lightning yachts beaufort nc

• Boat Reviews

Lightning 64 – Boat Review

• By Dean Travis Clarke
• Updated: July 31, 2009

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Yes, you can buy faster boats (even though this one hit 43 knots), but you’d be hard pressed to find one with better sea-keeping ability at cruising speeds. And some of us consider that to be the loftiest goal of all.

Lightning’s first big boat – a 61-footer – ran so well that its designers kept every excellent attribute of the “smaller” hull and simply stretched the running surface.

This 64 sports the sharp entry inherent in Carolina designs for a righteous head-sea ride while blending hull shape and a modest 12-degree deadrise for straight-as-an-arrow down-sea tracking and a rock-solid ride.

This 64-footer smoothly reverses course in less than three boat lengths – it’s every bit as nimble as most 35-footers. It rises onto plane almost unnoticeably thanks to its lightweight construction, hull design and a pair of Veem Sportfish series propellers.

While fishing, the 64 spins well using the wheel and gear/throttles – the addition of the Vetus bow thruster merely gilds the lily. The Lightning sports full controls in both the flybridge and tower, with equally impressive, unobstructed views fore and aft.

The interesting cockpit boasts modules containing an Eskimo ice dump, bait trays and a cockpit freezer, raised to more ergonomically comfortable heights. This height also creates a trough between modules and the seats, adding a touch more security for those up on that level in a heavy sea. The cockpit also features a unique offset chair stanchion that uses a custom sleeve, allowing you to switch easily from a fighting chair to a rocket launcher. The stanchion even has a built-in raw-water outlet for a cockpit washdown or to hook up to one of three portable livewells.

The engine room consists of three compartments separated by transverse bulkheads, with the forward pump room containing air-conditioning compressors, fuel tanks and transfer pumps. The aft compartment houses the noise-generating components, which are all rack-mounted for easy access. Though the main engine room lacks full standing headroom, it does offer loads of storage space and access to all sides of the engines.

In the living quarters, I love the door-mounted light switches that turn on the interior lights in the cabins and cabinets when opened and automatically shut them off when closed. Speaking of which, the owner wanted hidden push latches on all 55 drawers and 61 doors.

A chest-high double berth up front requires you to step on the lower oblique single berth to climb up. Just aft, an athwartship double to starboard effectively takes that berth out of use while under way. Nobody wants to be rolled back and forth with each wave.

The cherry veneers belowdecks all came from a single log, as did the maple wood in the salon. Lightning hand-carves all trim, fiddles and vent grilles to match. And finally, Lightning shaves marble and granite and mounts them to honeycomb bases for weight savings on the countertops. Overall, the Lightning’s interior comes with all the bells and whistles you’d normally want but doesn’t climb out on the ledge and jump overboard with gadgetry.

Lightning cold-molds its 64 using three layers of half-inch fir plywood in the bottom and sandwiches a one-inch layer of Divinycell between quarter-inch Meranti plywood layers in the topsides. The hull’s outer skin gets a layer of Kevlar for puncture resistance, and the inner skin is made from biaxial E-glass. All bulkheads are Divinycell cored; decks are Nida-Core; and the entire interior is Tricel honeycomb.

I particularly like that the entire foredeck is nonskid. Handrails along the cabin side wrap around the front corners of the brow, providing a solid handhold in that no-man’s land between the side walkway and the foredeck.

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA…… 64’6″ BEAM…… 18’2″ **DRAFT…… 5’4″ WEIGHT…… 67,000 pounds (loaded) POWER…… T 1,652 Cat C32 diesels DEADRISE…… 12 degrees at transom FUEL…… 1,650 gallons WATER…… 285 gallons PRICE…… On request**

Lightning Custom Yachts / Beaufort, North Carolina / 252-728-7817 / www.lightningyachts.com

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We build and rebuild any type of boat you can dream up or have already Our boats weigh nearly half of the competitions and burn nearly half the fuel at the same speeds!

Marshall Liberia 41 Lightning Express

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Uncovering the Hatteras, she's in the final stages, last coat of finish going on the new cherry interior.

The 41 hull on her way to her new home! Going down the street in Monrovia LIberia

The one that started it all!

Despite the lack of a full or even skeleton crew, this 61-footer still carries on the tradition of very capable Carolina boats.

Lightning yachts 64 Gatecrasher Marlin Magazine

This 64 sports the sharp entry inherent in Carolina designs for a righteous head-sea ride while blending hull shape and a modest 12-degree deadrise for straight-as-an-arrow down-sea tracking and a rock-solid ride.

