Ugly Duckling - Lux in disguise

With a draft of 13.2 feet (4 meters) you aren't going very many places in this hemisphere with her!!!! I agree they did a very nice job on the refit, however, it looks like the headroom inside is rather low.

Legend (ex GIANT) looks quite nice now, but looked very utilitarian (and clearly ice-breaker'ish) when she had the red hull.

HMAS Flinders converted to M/Y Plan B is a favorite of mine... as are Artic P and Lone Ranger.

It's impossible not to love the undercover aspect of those conversions. Definitely a way to stand apart without standing out.

I was a great fan of Lone Ranger when she was called Simson S.

Giant sat here in Jax for a long time locked to the old Jax pier. Was in luv with her also.

I always had an idea of a yacht support boat. Then the shadow boats started getting popular.
The first few started life (with cutting torches) here in Jax also.

Somewhere I missed my calling and did not get a chance to play on any of these rugid ships.

Plan B is a favourite too, great looking boat.

HYS in the Philippines have a yard dedicated to converting commercial boats into yachts.

http://www.hys-yachts.com/portfolio/portfolio_overview.htm

I don't remember the name of a crew boat that was at one of the trawler fest rendezvous' in Solomons Island, MD a few years ago but it looked sea worthy, had good visibility from the wheel house and lots of room on board. The only thing I did not like about her was her funky paint job.
I have a very limited experience with only a couple crew boats ( smaller ones ) but I always did think they'd be a cool candidate for remodel.

We have a YF member who converts them for a living, he's done some smashing ones.

Shadow conversions is the name of his company I think. Carl?

Shadow Yachts is what I found upon googling.
The crew boats I was referring to are smaller, like this one : http://www.oceanmarine.com/detail.c...40&category_current=4&category_current_sub=10

Shadow yachts are nicer.

Shadow Marine - born Yacht Escort Ships - made some beautiful vessels.

We've featured some of their work: http://www.yachtforums.com/review/yacht-escort-ships-173-suri.8955/

http://www.yachtforums.com/superyacht/yacht-escort-ships-shadows.277/

Paladin was one of the earlier Shadows (first?) and I fell in luv with her up here in Jax before her debut.

And to Stan's credit, being the build Captain for Lady Lola and overseeing the conversion for Suri, Suri has now been extended yet again to 208 feet. Testimony to him doing the original extension and conversion from a commercial fishing boat to a world class yacht support ship in an extremely robust way.

Thanks again for your service and your help on my first big boat Stan.

Regards,
ROCK

edit: when Stan first assisted me in taking command of her over 15 years ago, she was a big boat at 105 feet. Although I am no longer associated with her, she has now shrunk to a barely medium size boat, although still at 105 feet.

Not on the East Coast, but on the West Coast that kind of draft is fine. Cruise ships go up the Inside Passage.