The Zego Boat Hydrographic Survey System is a 2nd generation shallow water mapping research vessel. The twin-hulled catamaran has a 30 hp outboard motor and was constructed in New Zealand with durable plastic material (distributed in the U.S. by Higgs Hydrographic, Inc.). The vessel has a very shallow draft allowing it to operate in depths as little as 40-50 cm and is very stable in the presence of both waves (breaking and nonbreaking) and strong current conditions. The vessel has a front ram assembly that allows testing and integrating of equipment much easier than possible for other vessels of this size (such as waverunner-based systems like the Center’s Coastal Bathymetry Survey System; CBASS). Central to the system is an Applanix POS-MV 320 for highly accurate positioning, heading and attitude that can be integrated with a variety of multibeam echo sounders. Additional instrumentation integrated into the hulls of the vessel includes an Imagenex Delta-T MBES, Teledyne Odom Echotrac CV-100 SBES with dual frequency (200 & 24 kHz) Airmar transducer, and modular portal for a variety of RD Instruments acoustic Doppler current profilers. System displays are provided by two waterproof touch-screen monitors and with navigation by supported by Hypack.

For additional information about the Zego Boat, please contact Tom Lippmann.

The Zego can be trailered for transport and deployed from a boat launch.

View of the Zego's Yamaha 30 horsepower motor.

The Zego's system display monitors.

Researcher Jon Hunt operates the Zego.