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VINTAGE 61ft FEADSHIP REBUILD

Discussion in 'Feadship Yacht' started by david_japp, Oct 24, 2009.

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  1. david_japp, Oct 24, 2009
    #1
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    It occurred to me that you may be interested to hear about the rebuild of my 60yr old steel motor yacht - a vintage 61ft Feadship - Alto Volante (ex Tiki, ex Lenton Rose ) built by van Lent in 1960 , which apparently spent many years in (I believe) Rotterdam and then on the Dutch waterways before moving to the Med in the 1980s, where I found her

    I live in London where I work as a music publisher and I am a lover of interesting and beautiful boats of all types. I’ve owned and restored various wooden yachts (ranging from a 12ft American catboat built in 1900, a 25ft 1930 estuary motor-cruiser, a 1950's BB11, a 34ft 1959 sloop, a 26ft 1938 ChrisCraft and, latterly, Amokura a stunning 51ft Fred Shepherd designed yawl built by Moody’s in 1938, and that I rebuilt over 7 years, before selling her because my young sons didn’t like sailing!) I then decided that my next project would be a small classic motor yacht that my family could enjoy and use without a full-time crew. Eventually, I settled on Tiki, which I found lying in very poor condition, in Pollenca in N. Majorca.

    We did some work on her in Spain, using a combination of the local yard staff and a variety of itinerant and in the main incompetent labour. This involved large section of rusted bow being re-plated, replacing so so-called "new " teak deck (that had been laid on the "old"teak deck without attending to the rusted structure beneath) , replacing the worn out engines and boxes with re-built Gardners 6LXB engines ,fitting new stabilizers, bowthruster and shafts etc .

    That was a very slow, frustrating and expensive process. After 3 years I finally realised that completing the work by remote control in Majorca was going to be uneconomic and an impossibly long process. Accordingly, as soon as she could move under her power we took her to the Classic Works yard at La Ciotat in France. Doing work there proved to be impossibly expensive for me so we took a deep breath and took her through the French canals back to the East Coast of England, where she is now entirely stripped out and waiting for work to begin at “Landamores”, a well-known family owned & operated boatyard, known for the quality of its workmanship and at a price that will be approx 50% of the rates quoted in France & Spain.


    work remaining to be done:

    rebuild entire interior in light oak
    rewire & re-plumbing throughout
    build new Pilot-house
    sort out rusted fuel and water tanks (not sure how, yet!)
    more hull plating
    much else.....!

    Tiki is an interesting boat - she was built with a typical Northern European displacement hull with a flared bow, but with a superstructure based on 1950's planing ChrisCraft design - presumably with a view to selling her to the USA, which as I am sure your are aware, was the reason for the Feadship federation of Van Lent and de Vries yards, in the early fifties.

    Tiky would look lovely with the original open helm but I'm not sure that is the best/most practical solution for a 61ft displacement yacht which will be used as a family holiday boat in the Med, or even if it is the most aesthetically pleasing, so were currently looking at alternative designs

    More posts to come as the work progresses…could be a while , though!
    best
    D

    Attached Files:

  2. Loren Schweizer, Oct 25, 2009
    #2
    Loren Schweizer

    Loren Schweizer YF Associate Writer

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    Countless YF readers are no doubt clogging the emergency rooms at local hospitals suffering from 'dropped-jaw' syndrome. You, sir, are brave.

    You are finding this refit to be:

    "impossibly expensive....a very slow, frustrating and expensive process....uneconomic and an impossibly long process".

    I hope these are mere badges of honor and not outright complaints. But, since you are up to your eyeballs, you can't quit now.
    It sounds like you're contemplating modifying/adding to the original bridgedeck area, i.e., enclosing the area possibly with a hardtop & sides.
    Being that your Van Lent is steel--and your previous refits dealt with God's own wood--you might be tempted to add more steel to the structure and that would be a mistake: do the uppers in aluminum (aluminium?) which will attach to the underlying steel via a strip of Detaclad (if that's what Dupont calls it in the UK).

    And....good luck! You will be noted by the locals back home as having provided a Major Economic Stimulus Package as you soldier on and which may warrant a town square statue in your honor, or at least a write-up in FT.

    BTW, was that BB11 similar to the BB10 (Bjorn & Bjorksen, Danish design) campaigned by me & friends back in the '80s--a sort-of Hobie 33-low freeboard-wet-fast little booger?
  3. david_japp, Oct 25, 2009
    #3
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Hi

    it has often occurred to me that having re-plated much of the hull, ripped out the entire interior (bulkheads, deck lining, furniture and cabin sole), replaced the deck, replaced the engine shafts exhausts and all systems, fitted a new stabilzer and bow thruster, rewired and re-plumbed, I have paid a tidy sum for what is in effect a builder's plate...but I dont regret it as building anew wouldn't be so satisfying as saving a graceful old lady from the scrap heap. ...

    the BB11 is 20' 3/4 decked keelboat sloop, conceived and built in mahogany in 1956 by Borge Bringsvaerd, Drobak, Norway a very pretty boat that looks like a small Dragon

    I was thinking of building Tiki's new PH with ply/epoxy sides and either strip planked or balsa core for the roof..aluminium is a possibility that I hadn't really considered till now, mainly because I dont know anything about it ... so I'll now have to fine someone who does..
    best
    D
  4. q240z, Oct 31, 2009
    #4
    q240z

    q240z New Member

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    Hi David. Thanks for posting on my Chris Craft Roamer thread.

