The Joy Of Missing Out – on sinking, repairing, maintaining, electrolysis, and corrosion.
Interview by Andy Kancachian
The design and manufacturer of Jomo boats is the brainchild of MeTender owner Joe Bleakley. Growing up on the Gold Coast and being a boat owner himself, Joe wanted to create a boat that would be safe, unsinkable, indestructible, aesthetic and comfortable, with all the functions of a leisure vessel and even be suitable as a tender for a luxury yacht. His attention to detail is obvious, from the comfortable seating and storage, flooring options and the lines of the boat.
Jomo boats spare no effort in ensuring safety, handling, comfort and stability are integral to the design.
This 3m craft is not only practical and light with great handling, it also comes competitively priced and accessible to all families who enjoy fishing and the outdoors. There are many optional features to choose from. Almost everything is possible.
DESIGN GOALS
The Jomo is a small boat with big boat features. It is the most versatile and safe small boat available in the world. The designer was unhappy and frustrated with all of the inflatable, aluminium and plastic boats on the market, and decided to create the best small boat in the world. The design goal was to produce a stable boat with aesthetically smooth clean lines — a boat with the highest safety features in the world, able to legally carry four persons with sufficient storage in a large cockpit and be suitable for up to a 20hp motor.
The design was to be aesthetic, functional, safe and versatile, so that it could be adapted to suit all needs, with maximum safety and be impossible to break but very easy to repair any minor scratches.
The other requirement was to have a boat that needed little maintenance so that the fun would not be taken out of boating. Another significant consideration was to ensure that the boat could be used for various purposes to suit all users — from casual family fun to the harsh commercial requirements.
Essentially, the Jomo has the sleek lines and smart features only found in larger boats. Goal achieved! Jomo is fun, strong, quiet, stable at rest and underway, and has the highest safety rating. All age groups can enjoy the water in a Jomo this summer.
It is ideal for children’s safety, as the boat cannot sink and cannot be damaged should they run into something solid. Jomo is all about safety, comfort, fun and durability, and low maintenance.
HULL DESIGN
A naval architect designed the hull to be stable both at rest and on the move. It planes comfortably and easily, even with only one person on board. The boat is roto-moulded using the latest materials and techniques. This creates a double skin that makes level flotation possible and provides a soft quiet ride.
The hull is manufactured as one piece, so there are no additional parts that can break or bend. There is drainage underfloor to keep the feet dry and self-draining bungs that will stop water entering, even if the bungs are forgotten. The storage lockers are water-resistant and water drains around them.
The gunwales are flat to allow anyone to step on them. And as they are level and the attachments are recessed, the boat can be turned upside down without damaging any of the components.
It is almost impossible to damage the hull as it has five times the strength of fibreglass. This was shown during the Jomo crash tests for compliance to international standards. The boat was dropped from 10m onto a road and just bounced with no structural damage. It was also dropped with about half a ton of weight and was still undamaged.
The Jomo hull has the world’s highest safety rating with level flotation. There is a move by regulators to make all small boats have level flotation for safety, due to the number of small boats that sink and thus puts lives at risk. Basic flotation is the norm at present for recreational boats, unlike the commercial boats that require the higher standard of level flotation.
Almost all small boats worldwide have only the basic flotation, and some even rely on foam under the seats for some flotation. Jomo has level flotation that keeps the occupants in the boat even if it is swamped — something particularly essential in case there are predators in the water.
There is very little maintenance required for the hull as there is no corrosion, and as there are no tubes to puncture and repair. Dents and damage are a thing of the past. Jomo offers five-year warranty for private use and one year for most commercial uses.
HANDLING & POWER
The boat handles and turns smoothly, and is very stable and comfortable even through choppy rough water. It tracks precisely at high and low speeds, making it easy for anyone to handle on the water. The balance, by design, is exceptional.
The boat can plane quickly and easily due to the unique hull design. With the rear tabs, steering is smooth and precise even in choppy conditions. Jomo is legally allowed to use a motor up to 20hp, unlike any other 3m boats in the world, with many limited to 5hp. It planes with a 6hp motor, making it ideal for children and as a tender.
The engine mounting is extremely solid, unlike many small boats, and is reinforced with aluminium. This is what allows a 20hp motor to be used. Motors can also easily be fixed through the hull.
SPECIFICATIONS
Jomo is versatile and can be modified for almost any use. Licensed to carry four people comfortably, while other 3m boats are limited to 2- or 3-person capacity. Jomo has a 1.5m wide beam with excellent freeboard for a dry safe ride. A very usable layout with comfortable seating and plenty of leg room.
The seats can be padded and a seat back option is available. In the large cockpit is a very solid level non-slip floor. There are two large areas for dry storage such as life jackets, food and beverages, and there are areas to store wet items away from the feet. There is also space for fuel tanks.
The anchor well with cleat mounted nearby ensures safe storage and easy access of the anchor. Handles are positioned to ensure easy reach of passengers when underway. Flooring options are available for fishing, such as casting deck and electric trolling motor mount
There are many other design features that are unique, such as the bow handle to make moving the boat simple and there are other handles perfectly positioned for the safety of passengers. There are two large water-resistant compartments, drink holders, six RailBlaza attachments and a CleatPort, so that anything can be attached to the boat such as rod holders and navigation lights.
Other smart options include: dinghy wheels to make moving the boat easy; ladder for easy access without rolling over the side of the boat; side console; and stainless rails. In fact, anything can be added including davits and lifting eyes for tenders, and a bimini can be fitted or removed in a minute.
Various options are also available for the floor surface including SeaDek EVA foam. Rowlock attachments are standard for those who wish to row. Jomo includes side storage for oars and or fishing rods. Fixtures are available to make it easy to attach anything without drilling through the hull or inside skin. The boat can easily be tied off at the bow or stern. There are steps at the stern for easy dry-entry and can be complemented with the ladder option.
VARIOUS APPLICATIONS
Jomo is ideal for family trips, fishing, crabbing, as a tender for large vessels, and for virtually all commercial and emergency purposes. The boat can easily be registered in survey. There are a large selection of colours available to suit any need. The colour of the seats can also be varied to contrast with the hull colour.
The boat can be used commercially as a hire boat or as a tender to houseboats, for pontoon fabricators and for emergency services. In fact, for any commercial use where a strong safe and stable boat, with low maintenance is required.
A GREEN BOAT
Jomo is completely manufactured in Australia using only the highest quality components. The boat can be fully recycled — a feature that is essential for a sustainable future. The life expectancy is also over three times that of an inflatable boat even if stored in the sun. This makes great use of our planet’s limited resources.
The traditional waxing and polishing are responsibilities of the past. When you own a Jomo boat, all you need to clean it is a scrubbing brush and a bucket of soapy water to get the boat looking ship-shape.
HOW TO ORDER
The boats will initially be sold by MeTender in the Coomera marine precinct, followed by the establishment of a network of dealers in Australia and globally. There are boats immediately available in stock. For special orders with particular colours and features, allow approximately three weeks delivery time. Introductory pricing starts at just under AU$3,000 for a boat that includes all seating, a solid floor, water resistant compartments and RailBlaza attachments that allows anything to be attached to the boat.
There are two more boats on the plans at present, notably a larger boat with an extremely versatile layout with tiller steer, centre or side consoles available, together with a solid floor and underfloor fuel tanks.
Jomo is a boat for the world! To find out more, visit www.jomoboats.com.au.