Check us out at www.lightningyachts.com we can build your dream boat whether it be an brand new 90 ft custom sportfisher or a super light super functional bay boat we can make your dreams a reality! This 23' I mean 26' seacraft is coming along nicely! With whole list of hull modifications still to be completed she will definitely be an eyecatcher when she hits the water!

Quick test fit of the toe rail on the the 20' seacraft before painting the top sides.

Sneak peek in the paint booth of the 20' Sea Craft that's getting the teak toe rail! Alexseal Lagoon Blue Metallic with 3 coats of clear on top so far. Alex seal Alexseal Yacht Coatings

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Lightning 64 Custom Boat MS MALAE Is a True Carolina Sportfish

By Rob Bowman | Posted On Jan 25, 2022 Updated On May 11, 2022

Lightning Boatworks are known as one of the "other custom boat builder" at the Jarrett Bay Industrial Park, a 175-acrea facility on the central coast of North Carolina with over 20 marine-related businesses on site. Specializing in composite construction, the team at Lightning can build or re-build just about anything.

"The team at Lightning Boatworks build some of the most incredible performing custom sportfish I've seen," says Greg Graham, a veteran at United Yacht Sales when it comes to selling sportfish. "They build boats that weigh half of what the competition's does and burn half the fuel at the same speeds. The captain can drop her back on a fish in two to three boat lengths.

" MS MALAE " is a 2008 Lightning 64 Convertible that has just come on the brokerage market with Greg Graham at an asking price of $2,495,000. Located in Biloxi, Mississippi, this is a true custom Carolina sportfishing boat with a 12-degree deadrise and piercing hull shape that delivers "straight-as-an-arrow down-sea tracking and a rock-solid ride," as said in a Marlin Magazine review of the boat.

If you have questions about MS MALAE, please contact Greg Graham at 1-305-522-4739 or by email at [email protected] . Captain Greg has been fishing the waters of Ocean Reef since the early 80's and is one of the top professional yacht brokers in United Yacht Sales and the industry. 

Much is made about the performance prowess of the Lightning 64. Thanks to her light weight and a set of Veem propellers, MS MALAE gets to a plane effortlessly and handles remarkably well. "There are full controls in both the flybridge and the tower," continued Greg. "The CAT C-32's are 1675HP models that can push MS MALAE to 42 knots while cruising at around 34-35 knots. She's fast, nimble, and she looks incredible while performing."

(Seen Below: View from the tower.)

The cockpit on the Lightning 64 is everything you desire in a tournament-ready sportfish, with some interesting changes with ergonomics in mind. At 238 square feet, there is plenty of room for fighting a fish and for the crew to maneuver around the angler. Some of the main features on the cockpit include:

• New teak decks installed in 2015
• Fullsized pompanette rocket launcher and offset SS stanchion with custom sleeve for switching to fighting chair
• Transom fishbox
• Tuna door with a pass-through gate
• Cockpit freezer for bait
• Separate bins for ice and bait

The bait trays and cockpit freezer have been raised on the cockpit to a more comfortable height. The resulting benefit of doing this is it creates a trough between the models and the mezzanine seating, adding a later of security for those watching the action from the 'bleachers'. Guests on the shaded mezzanine also enjoy air conditioning.

United Yacht Sales has a proven track record selling high-end custom sportfishing yachts with Greg Graham and the new Sportfish Trader program. "The Sportfish Trader team has an unbelievably targeted audience and we are proud to be one of their top advertisers," said Greg. "Steve Momot is one of the first people I call when I get a sportfish listing. I have him come down and video the boat, post it to his audience, and I start receiving calls before the boat is ever even on the market. We have a winning formula between our investment in Sportfish Trader and our industry-leading marketing efforts."

"We utilize all of the major sportfishing groups on Facebook to promote our listings," said Rob Bowman, United Yacht Sales Marketing Director. "As a moderator for Sportfish Trader though, I get to see first-hand the level of engagement from owners, captains, and potential buyers. Many members of the group have fished with or against the owner of the boat being featured, so there is a level of comradery among everyone." Below is one of the video walk-through posts that is being advertised through Sportfish Trader and United Yacht Sales social media channels.

