[JohnS]

Another Moonen fan! excellent!

I'd be very interested to know any more details regarding your book!

Its Moonens 25th anniversary this year is it not?!!

HAPPY NEW YR TO ALL!!

I'd be interested also, but as the author I guess I'm on the hotseat!

The book will recount more than 25 years of Moonen history, as the predecessor of Moonen was a small shipyard, de Ruiter, in Harndixveld, which moved to Moonen's present location in 's-Hertogenbosch around 1980. It went belly up and Rien Moonen, who was a client trying to build a boat there, decided to take over end of 1981. (You've heard that one before, Mr. Trump, havent you?)

The book covers the rest of the history, right through most of this year with the launch of the Moonen 114 Explorer and development of the new "Alu" line of 94-foot semi-displacement boats (one of whose clients has contributed to this thread).

We will publish before the end of 2006, possibly in time for the Monaco Yacht Show in September, if the author does his duty! If not, it will be ready at year's end.

Stay tuned . . . .

[Mov-it!]

I never understood why Moonen never concidered in building larger yachts.
It would be so easy to build the yacht and simply add the flybridge and radar tower at a subcontractor near the sea. Concirning the bridge, it is only a couple off meters that block the clearance. I agree on their yachts being over-engineered. Also their styling is up for renewal. If I compare the 84 to for example the Mulder 88 you can see that the glory years of the 84 are fading away.

On the other hand it is probably a good idea for Moonen to stick to their size limits. We already have a wide range of mega yacht builders in Holland.
I can state a few like, The Van Lent / de Vries Feadship group, Amels, Pantera, Vitters, Holland Jachtbouw, Heesen, Jongert (sails), Bloemsma&van Breemen, Hakvoort, Kuipers, Oceanco, Royal Huisman and some others.

I'm still happy to see that there still is also an interest in he smaller dutch shipyards.

Kind regards,

Björn Moonen

The bridge problem is greater than you think. When Moonen launched the 120-foot White Heaven III a few years ago, it not only had to leave the antenna arch and flying-bridge windscreen off, but had to fill the bilges and tanks to sink her so she could just squeeze under. Moonen has been trying for years to get the local government to raise the bridge by replacing a span section with a hydraulic one that would lift when a big boat comes through. There's a containerport right across the canal from Moonen and they (the government, which owns the propery, I think) would love to be able to bring in ships with one more stack of containers! But the highway (A59) is a busy one and bureaucracy and technology don't seem to mesh.

Moonen is putting its big 114 Explorer in the water soon (higher displacement than White Heaven III) and it too will be "topless" as well until is passes under the bridge.

Moonen has been looking for a place to move to but has been unsuccessful so far.

Stay tuned.

BTW: With a name like Moonen, what's your connection???? Come back!

[Mov-it!]

Actually there is no direkt connection between me and the yard. We come from different bloodlines. I'm descended form nobilty and entitled as esquire and they are not. But that's ancient history. In the present they make tons of money and I have to work to make a living. Funny how times change. .

I know the issue with the bridge at first hand. I worked for Heineken and we wanted to ship out more export beer on larger vessels. Take it from me, that bridge will never move an inch. As far as the state is concerned, it is Moonen's own problem that their ships don't fit under it. They should move to the Rotterdam or Zeeland area. That would take care of their problems.

How did you get the idea of writing a book on Moonen?

[nilo]

Originally Posted by Mov-it!

I never understood why Moonen never concidered in building larger yachts.
It would be so easy to build the yacht and simply add the flybridge and radar tower at a subcontractor near the sea. Concirning the bridge, it is only a couple off meters that block the clearance. I agree on their yachts being over-engineered. Also their styling is up for renewal. If I compare the 84 to for example the Mulder 88 you can see that the glory years of the 84 are fading away.

On the other hand it is probably a good idea for Moonen to stick to their size limits. We already have a wide range of mega yacht builders in Holland.
I can state a few like, The Van Lent / de Vries Feadship group, Amels, Pantera, Vitters, Holland Jachtbouw, Heesen, Jongert (sails), Bloemsma&van Breemen, Hakvoort, Kuipers, Oceanco, Royal Huisman and some others.

I'm still happy to see that there still is also an interest in he smaller dutch shipyards.

Kind regards,

Björn Moonen

Dear Bjorn,

You do not do justice to Moonen by comparing the Mulder 88 to their 84. Mulder 88 is a fast boat and in principal should be compared to the 94 alu.

In my opinion 84 is still a fresh approach for a displacement boat. She represents leisurely movement, has a feminine look; whereas in the 94 Moonen tried to achieve a more masculine feeling, where speed is also incorporated in the lines. In spite of this new approach, the aim was to keep the traditional lines, which will still be contemporary in years to come and will not be obsolete like the Italian and English built fast boats.

nilo

Ahoy Nilo and Bjorn:

Nilo, you certainly have a good handle on what Moonen is all about. Comparing the Moonen 84 to the Mulder is ludicrous as they have different purposes and different sort of clientele. The new Moonen "Alu" series, starting with the 94, is their answer to clients who want more speed. Both clients for the 94 are experienced with semi-displacement yachts and know what they want. And Bjorn, I have to remind you that the 7th and 8th Moonen 84s have been ordered and are now under construction for delivery next year. I think that's a clear indication that Moonen has hit it just right with the 4-cabin conception, Rene van der Velden's design, and the now the new Art-Line interior which has givien the 84 a new glow. Stay tuned as they sell more.

I'm sure you both know that, after launching the "Explorer 114," the yard's largest-displacement yacht ever without its mast, Moonen just signed a contract for a 124-foot displacement yacht that will be the largest in the series that includes the 72, 84, 97, and 97. They'll figure out how to build it and get it to deep water under the bridge. The Dutch are miracle-makers when it comes to moving things on (and under!) the water. Bjorn, you can stop wondering why Moonen doesn't build larger yachts.

Written Word

[AMG]

This is becoming confusing now...

I am pretty sure that Björn is thinking of the old 84´which is actually designed by Frank Mulder and Moonens inhouse designers as one of a series from 80 to 89 feet I think. Some of them were built with steel hulls and some were all aluminium for higher speeds.

They look a little like the all aluminium Mulder 88, designed by Guido de Groot and built by Mulder Shipyard and I can agree that they are aging if you compare.

The newer 84´ from Moonen, designed by René van der Velden is more like the Mulder 88 in the design, but with a steel hull she is not as fast.

I guess this is the boat you are thinking off?

Sorry, AMG, for any confusion. I guess for me the bottom line is that I see Moonen is on a roll, and they deserve it for some careful long-range planning. I think they know their basic market, and they are clearly widening it with the Explorer and the new 25-knot "94 Alu.".

[JohnS]

Rumour has it that Moonen are holding a Mini-Rendezvous near Monaco after the show on Sunday 24th September which will be filmed from the air. They aim to capture the as many of the Moonen together fleet as possible. They will then distribute the DVD to owners as a souvenir!....

Oh, it's not just a rumo(u)r but the real thing! All Moonen owners, and lots of other folks, have been invited to a Friday afternoon champagne reception aboard the new Explorer 114, "My Issue," and there they will get instructions for the rendezvous on Sunday, after the show closes.

[CaptainKirt]

Does anyone have an idea of the replacement value of the Moonen 114?