[david_japp]

Originally Posted by david_japp

Hi
thanks for the kind words - its messages of encouaragement such as yours that give me the enthusiam and impetus to carry on. In fact, she is a "one -off" and that's what make her special and worth all the aggravation & expence.... However, who knows, if I run out of steam and or money, she may be for sale one day!
best
david

Here is a summary of the work being done to Alto (Tiky), my 1961 62ft steel Van Lent Feadship, as per of her refit - or is it a "rebuild" ? in any event she's virtually a new boat. About 80% of the work has been completed and we plan to paint her in June /july and then launch in August.

REFIT WORKS
Hull surveyed (3 times!!)
Section of bow replaced
All hull plating doublers removed and replaced
Additional areas replated hull as required (27 sq mts)
repairs to keel at bow & stern
FW & Fuel tanks rebuilt
Several frames replaced and amendments made to prevent water traps
Interior grit blasted and painted
Hull grit blasted and painted in Awl-Grip system

Old deck removed and steel work/beams beneath replaced as necessary
20mm marine ply sub-deck fitted, followed by new teak deck
Entire interior removed including fittings, wiring, pipework etc
Amendments to aft deck hatches inc new drain channels etc
New deck drains
Repairs to saloon superstructure as required
New PH constructed in Ply and foam core covered in white Epoxy inc s/s windows frames
Side Coamings rebuilt

New BHs fitted throughout ship
New interior throughout: inc sole bearers, teak cabin sole,
New furniture: inc doors and BHs etc throughout boat rebuilt in light oak
New door furniture - chrome fittings
New headlining throughout
New venetian blinds fitted in saloon and aft accommodation
New heads x3:new elec toilets, taps, basins, Shower trays & countertops
New galley:black granite countertop, MW, hob, dishwasher washing machine
Portlights removed & refurbed and opening parts re-chromed.
New glass in Saloon windows
New companionway teak steps (3)
New main hatch & doors
New entertainment system inc sound system and Plasma
New Aircon system (4 independent units)
New electric forced air ventilation system
New FW system inc new plumbing throughout and FW pressure pump
New BW Holding tank
New FW H&C deck shower
New SW deckwash

Rewired throughout inc all new 24V LED OH lighting
New DC & 24V breaker -boards
New deck courtesy lights
New charger, inverter, shore power
New domestic and engine start and batteries
Kohler 18kva Generator totally rebuilt
New VHF, navigation inst system & screen wipers etc

2 x 6LXB Gardner engines totally rebuilt
New main engine g/boxes
New thrust bearing CV drives
New silencers and water-cooled exhaust system
New s/s shafts
New halyard lift box and water separator fitted to generator exhaust
New fuel system & filters
New engine insts and Morse controls
New ER insulation: Halyard fireproof material
New ER intake /extracts and fans
New fuel /water inlets and piping
New skin fittings throughout
New water strainers

Rudders dropped and steering system rebuilt with new bearings etc
New Hydraulic steering system - inc new pipes and steering rams etc

New Wesmar Stabilizer system
New Sleipner Bow thruster

New Fire system : inc auto fire dampers
New float switch elec bilge pumps x 3
New engine driven mechanical Jabsco bilge pump

New mast
New navlights
New Buell Triple horns
Windlass rebuilt
New anchor chains
Anchors refurbed and regalvanised

New atlas 1600 davit system
New s/s handrail stanchions and handrail refurbished
New s/s deck fittings and custom made ventilation grills
New s/s davits
New s/s hawse pipes and hull protection plates etc
New s/s deck hatches (3) fitted on foredeck
New s/s PH custom made handrails
New x 4 s/s ventilation cowls

[bernd1972]

Am I allowed to beg for interiour fotos? I know this is your private area but i´s love to see some. It seems that you really gave that ship a second life.

[david_japp]

Originally Posted by bernd1972

Am I allowed to beg for interiour fotos? I know this is your private area but i´s love to see some. It seems that you really gave that ship a second life.

Hi
of course you may photos ! ...here are some photos of the aft cabin and saloon in mid-build, approx 2 weeks ago. FYI the entire interior has been rebuild in American white oak with horizontal grain and horizontal shadow gaps that break the BHs etc into "letterbox" shaped panels. The cabin sole will be teak.
I'll have other more up to date pix of the interior that I will post after I visit her at the end of this week.
best
david

[JustMag]

Beautiful work so far! As an amateur wood worker, I would love to see some close ups of the joinery work on the bed platform

[david_japp]

Originally Posted by JustMag

Beautiful work so far! As an amateur wood worker, I would love to see some close ups of the joinery work on the bed platform

Hi
thanks ...I'll try and post some close ups during the week , but if not I will be able to after next visit
best
D

[bernd1972]

Looks like there are some pretty good craftsmen on that job. And someone with quite a good sense for aesthetical balance.
Sure it´s going to be a beauty when finished.

[david_japp]

thank you for these kind words - Ive had 5 years and 2 false starts (spain & France) to consider what to do with this refit and it's been quite an evolutionary process to get to where we are now.

When I was first having her refitted in Mallorca (never again!!), I planned on basically just reproducing what was there already, but the people who worked on her (mainly English Ex pats!!) did such an appalling job that when the boat finally arrived in England I decided to start again and go back to basics. I had pretty firm ideas about the layout I wanted - for example in the galley. I attach a pic of how the galley was when I found the boat, with a large countertop on both the P & S sides - this was not the original galley but one that was most probably built in the late 1970s when the very ugly pilot house was built. After much thought and consideration, (and measuring loads of other boats at boat-shows) I figured I didn't need such a huge galley and that by reconfiguring the companionway to be off the centerline, I could still have a big enough galley on the port side, whilst leaving enough space on the stbd side for U shaped seating.

I also had firm ideas about the overall look I wanted throughout the boat (a contemporary but hopefully timeless "retro" feel that was sympathetic to and in keeping with her 1960 origins, using light oak with the grain horizontal and 4mm horizontal shadow gaps across the doors and BHs (which, incidentally, the yard originally hated but in fact it has come out so well that apparently they are now proposing to offer it as an option on the new Oysters they build).


I attach my original sketch, which the yard converted to CAD, and then used to produce 3D modeling renders. We played with the renders and made a few changes but the design and dimensions are basically exactly as per my original drawing. We then had the parts cut by CNC, which the highly skilled carpenters at landamore put together - although not without the occasional "hiccup" which required some small changes being made - to make a really beautiful and highly practical galley and seating area.

The same process applied throughout the rest of the boat and over the rest of the week I'll post other drawings and pics showing how the design and build process developed and evolved.
best
David