Maine boatbuilder Lyman-Morse is known for its semi-custom sailing yachts and powerboats, but now the Lyman-Morse Fabrication (LMF) division is building a line of aluminum workboats known as the LMF Landing Craft Series, which has caught the attention of recreational boaters.
The LMF Landing Craft series is designed for the most rigorous commercial use. The workboats have found popularity as research, rescue, first responder and municipal use, but now recreational owners are beginning to see their utility as well.
“These are work boats, so they’re a bit more spartan than the Lyman-Morse pleasure yachts,” says Jon Egan, manager of the Lyman-Morse Fabrication division, “but we can put anything anywhere a customer wants, so long as it works and fits within the constraints of the hull. We can handle just about any level of customization that is requested of us—electronics, pumps, overrun hoses, pipes—we have all that expertise in-house with everyone who works on the pleasure boats. So, there’s a lot we can do.”
Each LMF Landing Craft is customized to the client’s specific needs, with sizes ranging from 24 to 120 feet. Hull number 1 of the LMF 33, for instance, was built for the University of New Hampshire’s aquaculture research program, which required the boat to be equipped with a 3,300-pound crane for net and trap hauling. For a recent LMF 28 built for a fire department, the vessel needed to be equipped with a built-in water tank and pump for fire suppressions operations.
But, just like the Jeep Cherokee and the Land Rover Defender, what started as a strictly no-frills work platform has gained interest from the recreational side as well. “We’ve done a few recreational launches, and I see these recreational ones becoming a thing,” Egan said. “We built a pleasure version for a client that has faux teak decks on it, and the inside of the house will be nicely finished. Not as plush as some of our yachts, but certainly nice for a workboat. One client, he had just bought an island off the coast and needed a way to get his tractor out there. He was doing some research on workboats, happened to see our LMF LC33 at the dock, and ordered one. I think there is real potential there, to fill that niche of expertly built expedition crafts.”
LMF 28 SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 28’ 0”
BEAM: 8’6”
DISPL.: 6,700 lbs.
HULL MATERIAL: Aluminum
POWER: (2) 250-hp Yamaha Outboards
CRUISING SPEED: 30 knots
TOP SPEED: 45 knots
LMF 33 SPECIFICATIONS
LOA: 32’9”
BEAM: 11’10”
DISPL.: 9,265 lbs.
HULL MATERIAL: Aluminum
POWER: (2) 250-hp Yamaha Outboards
CRUISING SPEED: 37 knots
TOP SPEED: 40+ knots
