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Yacht Conversions

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Yacht News, Feb 28, 2007.

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  1. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    Thanks, I have always had a soft spot for a good conversion project.

    Conversions of older commercial vessels are fairly common in the Pacific Northwest. The size and type of boats used in that area seem to lend themselves to recreational (or commercial pleasure if I can use that description) activities. They are generally small sturdy boats with a large internal volume, good range and are powered by rock solid and easily maintained propulsion machinery.

    I believe that a successful conversion has to be on a human scale. In my personal opinion, converting a cruise ship to a yacht only yields an unwieldy and expensive vessel that offers none of the best of either but only multiplies the problems that come with operating and maintaining any boat.

    I will dig through my boxes of old pictures and find some other examples. The one I really need to post is a conversion of a "power scow." That is a flat bottomed barge type hull with twin screws in tunnels that allow grounding to discharge cargo on the Alaskan mud flats. They have an aft house, literally a house, it's a square two story timber building that looks like it was built to support a freeway overpass while they poured concrete into it. Some of them had steel bows bolted on to give them a pointy end.

    They were designed in the 1930s to supply fishing operations but when the military buildup began in Alaska in the 1940s many were built for the US Army. There are still a large number of them working as fish and freight haulers in Alaska and several still run between Seattle and Alaska as far north as the Aleutians and what pass for ports in the Bering Sea.
  2. 84far

    84far Senior Member

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    Well back to Princess Iluka - Well it started when I was reading the I/B the other day, like a few other members and read a great story on a 112 Y/O yacht (Kismet), and bringing it back to life, I got to the end and I had a big smile on my face thinking - good on you, great effort.... Then I got to the story about Princess Iluka.... WHY!!! Talk about how to destroy a yacht. I to saw it over the Easter holidays anchored off Tangalooma, and had to put up with it and its cheap looking name plate with neon lights behind it. Why wouldn’t you sell it to someone who will restore it to get her back to her glory days? Now because of the “refit” and hull extension to the stern this caused her to sink at the bow, and rumour is that they tried everything – couldn’t fix it – and added weight to the stern. I’ve also been told that she can’t get a survey for the Broadwater (Gold Coast, Australia) because she sits to low in the water in relation to her anchor – WL, and the port holes – WL.

    As for why people choose old military or commercial vessels to convert ... I think the new owner might want to travel to similar destinations that the boat was intended or designed for. I know if I wanted to go the North Pole, I would want something that could handle it.

    And as for the *****ing, I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – send a private message people! I don’t want to read about what you think of another member. If someone is wrong with a calculation, tell him you think it’s wrong, and get on with it. Just stop with your own B/S. Cheers

    Far

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  3. 1. Marmot Pics:
    Appreciated!

    yes, i still remember that a wife of a knwon modern yacht producer in Italy, was in love an old Tug and converted such in a pretty nice strong yacht, probably the conversion made in the husband Shipyard. Interesting is she was not in love with all modern yachts her family produces, but she prefered to be different, but i don't remember the name of the yacht and also from this Italian Shipyard. Of course most of time they are pretty solid and robust to feel every conditions.

    from my experience seeing what was the finish of Eclipse (US$ 800 millions new build) and comparing to the restoration of Nahlin, half size (€ 60 millions), the old ship is much more impressive. If Abramovish had been taken a old small cruiser like Italia, which i posted some posts before, he would have a top classic interesting yacht in his fleet with all amenities he would like, instead of doing just a zoomy of his other 4 or 5 he has already made. But this is my particular opinion, with much less money spent.

    I think it would be glad for everyone here to see, mainly me. I personally don't like much fish houses on barges like some slams remainded in US coasts, but maybe we are talking different and i really need a photo to say better my opinion then. If the result would be top designed, then this is the important. ;)

    2. Princess iluka:
    Well, for what seeing in above posts, in terms of design, i wouldn't mind having the previous version or the result version at all, with design point of view only, seems nice. I think the result is quite updated for what to every normal yacht as it is today, colors are good also silver-blue. Lost only the traditional profile, but hull seems the same. If this was the intention, then i think ok. I just think the harmony of side windows is not interesting, but if this was thought to be different, then ok to be different somehow also. Thanks for sharing those elucidation pics.

    3. Abou Dhabi Mar Frigate Conversion:
    This is what can be the most interesting in conversions nowadays. Here is the info, but sorry, i can't post pics, cause belongs other sites...
    Abu Dhabi MAR has four yachts under construction. The Swift141 and Swift135 are conversion of Dutch-built navy frigates, 462 and 442 feet in length respectively. The Swift141, set for launch later this year, is shaped and styled by Pierrejean Design Studio in Paris.

