Rozema Builds Research Vessel for OSU

When Oregon State University decided to add a new research vessel to its fleet, it wanted one that would handle the sometimes difficult conditions off the Oregon coast, provide enough room to conduct at-sea laboratory work and be a low-maintenance, cost-efficient boat to operate. The search led to Rozema Boat Works in Mount Vernon, Wash., manufacturer of rugged aluminum boats for a variety of commercial applications.

The end result was the recent delivery of the Elakha, a 54-ft vessel that enables OSU researchers to conduct trips as long as 72 hours. The boat it replaced, the 30-year-old, 37-ft. Sacajawea, was limited to mostly day trips. Named with a Chinook Indian word for sea otter, the new vessel will ply the waters of the Oregon coast as both a research and teaching platform.

The Elakha is 54 ft. long, with a beam of 16.5 ft. and a draft of 4 ft., 4 in. The all-aluminum, semi planning boat is powered by a 600-hp diesel, driving a five-blade, 36-in. diameter propeller through a Twin Disc 5111 2.5:1 gear box, for a top speed of 15 knots. Auxiliary power is provided by a Northern Lights 8-kW genset.

Other equipment aboard the Elakha includes a Sound Ocean System oceanographic winch, a Key Power bowthruster, an anchor winch, and an A-frame aft, all hydraulically powered. In addition to a dedicated 10-x 11-ft. interior laboratory space, the boat features an outdoor lab counter with a sampling system, double sinks and saltwater washdown. Inside, there are accommodations for four, a small galley and dinette area, and an enclosed head.

"Our raised pilot house design maximizes the useable space for a boat this size," commented Dirk Rozema, the company's general manager, "and we are very pleased with the capability we were able to deliver to OSU for their needs."