(Read: Your Sportfishing Boat Advertised On Sportfish Trader's Marketing Platform )

Desiring comfort while on extended fishing trips, boatbuilders Bill Scwabe and Roy Barnes designed the interior living areas and accommodations with their families in mind. Features like a convenient day head, a wine cellar drawer, custom-fitter cabinets with hidden push latches, high-gloss maple wood in the salon, granite countertops in the galley, and cedar-lined closets are just a few of the notable items to list. Even the trim and vent grills are hand-carved by the Lightning Boatworks team for that personal touch. Overall, the 3-cabin, 3-head layout provides a refreshing experience on overnight trips without going overboard. 

View all of the photos for MS MALAE, by following this link: https://www.unitedyacht.com/used-yachts-for-sale/custom-carolina-64-sportfish-2008-ms-malae-2785646  

At United Yacht Sales, our team of over 250 professional yacht brokers creates the largest network of boat buyers and sellers in the industry. We are the best firm to sell your yacht because we focus on selling it - not new boat inventory or trade-ins that we own. Our marketing budget and our efforts are 100% on our clients' listings. We will never hold your boat back from being sent out to all of the affiliate boating websites and even our competitors' websites in order to try and get both sides of the commission. We do everything we can to sell your boat as quickly and easily as possible so you can have an outstanding experience. Call our main office today at 1-772-463-3131 and we will connect you to a yacht broker near you .

About Greg Graham:

Captain Greg has been fishing the water surrounding Ocean Reef Club since the early 80’s when he began visiting the Club with Mr. & Mrs. Peter Menten. After attending college at Florida State University, where he received a BS in Economics. Greg returned to the Reef and started working as a deckhand on the Club’s Charter Dock aboard the Sea Elf owned by member Craig Lindner.

Greg was promoted to Captain soon after and the boat was sold to Dr. Jim Davis. Greg captained the “Doc Holliday” through 2003. Greg opened Reef Yacht Sales & Services, LLC in late 2007. Greg is the principle broker of the small yacht brokerage and has consistently won the company's Top Sales award.

Other articles featuring Greg Graham or about sportfishing boats :

• Viking 80 EB Sold By Greg Graham
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• Viking 60 Convertible Sold
• What Is The Best Sportfishing Boat?
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Mark Woglom Senior Member

A while back, I posted that I wanted to have a fairly long list of work done to my newly acquired 2003 Azimut 55. I was looking for a yard anywhere from SC to FL, and I was seeking a "no excuses" type of facility to do it "right". While I didn't want to pay any more than I needed to, I put a premium on service vs "cheap". Soon after I made my post, I received a PM from the owner of a custom sportfish facilty in Beaufort NC .... Lightning Yachts. The owner's name is Bill, and he indicated that the economy had put a burden on new builds, and they were currently doing refit type work. He indicated that they had an open slot, and they would be interested in giving me a proposal for my work list. I called Bill by phone, and was impressed by both his demeanor, his work philosophy, and his apparent expertise. Long story short, I hired Lightning Yachts to do the work. Here is some of the services they provided: 1. He came to Myrtle Beach, where my boat was originally located, to review the work with me. I was not charged for that initial review or travel. 2. Bill himself, along with a couple of his workers, came to Myrtle Beach and took the boat North to Beaufort. I'm based in NH, so this was a huge help. As Bill wanted to get started ASAP, he did not charge for this daylong trip. 3. My worklist was fairly long. I had read of some of Azimuts mechanical/electrical shortcomings, and I wanted to proactively address as many as possible prior to my use of the boat. My listed included lots of electrical, navigation, entertainment, mechanical, plumbing, carpentry, and cosmetic upgrades. Bill provided a rough estimate of the anticipated cost for each item, prior to starting work. 4. I was charged a very reasonable hourly rate, and a more than fair markup on parts. As Lightning dug into the boat, they found a few additional items were they recommended improvements/repairs. None of those recommendations came without photographic substantiation, and an estimated cost if I elected to pursue the improvement/repair. As I wanted to the boat to be as "right" as possible, I elected to pursue each of Bill's recommendations. 5. My boat was with Lightning for about 6 weeks. As far as I can tell, my boat received 100% of their attention, and it sat inside their enclosed building the entire time ... a big relief as Irene approached. 6. I received e-mails at least weekly, including photographs of the work that had taken place the prior week. All of my contact was directly with Bill. Any question that I had was adressed in detail within 24 hours. 7. I was never asked for any up front money, and I was provided with a detailed invoice, including receipts for all parts, monthly. While I paid promptly, I was never hounded for money. 8. Bill is an electrical engineer, and he thinks like an engineer. As best I can tell, every recommendation he made was a recommendation that resulted in either better value to me, or better quality to me. I always felt that Bill was acting in my best interest. 9. One of the things I had done was to replace the swim platform and cockpit teak decking with Nuteak. (I know ... I know, it's "fake teak", but I ain't gonna sand it, oil, it, or varnish it ... I'm going boating) Most of the time, you see Nuteak installed on newer boats, where teak decking did not previously exist. This installation was much more difficult, and required building up some of the areas where the underlying surface was too low. Yesterday, I received an e-mail from the Nuteak rep, telling me that Lightning's installation was one of the best that they had seen. I haven't seen it yet (I will tomorrow), but that is certainly a testament to the quality of work that was done. 10. I wanted to buy a bunch of new equipment for the boat. Several thousand dollars worth of stuff that was readily available from "the" national catalog. Bill took the time to seek out this equipment at lower prices, saved me $, and still made a few $ for himself. He had it shipped to his facility, andplaced the equipment in the boat for me. I have owned boats, planes, and real estate for a long as I can remember. I have NEVER had such an experience with somebody that provides service/value of this magnitude. This is my first/only experience with Lightning, I have no interest in Lightning other than as a customer, and I was not asked to publicly comment on my experience. I simply feel that superior service/value of this magnitude warrants praise. If I ever want a custom sportfish (I probably won't), a complete yacht refit (I hope I won't), or lots of great work done, I'll be calling Lightning again. Kudos ... obviously.