    4. About the 45m last project of Kaiserwerft under construction: (in same hook this post only)
    Does anybody know if the transfered Hull to a holland Shipyard to be finished, was modified in someway, had some conversion between different manufactures. How was the result? I never heard more about.
  4. YES!

    YES! Senior Member

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    Conversion to Chew On

    Thought the Forum might enjoy what I thought was going to be the ultimate yacht conversion project. This is a 440 foot casino ship that has worldwide cruise capability at 24 knots. Can be bought for a song and we (Yacht Escort Ships) worked with the client for over 6 months on design and engineering to put her in the top 3 largest yachts in the world (at that time).

    She would have been to full BV Class and the casino decks were to be owner villas in the manner of ResidenceSea (The World) condo cruise ship. The owner's suite would be 6000 square feet with huge deck to deckhead window glass and a second level mezzanine (note the high overhead in below casino area picture).

    There were to be 6 other staterooms in the 2500 to 3000 sf size range as well as the standard luxury dining area, a small casino, lounging areas, full size pool, heli deck and hangar, etc. One of the two sets of escalators would have been removed in favor of a 4 deck open atrium.

    The stern section was to be cut away with a drop down transom with tender storage inside using the "beach" concept for access to the water, getting on and off tenders, etc.

    Total finished price was under USD $50 million and even included modernization of the bridge/forward house area to include a private owner's and separate guest forward viewing salons.

    I thought it would be a significant contribution to the "bigger is better" crowd run amok, but then the economy went south and so did the project. It was one of those blank palettes on which you could let your imagination run wild.

    Looking forward to your comments and personal abuse.

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  5. ^yes, this is wonderful. Better having such conversions than old classy ships going to alang, like Ausonia of 1957 last month. I am not saying to save United States, it would be good, since so many years berthed in Philly in relly bad conditions, not affordable financially anymore, NCL does not wanted to review her like was done wonderfully to Norway, also scrapped sadly, but then having the old history preserved in some way is really nicer as building a new one, which is the 'still the same' and most of time, costs more, because the hull is again from nothing, when you can re-use a hull abandonned in a port like Piräeus, which has many. I would like to see 'Ocean Princess' been preserved as well, she is current in sale, like other small-mid-sized old classy, but.... who knows.. I am glad about your Ship conversion YES. :) What was that as Passenger ship? Seems a small version of old ex-'Stella Solaris'
  6. Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

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    Thanks for those pics of the original Iluka. Sure she looked very dated, but someone with skill could have revamped her and produced a fantasic looking, yet still vintage styled, yacht. Instead... well.... enough has been said already. :rolleyes:
  7. Schaarhörn...

    well, this can be interesting as well as a restoration, not really a conversion, but some alike of what was proposed for a yacht with centenary years in background, today wonderful restored as passenger event old ship, it means the opposite then. I ask permission to post the history here with a picture. I hope moderators do not understand it as infrigement, but it does not make sense repeating with copy&paste here. Well here the 'Scharhörn' http://www.schaarhoern.de/englisch.htm
  8. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    You might want to check the source of these numbers especially in respect of Nahlin

    Also, where do you figure that Nahlin is half the size of Eclipse?
  9. well from some sources it says she is 87m other says 91.4m. Seems strange, because the ship seems really smaller than others, but i just repeated what internet sources said. Here is one http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahlin Others says different, but you as expert in the Shipyard could bring us the real numbers then. If are rumours i really don't know, i am not expert in the area. And if Eclipse is really 162.5m, then seems half long. Of course much less decks and width volumes... Unfortunate sources are removed here, so makes confusions and missunderstandings. I can understand then. If is error, then again sorry.
  10. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    When comparing "size" a quick rule of thumb is the Gross Tonnage, you will find that Nahlin is nowhere near Eclipse in this figure.

    I am not in a position where I can reveal confidential information with exact numbers or I will soon be unemployed but if you double the number for Nahlin you will be a lot closer.
  11. Ok, i understand you work at B+V and i don't. You are a professional. I am an amateur who likes ships/yachts only. I really don't care much for 'Size Gross Tonnage'. For me what matters in a ship is the exterior/design only, so dimensions in question of length, wide high, lines, volumes, materials, appearance and those things. It is what i like most, why i am here in this forum. I know other day you got my attention about 'engineer'. Yes i studied Mechanical Engineer in university, learned a lot and for go(o)d sakes forget already a lot, but then working for more than 15 years in good and bad 15 companies in this field, i got tired of it. Here in Hamburg i finally discovered my passion to be near 'ship reality' and that is, observing yachts, observing them in my huuuge spare time. Nobody gave me an opportunity to know them closer, even my tries with the Death PRMarine/Kaiserwerft... Well it is really a big deal history that has really no sense to mention here. Keep you good job there. They make really nice things. Appreciated. Nahlin is beautiful Dame and i could only see the things taking the 62 rides... Ok, if you have more doubts please PMme, otherwise enjoy what you are doing, because you are one of fews in a respectable company remaining so. Good Luck then. But then i am free to talk as amateur. For me Eclipse is only a big normal Swan, when Nahlin is classy beauty, of course 4 times smaller in tonnage probably in those terms, no matter who belongs, Stiftung, Politcs or whatever. It is like for me Airbus is only flying sometimes... I know i am museum now, but it is ok. Iam happy and nobody makes me mobing also. Regards
  12. Marmot

