Ed Hartman started his maritime life with a row boat on summer vacations to Annapolis. After a "real life" as a lawyer he followed his maritime passion in 1980 to operate
Chesapeake Marine Tours and Charters, Inc., which he had started with a single boat and a partner in 1972.
Today, the company has a fleet of 11 boats ranging from 24-ft. water taxis to 65-ft. dinner cruisers. This June will see the addition of the fleet's twelfth boat and flag ship, 109 x 27-ft. 250 passenger Catherine Marie.
Building at Freeport Shipbuilding in Florida, the boat is powered by a pair of Cummins C6TA M3 deliverning 350 hp @ 2,500 rpm and driving through Twin Disc MG5091 gears with a 2.95:1 ratio.
The two 70 Kw gen sets on the new vessel are powered by Cummins 6BT 5.9 MG2 engines.
"We have had several Cummins engines in our fleet including an eleven-year old boat with a pair of B-series engines that have been absolutely trouble free," says Hartman, adding the key to zero repairs are regular oil and filter changes.
"We cater all of our meals," says Hartman, "And the boat is equipped with a full galley for the caterer to serve hot meals onboard."
Naval architects for the new boat are DeJong and Lebet Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla.