our Naval Architect
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All of our Great Harbour Trawlers are designed by the Mirage Design Team. One of the noted partners of this design team is naval architect Lou Codega. The decision to enlist his services in the creation of our full displacement trawler line was based not only on his exemplary skill set and proven record of success, but also his innovative, ground breaking approach to nautical design.
Like the Mirage team, he is not afraid to think outside the box and challenge conventional wisdom in pursuit of new standards of design, with an emphasis on safety, performance and utility. Here are come comments and observations Lou made during the design phase of the original GH37 that illuminate his philosophy and expectations. |
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"The commission to design a boat like the Great Harbour 37 is one that I have looked forward to for a long time, and it is exciting to see her take shape. My design philosophy has been quite simple: to create, within the general parameters given, a boat that I would like to own and cruise myself. I've taken ideas from many sources, melding them into a boat that is easy to live on and live with.
The hull reflects a strong workboat heritage, with fine waterlines forward, deep sections amidships, and a flat run aft. I think that this is appropriate, as a workboat must earn its keep 365 days a year and care for its crew, regardless of the weather. She will be easily driven and comfortable in a sea. Scantlings are to commercial standards. The machinery and systems are intended to be simple, accessible, easily maintained and redundant.
My favorite place on the boat will be the pilot house. I can see myself sitting behind the big wheel, chart laid out on the console, watching the world travel by. Everything has been laid out for safe, efficient operation. The settee behind lets the crew have the same great view without getting in the way. The bulwark out to the bridge wings creates a safe place to be while maneuvering and navigating, and whenever the weather is nice. All around visibility is excellent, and the forward sloping windows eliminate glare. The Portuguese bridge eases access, protects the bridge and crew, and makes clean windows an achievable goal.
I also like the interior and deck space that the overall dimensions permit. They allow the Great Harbour 37 to travel with all of the comforts and most of the space of a waterfront condominium. We have tried very hard to avoid the glitz and gimmicks that are common on so many modern boats. This will be an honest craft, built to accommodate real-size people with real-size needs. The galley is designed to accommodate full-size household appliances, which are proven to be reliable and economical. The saloon will take the favorite sofa and reading table. Beach chairs will be ideal on the boat deck. This approach, which has been carried throughout the boat, saves initial and maintenance costs, and infinite frustration in the future. Interior finish will be New England traditional, with off-white panels and varnished cherry trim. Light, airy and easy to maintain.
In a few words, I would describe the Great Harbour 37 as comfortable, practical, economical, reliable and undemanding of her crew. I am sure that I am going to like her."
The hull reflects a strong workboat heritage, with fine waterlines forward, deep sections amidships, and a flat run aft. I think that this is appropriate, as a workboat must earn its keep 365 days a year and care for its crew, regardless of the weather. She will be easily driven and comfortable in a sea. Scantlings are to commercial standards. The machinery and systems are intended to be simple, accessible, easily maintained and redundant.
My favorite place on the boat will be the pilot house. I can see myself sitting behind the big wheel, chart laid out on the console, watching the world travel by. Everything has been laid out for safe, efficient operation. The settee behind lets the crew have the same great view without getting in the way. The bulwark out to the bridge wings creates a safe place to be while maneuvering and navigating, and whenever the weather is nice. All around visibility is excellent, and the forward sloping windows eliminate glare. The Portuguese bridge eases access, protects the bridge and crew, and makes clean windows an achievable goal.
I also like the interior and deck space that the overall dimensions permit. They allow the Great Harbour 37 to travel with all of the comforts and most of the space of a waterfront condominium. We have tried very hard to avoid the glitz and gimmicks that are common on so many modern boats. This will be an honest craft, built to accommodate real-size people with real-size needs. The galley is designed to accommodate full-size household appliances, which are proven to be reliable and economical. The saloon will take the favorite sofa and reading table. Beach chairs will be ideal on the boat deck. This approach, which has been carried throughout the boat, saves initial and maintenance costs, and infinite frustration in the future. Interior finish will be New England traditional, with off-white panels and varnished cherry trim. Light, airy and easy to maintain.
In a few words, I would describe the Great Harbour 37 as comfortable, practical, economical, reliable and undemanding of her crew. I am sure that I am going to like her."
LOUIS T. CODEGA, P.E.
Professional Experience and Affiliations
Professional Experience and Affiliations
Consulting Naval Architect - Providing engineering, design, testing and consulting services on all aspects of recreational, military and commercial small craft design, construction and testing. Performing and directing original design work based on boat builders’ requirements, from conceptual designs to full engineering packages. Providing design reviews, structural analyses, stability analyses, powering assessments, and propeller selections. Recommending solutions to performance and structural problems. Optimizing existing structural designs for least cost or least weight, as well as developing construction procedures and sequences. Serving as expert witness in litigation involving design, construction and maintenance of small craft.