    Marmot Senior Member

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    There isn't much doubt about that one being the ultimate! While it isn't what I would do even if I had more money than the Vatican, I am glad people do that sort of thing. It keeps all the rest of us off the dole and beyond any doubt is fascinating to watch and talk about. It's too bad it fell apart and you didn't get a chance to complete it.

    Seattle was a great town for watching large and small conversion projects rise and fall with the tides of fortune and the markets. Living on the water in Ballard it was fun watching old freighters, NOAA boats and CCG tugs come, sit, rust, vanish, and return in some interesting configuration - or not.

    I think the only person liable to be abused by any conversion project is the owner ... everyone else makes out one way or the other.
  13. YES!

    YES! Senior Member

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    Actually, my clients have had excellent experiences, but not so much those of us who have to deal with the 20 - 30 years of rust, muck and cover ups.

    But Marmot, you have struck upon the lifeblood of our industry and that they wealthy people have such dreams and aspirations. Our duty for our mutual survival is to work hard, be creative and attempt to satisfy some very obtuse tastes in style and presentation, keeping all times at the forefront that seaworthiness and safety must trump all other considerations.

    Yachting is the model the Reagan's trickle down economics, and it has been a trickle the past year; however, I believe that most agree things are looking up again.
  14. Rob Bailey

    Rob Bailey New Member

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    I can't understand why they would do that to Iluka 2.
    The orginal owner was a mr G.H Robertson of Ballarat Australia.She was the last serious yacht to come out of Tasmania made of huon pine,in fact her keel is one tree.
    I often saw her down on Port Phillip bay,where Robertson with only his wife on board would use her.
    In flesh she was a wonderful looking craft.
    Robertson was a self made millionaire whom had a business called Franklin caravans,he is still alive today.Was also in the mid '60s the 1st person to own a flybridge Bertram 25 in Australia.
    In order to build the Iluka ,he bought a timber yard/mill so that he had enough huon pine to complete the build in the lates '70s,from memory the build time was about 6 to 8 years.
  15. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

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    Here is one, called "Pink Shrimp". Built in 2000 probably as a shrimper was converted in 2007 and acts as a kind of mother ship for carrying around tenders. She is 32-meter and accommodates ten guests in five cabins and has a range of 4,000 nautical miles. Pink Shrimp just been placed on the for sale market.

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  16. carelm

    carelm Senior Member

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    In my view, the gold standard for yacht conversions would have to be the Suri. It was recently lengthened to 206 feet or so. It has gobs of room and it really makes for an excellent main yacht.
  17. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    I like everything about Pink Shrimp except the bloody name.

    Another yacht that has been brought back to life is Grey Mist from Camper & Nicholson c1919. She was a real mess when sitting in South Africa but now in the US and restored.

    http://www.**************/core/listing/boatMergedDetails.jsp?boat_id=2466933&ybw=&units=Feet&currency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=1472&url=
  18. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

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    There were a number of work boats like "SuRi" that were to be converted. If I remember, YES were to be involved in that process too but I cannot remember if anything more happened with those other projects.
  19. aquasport275

    aquasport275 New Member

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    Graves Sportfishing

    does any one know anything about the Graves Sportfishing Yachts.
  20. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    Miss Ann

    I wish some one would restore the Miss Ann.

    She was used at the Tides Inn for years where we had a chance to take a nice cruise on her.
    Steel hull and somewhat narrow she seemed pretty fast to me.
    I thought she was an elegant yacht in her day with a neat history.
    At the Tides there were a few different captains of her, some of which cared for her well and some who laid down varnish like is was wall paper paste.

    I heard she was bought and used as a charter near Washington, DC but that endeavor failed and she is languishing somewhere on the Western Shore, Md.

    She had Detroits ( at least they SOUNDED like Detroits)when we were aboard and the Capt had to really wind them up to maneuver, no thrusters in 1926. I thought they were great & loved that sound, like two lions roaring.
    I think I read that the Detroits had been replaced.

    I would love to take another rider on her but at very least I hope some one gets her before it is too late.

    Google Miss Ann Yacht for some more interesting info.