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Rebuild of classic 1961 62ft FEADSHIP "Alto Volante"

Discussion in 'Feadship Yacht' started by david_japp, Sep 19, 2012.

  1. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    thanks ...
    D
  2. Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

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    Count me among those enjoying these "in-progress" photo updates. :)

    Tiky is a gorgeous lady, and well worth the time and effort being put into her restoration.
  3. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    TOTAL REBUILD OF VINTAGE 1961 62ft FEADSHIP ALTO VOLANTE (pka TIKY)

    thanks..here are some pics of some of the horrors we unearthed in the steel sub-deck structure

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  4. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    TOTAL REBUILD OF VINTAGE 1961 62ft FEADSHIP ALTO VOLANTE (pka TIKY

    and here are some pics of the engine room (described in sales info as "meticulously maintained" so "meticulously maintained " that one engine was totally seized and beyond repair and we ended up replacing both engines as well as the g/b's and shafts as well as literally every other bit of gear in the ER..

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  5. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    TOTAL REBUILD OF VINTAGE 1961 62ft FEADSHIP ALTO VOLANTE (pka TIKY

    and some pics of some of the hull plating works - we removed all doublers , grit blasted inside and out to smoke out suspect areas and then did ultrasonic surveys - we then cut back all thin areas and let in new plating. We then tested all the welds with hammers and did penetration dye tests (Shown in purple) along all welds and examined them under a microscope. Prior to fill/fair, the entire hull was grit blasted in small sections and immediately coated before proceeding to next section.

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  6. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    TOTAL REBUILD OF VINTAGE 1961 62ft FEADSHIP ALTO VOLANTE (pka TIKY

    the PH seat that extends to be a pilot berth

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  7. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    TOTAL REBUILD OF VINTAGE 1961 62ft FEADSHIP ALTO VOLANTE (pka TIKY

    A digital render of the doors and windows that form the aft screen of the Pilot House. The 4 P & S outboard windows lower electrically and entirely disappear into the P & S lockers, and the doors are removable to be stowed in the aft deck seats. This makes the PH a very versatile space - ie fully closed up in inclement weather or when the pilot berth is being used for a crew or a guest, or fully opened up so as to link seamlessly with the aft deck.

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  8. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Total rebuild of vintage feadship

    Aft end of Pilot House showing lockers

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  9. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Vintage feadship

    Detail

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  10. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Vintage feadship

    detail

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  11. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Vintage feadship

    The PH seat ( the seat base extends to form 30" pilot berth - the s/s tracks on which the top slides are visible on the BH? Life rafts are stowed beneath in dedicated lockers.

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  12. ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

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  13. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Vintage feadship

    Hi
    Tiky's big sister, I think you mean....a lovely vessel.

    Yes, I have fitted stabs. She originally had Vopers fitted but these, like everything else, we're in such poor state that I replaced the whole system with a Wesmar system. Its all fitted except the fins which will be fitted after the fill/fairing and coatings are finished. She does have Aircon throughout, hence the wooden grills you can see in the pics.

    In fact I think we're going to base her in the new marina in Imperia, a few miles from Genoa and I'm due to go check it out next month

    Best
    D
  14. vlafrank

    vlafrank Senior Member

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    Amazing restoration!

    The rust and decay were terrifying to observe, but the restoration work is down-right inspirational! Pls permit me to offer my congratulations on a job well done!

    I'm curious -- have you done the math? Have you priced what a brand new steel-hulled yacht would have cost from a Turkish or Taiwanese yard? Or even from a mainland Chinese yard? I'd love to know the difference, in percentages, between those two options, if and when time permits. Many thanks.:)
  15. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Vintage Feadship Alto Volante Tiky

    Hi
    Thanks. I haven't done the comparison nor do I really want to! A new boat built in a Far Eastern yard or even a European yard may have cost less than the cost of this rebuild ( approx $1.3M) but that's not strictly relevant. Firstly what I now have is a restored / rebuilt "classic"...a bit like a restored classic car and the value cannot be a simple $ value issue . The end result may or may not be worth more or less than a new boat but what was important to me was the project and my personal daily input over a 5 year period. This has given me tremendous personal satisfaction and enjoyment, albeit at considerable cost which has caused me many a sleepless night. However, I haven't ruined my family, even though Im a working man and have 3 sons and a very beautiful wife (to whom I've been very happily married for 30 yrs and who has very expensive tastes ) to support.
  16. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Vintage feadship Alto Volante pka Tiky

    Another vintage pic

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  17. Kafue

    Kafue Senior Member

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    Well said!
    Quite often non boating people will look at us, “us” being the addicted ones, and wonder what kind of crazy would spend so much money, time and worry on a loss making venture and be happy doing so!
    I think you are smart for doing what you are, and lucky in what you have, especially because it is obvious that you know the “values” of what is around you.

    As far as wondering about a new versus a classic: I have quite a few collectable and vintage watches, some are irreplaceable. Most are not as accurate as a Timex or Swatch, one has been in my family for almost 80 years and is too valuable to service as I know the guy that can fix it, will probably strip it for parts and replace with better working repro parts. Another is so good that I have been asked why I wear it as it should be kept pristine, in its polished case! Go figure? It’s not just about the money, but who wore it, used it and enjoyed it.
    Something that is well made, maintained and cared for, is on loan to us until we can pass it onto the next person who feels the same. If we make a profit on the way, even better, but not rationale for doing so.

    Wish you calm seas and a good time.
    Kafue
  18. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Total rebuild feadship

    Thanks...much appreciated..
    D
  19. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Total rebuild vintage feadship alto volante pka tiky

    Her are some pics showing the ugly and ungainly PH That was built in Holland in the early 1980s. The size and shape of the windows didnt match the saloon windows and the general boxiness of the PH was all wrong for curves on the rest of the boat. As it happens, as we discovered after we removed the PH, much of its supporting structure turned out to be rotten so it would have had to be rebuilt in any event. Ater much fretting I designed a PH that I believe is more approporiate for a boat of Alto's vintage and sympathic to her lines.

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  20. david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Rebuild of Pilot house

    Another pic of the 1980's PH

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