Katie Miller launched Raymariner yesterday at the PSP Southampton Boat Show.

The new Commodore 42 floating laboratory enables Raymarine to conduct rigorous year-round testing of prototypes and new products, under demanding and variable sea conditions.

It will be based at Port Solent, near the company¹s Portsmouth headquarters. Raymariner¹s size allows Raymarine to carry out relatively long range sea tests, beyond the Solent and across the Channel.

A removable section of hull means underwater transducers can be fitted without the boat being taken out the water. Her standard equipment includes
6 radar antennas, 19 underwater transducers and 14 GPS sensors, as well as an independent generator, enabling a greater range of electronic equipment to be tested.

Raymariner is the second UK-based test boat commissioned from Hardy Marine. She replaces Rubeus, a Commodore 36 which was launched in September 2002.

Image courtesy: OnEdition