Special delivery: Sign up for the free Marlin email newsletter. Subscribe to Marlin magazine for $29 for 1 year and receive 2 bonus digital issues.
Rebelette is the latest custom convertible to be launched by Beaufort, North Carolina’s Jarrett Bay Boatworks. At 64 feet and painted in a red, white and blue color scheme, she is the epitome of Americana. While the colors might say classic, or even old-fashioned, that is where the statement ends. Rest assured, she’s built with all the modern features and conveniences, including a first-class interior and all the tournament-ready accoutrements. But she’s also graced with expeditious speed, and this beauty is sure to have all the heads turning wherever she goes.
I approached Hull No. 65 at the builder’s complex to review the fifth Jarrett Bay to be built by this family over a span of three generations. They are experienced with the building process and what features they desire, so this owner-operated vessel was designed with custom features throughout to make it appropriately theirs—both a tournament battlewagon and a family cruiser.
Cockpit and Mezzanine
The cockpit layout is smart with abundant storage, keeping all the necessities within easy reach. A Release Marine Trillion chair with a five-rod launcher is fully capable of handling any tackle class, and the transom boasts a large fish box and tuna door below a solid gunwale. Forward of the fish box, the lazarette provides easy access to even more storage, the Humphree control unit and the SeaStar steering system. An L-shaped radius door below each gunwale provides access to the Glendinning Cablemaster, washdown spigots, electric-reel outlets and freshwater inlets.
What is not inside these doors are the cam cleats that adjust the tension on the outrigger halyards, making this task completely seamless. Walking toward the mezzanine reveals tremendous storage: cold boxes, dry storage, an ice maker and engine room access. The seating to port provides a good amount of storage below and in both armrests for gaffs, tackle and a catchall console for pocket items. The jump seat to starboard provides insulated, additional armrest storage.
Flybridge
The bridge is an impressive use of space, with a peninsula-style helm console to port and two Release helm chairs. The owner desired both a chaise lounge and benches attached to each bridge wing, resulting in a comfortable and spacious entertainment area. Concealed between the helm and the chaise lies a freezer large enough for at least a month’s worth of food or bait. The chaise, bench seats and brow also host dry storage.
Three Garmin 22-inch screens display the chart plotter, Furuno radar and Omni sonar. Left of the teak helm pod, two flip-up boxes hide the port engine ignition control, the CAT joystick, the Standard Quantum VHF and a tethered remote for the Omni. A starboard box conceals the Simrad autopilot and starboard ignition control.
Directly above the helm is the Caterpillar engine-monitoring system and a Garmin repeater displaying water temperature. And just aft, a sliding hatch reveals two Shimano electric teaser reels, all mounted in a Bausch hardtop and frame. Overall, the bridge is an impressive use of space.
Interior
Entering the salon, the warmth of the walnut cabinetry envelops you in comfort. The veneer for the entire vessel was harvested from a single tree, providing a consistent color and grain throughout. The walnut-and-maple flooring was made in-house by Jarrett Bay and provides glowing continuity. The offset galley with light quartz countertops blends well with the upholstery, and the teak barstools and coffee table provide additional depth to the color pattern. The salon is made extra cozy with custom sofas made by Crystal Coast Interiors. Raised by walnut trapezoidal feet, the sofa provides a traditional look while enhancing the storage capabilities in the salon.
The galley provides four Sub-Zero drawer units, a microwave, and a good amount of cabinet space for dry goods. A low-profile dinette to starboard provides great sightlines through the salon windows. And the amount of indirect, dimmable lighting is such that it can set a mood or be used as a night light.
Continuing forward down the companionway, a large tackle center is immediately to your right. The owner opted to forego a third stateroom to highlight the custom rods and reels and increase the amount of storage and functionality with customized drawers and cabinets. To starboard, a whisper-wall hidden door reveals a stackable washer/dryer combo. For more-spacious living areas, the owner opted for larger stateroom doors and increased the beds to standard-size mattresses rather than the usual tapered berth.
The rich walnut interior soothes you to sleep after a long day on the water, while traditional sconces mounted above the nightstands provide warm reading light. The master head is roomy, complete with a custom walnut vanity and wainscoting, indirect lighting and textured wallpaper. The glass-door shower is expansive, with great lighting.
The guest stateroom continues the boat’s open and spacious living. Two full-size cedar-lined hanging lockers, along with several drawers, provide storage for both guests and crew, and a second head plays double-duty as a day head and a guest head, also with a large vanity and shower. A hatch at the foot of the guest bed provides access to cavernous storage forward of the engine room bulkhead.
The interior of Rebelette feels like a much larger sporty. The tackle center is reminiscent of a galley-down layout, providing light and height. And the two large, open staterooms enhance that impression.
Engine Room and Performance
A centerline mezzanine hatch provides access to the pump room, placing you just forward of the Seakeeper 26. You have access to all pumps, Spot Zero, the ice maker, water heaters, the ElectroSea system, and two C2.2 Caterpillar generators. All components are labeled and easily traced to assist in repairs.
Moving forward places you between the 2,025 hp CAT C32B engines that are paired with Twin Disc gears. At 6 feet, 2 inches, I could fully stand and maneuver through the center of the engine room. The automatic fire-suppression system is mounted on the aft bulkhead, and the batteries are stowed outboard and undercover. Everything else is nicely managed and accessible.
This boat handles with ease, maneuvering through tight turns and backing up without issue. Using the CAT joystick linked to the bow thruster, the boat spins quickly, or use the Three60 Hold feature to maintain position over a wreck or rock pile if you are deep-dropping.
This 64-footer cruises comfortably at 1,750 rpm making 31 knots. Push her up to 1,950 rpm, and you can expect a comfortable 37-knot cruise. The boat topped out at 43 knots with the fuel and water tanks nearly full and five people on board.
Rebelette combines the knowledge of an experienced owner with the fine craftsmanship that Jarrett Bay is known for to produce a tournament-ready custom rig made in the USA.
As Capt. Omie Tillett would say, “You can paint a boat any color you like, as long as it’s white.” And I agree, this is one pretty white ride.
Jarrett Bay Boatworks 64 Specs
- LOA: 64’8”
- Beam: 18’8”
- Draft: 5’3”
- Displ.: 98,000 lb.
- Fuel: 1,650 gal.
- Water: 550 gal.
- Power: CAT C32B 2,025 hp
- Gears/Ratio: Twin Disc, 2:1
- Propellers: Veem Interceptor, 5-blade
- Climate Control: Dometic
- Paint: Alexseal Cloud White
