“LU ELLA B” is based on Doug Zurn’s successful 50’ platform after conceiving “LONGEVITY” with Northeast Composites and CH Marine in 2002. A long, narrow, jet-driven hull engineered from the outset for very high cruise speeds with controllable behavior and motion. The design runs a relatively slender beam of 14’5” on an LOA of 55' 3", with a light ship displacement in the early 40,000 lb range, giving a notably low displacement-to-length ratio for a 50-plus-foot inboard yacht.
Zurn describes the underwater body as “long and narrow with 15° deadrise at the transom, transitioning to 17° and greater forward of amidships, with bell-shaped forward sections and fine entry rather than a blunt bow". This geometry, together with the narrow beam, reduces wetted surface and impact loading at speed. The fine, flared forward sections soften the re-entry in a head sea, while the moderate but persistent deadrise aft maintains enough running surface for tracking and grip during high-speed turns. The result is a hull that operates legitimately in the 40-50+ knot club while still feeling predictable and composed.
Structurally, the hull and deck are built as high-tech, epoxy resin-infused E-glass composites over foam core, a process New England Boatworks is well known for in its custom race boat work. Infusion yields a very controlled glass-to-resin ratio, producing a strong, stiff shell with fatigue resistance at a significantly lower weight than traditional hand-laminate methods. The foam-cored structure also contributes to panel stiffness and acoustic damping, which is particularly important at the kind of sustained cruise speeds this boat sees.
Propulsion is via twin high-output MAN diesels driving Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets, upgraded to 1,550 horsepower per side. In practice, the NEB/Zurn 50 has been documented cruising comfortably around the mid-40-knot range and approaching 60 knots depending on load and conditions. The jet controls, integrated with the Humphree system, give very fine control of running angle and lateral trim. This not only improves comfort but also reduces drag and fuel burn at a given speed. Waterjets combined with the hull’s 2’6” static draft allow for shallow-water operation and great maneuverability in close quarters - particularly when pairing the jets with bow and stern thrusters.
The NEB/Zurn 50’ sits at the intersection of modern race-boat technology and classic New England downeast styling: a fine-entry, moderate deadrise, composite hull optimized around high specific power and waterjet propulsion, delivering big-boat ride quality and capability in a package that still looks timeless in any harbor.
