I'd assume the obvious which would be general maintainence of the underwater hull, props, rudders and other related parts. Since these cannot be cleaned while she is floating?
That would explain it, I guess. I was just curious if there was another reason rather than basic maintenance but I also don't have a clue how often that would have to be done on such a large boat.
Hi, The time between dry docking has recently been discussed elsewhere on YF. Basically it varies depending upon where and how the boat is used, the condition of the anti fouling and any ongoing maintenance to valves and underwater gear that may be required but usually every 12 - 18 months is a safe schedule to allow for.
She may also be doing update surveys for her classification certificate . Is it usual to have a helicopter on board during docking ??? Regards ken
Hi, In my experience dry dockings are usually timed to coincide with Class requirements not the other way around. I have also been C/E on 2 Yachts with Helicopters and have been in the dry dock with the Helicopter on-board both of them. Taking off from the dry dock can be a whole new bag of bureaucratic worms to put it mildly.
They were white if I remember correctly from when she was launched. Maybe they painted them now to match her windows in the superstructure and forward hull are masked in the same colour as well. The latest in that series, the "Lady Kathryn IV" has black masked windows and white domes.
She was at Elliott Bay Marina recently with white domes. They subsequently were the covered with sheet plastic, I expect to paint them. She left to go to drydock so did not see them uncovered.
IMO silver satellite domes on a white superstructure don't go well together, though as YachtNews said, it might have been done to match the forward windows.
I think that is the wrong Westport I believe the yacht in the photo is Evivva and not Vango. Evivva has silver domes and a silver bulkheads on the outside. Vango was all white. I also believe Vango does not support a helo pad as Evivva does. Evivva is owned by O. Edson who made Bayliner into the large company it is. He is also the largest shareholder of Westport Yachts of which that is hull number 2. Tim
Hi, I would have to question this having done a round the world trip on a similar sized yacht that opened its aft end up like that shown in one of Toms earlier posts taken in 2007 ( Post No 9)to launch and recover the kerosene budgie.
"Vango" does have a heli area and does carry a helicopter! as seen here in this pic taken by fellow YF member 'Capt Charlie'. http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/westport-yacht/5327-vango-2.html?highlight=Vango
I stand corrected Pictures don't lie. I would venture to say that Vango was modified after commissioning to accept the helo. I saw Vango after it initial launch and it sure did not appear to have the articulated suntop and, if I remember correctly, had a tender and jet ski up top in addition to the aft garage. I'm pretty sure the picture in the original thread is Evivva as I have seen it up close several times at the shipyard. Thanks for the correction. Tim
If I remember correctly, "Evivva's" heli is blue or has a blue graphic..so you can easily spot the difference in tellin which yacht is which, of course if the heli is not in its custom protective weather cover.
for the hilcopter part, i guess it's the same as on some other boats, the helo gets pushed back a couple foot and the he can start. same by landing.