Capt J Senior Member

It's good to hear that you came across a yard that treated you right, after the previous frustrations you had with people in the marine industry. I like the hear this because it keeps people enjoying their yachts instead of selling them out of frustration.

GFC Senior Member

It sounds like Lightening was willing to go the extra mile to get work that would help keep the shop open, the lights on, and his workers employed. Good Job Lightening for doing that, and for doing a good job on the work and on keeping the owner updated as the job progressed. You have set a high standard for other yards to try to reach.

NYCAP123 Senior Member

I've been familiar with their reputation for quite awhile, but never had work done there. Wow, did they ever do things exactly as they should be done. I have a sense that after that recommendation in this location the economy at that yard will be improving sooner than most. Nice to hear nice things.

CaptTom Senior Member

Mark, Thanks for sharing your good news and fortune. Too many times we quickly blast out bad news or service, not taking the time to publicly praise the good still left in the world. Bill certainly knows that he has to offer more than the other guys to survive these trying times. Kudos to Lightining Yachts. I hope they see some additional business from your post.

Caltexflanc Senior Member

I saw your boat in there, interesting to hear the story. They do have a good reputation around here, but I hadn't heard any direct experience or specifics. I'll have to keep them in mind for the next big project.

84far Senior Member

Hi, I've been in contact with Bill over the past few years, and I've always been impressed by the level of knowledge he has. His always willing to help out even when the other guy is on the otherside of the globe. I believe his got a 64' Sportsfish concept on the drawing board at the moment, hopefully we get to see that soon. Far

I sent a copy of Mark's post to my mechanic (mentioning of course that I'm quite happy with him so far). Any mechanic or anybody who reads that has got to think "I'd really like someone to say that about me". In these times of hardship it can't hurt to have a little extra incentive to do good when many are thinking about just giving up.

K1W1 Senior Member

Hi, A great review for a member here who always seem to provide sensible answers on a wide range of subjects. I also asked around a bit with my US based colleagues and heard only good things about that operation.

Bill106 Senior Member

You're welcome! I want to thank Mark for his more than kind words of praise (and everyone else too!). He asked me if it was ok to post his experience but I had no idea we had done anything unusual or noteworthy. We were just trying to help out someone who was (amazingly in these times) having trouble getting things done on their boat. It has been an equal pleasure working with him getting his new pride and joy ready for this winters getaway for him and his bride. It was a breath of fresh air to work with someone who knows boats, what goes into them and most importantly, what he wants as well as Mark does. All of our past clients have become great friends over the years and we stay in constant contact, be it a fishing report from remote places (wish I was there!), a call or email with a quick question or a birthday greeting, it's more like an extended family. I hope I can add Mark to that growing list too. Here's a pic of his baby heading to the water on Monday.

Attached Files:

37hull 004.jpg.

vlafrank Senior Member

Good vibes, especially in this day and age!

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