    Judging by the pix above, you have a drop-dead gorgeous motoryacht there, which isn't surprising considering the era in which it was produced. You wrote about the horrible PH that was on the boat before (pix?), but I would be inclined to think very long and hard before adding a pilothouse to a boat with such exquisite lines as yours.

    On my Roamer, as with pretty much all of the late-'60s Chris Craft cruisers, the helm and aft decks were all covered with a roof of some sort. Most of them extended nearly all the way aft, and were subsequently enclosed by the owners. Though I caught all sorts of grief from some purists when I proposed putting an aluminum enclosure on mine after removing the plywood and pine enclosure built in the 1980s that had entirely rotted away, the addition of walls & windows doesn't fundamentally change the profile or lines of the boat.

    But then there's Tiky. How could a pilothouse be added that won't detract from those god-given curves? The car analogy I'm coming up with is a 1960 Cadillac Coupe de Ville that I used to own. It didn't have the outrageous, almost comical, fins like the 1959, but...what a beauty! No matter how practical it might have been to put spoilers and wings and other modern aerodynamic goodies on the thing, doing so would have destroyed the aesthetic. OK, so it's not a great analogy, but you get my point. :) I will be very interested in seeing how you pull it off.

    And what the heck were they thinking back in the 1980s? It seems as if most things that were done to motoryachts by their owners in that era were absolutely horrid. :p
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2009
  5. Capt Bill11, Oct 31, 2009
    #5
    Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    Wow! That is a beautiful boat. Thank you for saving it.

    I would think long and hard before I changed the lines by adding a pilot house.

    As to dealing with the tanks, if you have to replace plates on the hull, that might be the time to look at getting into the tanks.
  6. david_japp, Oct 31, 2009
    #6
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Pilothouse for vintage 62ft feadship Tiky

    Believe me, adding a PH is not something I will do without a great deal of thought - clearly , doing so will change the way she looks and may detract somewhat from her sexy 1960s curves (but not nearly as much as did the 1980s addition which Ive posted). Bear in mind she is a displacement boat with a max speed of around 11 knts, rather than a fast sports boat, which i think has some bearing on how she should look. I also have to think about how the boat will be used -ie as a family boat in the Mediterranean where in Summer it is either too hot, or in winter toocold and wet for there to be no shelter. I considered a bimini top but I dont think that works visually on Tiky and since it would be up all the time, it might as well be permanent. I am therefore considering a small "cuddy" type structure that will be in white, rather than teak, and open at the rear so as to be less heavy visually. In any event Id appreciate your thoughts on my design (which is far from final)

    Attached Files:

  7. david_japp, Oct 31, 2009
    #7
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Feadship Tiky GA with proposed new Pilothouse

    here is the General Arrangements of what i had in mind for the new PH

    Attached Files:

  8. Henry Newbold, Nov 3, 2009
    #8
    Henry Newbold

    Henry Newbold New Member

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    TIKY, the stunner

    What a stunning boat. Does she have any sisters that you know of??? - seriously?

    Keep up the wonderful work you are doing. Its very heartening to see such appreciation and comittment to classic beauty.
  9. david_japp, Nov 4, 2009
    #9
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    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

    Attached Files:

  10. q240z, Nov 4, 2009
    #10
    q240z

    q240z New Member

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    I like the PH concept you've posted...very well-conceived. Do you plan to do it up in fiberglass?
  11. david_japp, Nov 4, 2009
    #11
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Im Not as yet certain as to constaruction method - possibly ply sides and either strip- planked or balsa core roof and radiused edges ...all encapsulated in epoxy.
  12. YachtForums, Nov 4, 2009
    #12
    YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    Mr. Japp,

    Please refrain from uploading further images until you read our rules. We have already removed multiple posts you have made on the same subject. I have reduced the image you posted above to fall within our guidelines of 640 pixels wide.

    Thank you.
  13. david_japp, Nov 4, 2009
    #13
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    so sorry .Im going to ask someone at my office how to handle attachments..
  14. K1W1, Nov 4, 2009
    #14
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Try this little proggie, its free, works a treat and is easy to use.

    http://bluefive.pair.com/pixresizer.htm
  15. alloyed2sea, Nov 5, 2009
    #15
    alloyed2sea

    alloyed2sea Moderator

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    ANother Option

    In keeping with her Netherlands origins. From Mulder:

    Attached Files:

  16. david_japp, Mar 13, 2011
    #16
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Alto (Tiky), 1961 62ft steel Van Lent Feadship - refit


    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
  17. bernd1972, Mar 13, 2011
    #17
    bernd1972

    bernd1972 Senior Member

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    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.
  18. david_japp, Mar 13, 2011
    #18
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    Feadship Alto (Tiky) rebuild

    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

    Attached Files:

  19. JustMag, Mar 13, 2011
    #19
    JustMag

    JustMag Member

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    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
  20. david_japp, Mar 13, 2011
    #20
    david_japp

    david_japp Senior Member

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    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
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