CSC Advanced Marine - Providing design and engineering support to recreational and commercial boatbuilders, including the design and construction engineering of production sportfishing boats and a 164’ motor yacht. Performed evaluation resistance and powering calculations for high speed patrol craft and developed boat owners’ manuals. Provided consultation and engineering support to USCG on numerous projects, including: project providing justification to GAO for replacement of major cutter assets in support of Coast Guard’s Deepwater program; development of a work package to replace RHIB cutter’s boats with aluminum work boats. Performed conceptual designs for 135’ and 155’ trimarans for USNAVY service.
Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc. - Performed engineering and design tasks for recreational, military and commercial craft. Provided design and conversion services, including hull form definition, propulsion system design, structural and stability calculations, and design reviews. Conducted full scale tests for powering and stability. Served as expert witness in craft design litigation.
NAVSEA Combatant Craft Engineering Department - Directed and executed all aspects of military small craft design, construction, scheduling and maintenance. Led a team of engineers responsible for conceptual, preliminary and contract design drawing and specification packages. Participated in all facets of the source selection process, including developing and defending design parameters and craft capabilities, review of contractor bid packages, and pre-award surveys. Conducted construction supervision surveys. Wrote construction and repair specifications. As the department’s expert, was responsible for powering predictions and dynamic stability evaluations for almost all boats designed by the department. Developed, implemented and served as both test engineer and trial captain for full-scale test programs for powering, sea keeping and stability.
US Coast Guard First District - Prepared drawings and specifications for cutter maintenance, repair and conversion projects, for hull, outfit and machinery, and supervised others doing the same. Provided on site job supervision and served as COTR on commercial and government contracts for routine and emergency availabilities. Provided emergency damage assessments and repair recommendations. Performed calculations for docking and stability. Resolved long-standing machinery vibration problems aboard WHEC-378. Assisted type desk officers in developing specifications for difficult or unique maintenance items. Developed automated system for tracking work package items from ships force through completion of yard availability. Scheduled, implemented and oversaw WHEC major yard availability at CG Yard. Developed Standard Specifications for common repair and maintenance yard items.
US Coast Guard Headquarters - Participated in preliminary and contract design phases of Dual Draft Icebreaker and Arctic-Lakes Icebreaker programs. Developed model test programs, oversaw model construction and testing in open water and ice. Developed preliminary and contract design calculations and drawings, including Lines Plans. Oversaw full scale ice testing of first 140’ icebreaker. Participated in evaluation of prototype 110’ SES.
EDUCATION
M.S. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Society of Boat and Yacht Designers
American Boat and Yacht Council
SNAME Power Craft Panel and Small Craft Committee
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
CSC Advanced Marine - Providing design and engineering support to recreational and commercial boatbuilders, including the design and construction engineering of production sportfishing boats and a 164’ motor yacht. Performed evaluation resistance and powering calculations for high speed patrol craft and developed boat owners’ manuals. Provided consultation and engineering support to USCG on numerous projects, including: project providing justification to GAO for replacement of major cutter assets in support of Coast Guard’s Deepwater program; development of a work package to replace RHIB cutter’s boats with aluminum work boats. Performed conceptual designs for 135’ and 155’ trimarans for USNAVY service.
Donald L. Blount and Associates, Inc. - Performed engineering and design tasks for recreational, military and commercial craft. Provided design and conversion services, including hull form definition, propulsion system design, structural and stability calculations, and design reviews. Conducted full scale tests for powering and stability. Served as expert witness in craft design litigation.
NAVSEA Combatant Craft Engineering Department - Directed and executed all aspects of military small craft design, construction, scheduling and maintenance. Led a team of engineers responsible for conceptual, preliminary and contract design drawing and specification packages. Participated in all facets of the source selection process, including developing and defending design parameters and craft capabilities, review of contractor bid packages, and pre-award surveys. Conducted construction supervision surveys. Wrote construction and repair specifications. As the department’s expert, was responsible for powering predictions and dynamic stability evaluations for almost all boats designed by the department. Developed, implemented and served as both test engineer and trial captain for full-scale test programs for powering, sea keeping and stability.
US Coast Guard First District - Prepared drawings and specifications for cutter maintenance, repair and conversion projects, for hull, outfit and machinery, and supervised others doing the same. Provided on site job supervision and served as COTR on commercial and government contracts for routine and emergency availabilities. Provided emergency damage assessments and repair recommendations. Performed calculations for docking and stability. Resolved long-standing machinery vibration problems aboard WHEC-378. Assisted type desk officers in developing specifications for difficult or unique maintenance items. Developed automated system for tracking work package items from ships force through completion of yard availability. Scheduled, implemented and oversaw WHEC major yard availability at CG Yard. Developed Standard Specifications for common repair and maintenance yard items.
US Coast Guard Headquarters - Participated in preliminary and contract design phases of Dual Draft Icebreaker and Arctic-Lakes Icebreaker programs. Developed model test programs, oversaw model construction and testing in open water and ice. Developed preliminary and contract design calculations and drawings, including Lines Plans. Oversaw full scale ice testing of first 140’ icebreaker. Participated in evaluation of prototype 110’ SES.
EDUCATION
M.S. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Webb Institute of Naval Architecture
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Society of Boat and Yacht Designers
American Boat and Yacht Council
SNAME Power Craft Panel and Small Craft Committee
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
