Feadship post...
October 8, 2010 - Feadship De Vries Makkum has re-launched the 41-meter Feadship Odyssey, originally launched in 1989 as White Rabbit and since called Lady Columbo, Ladina and Bullish. This
major project included extending the hull by three meters and adding significant real estate
to the superstructure. The delighted owners will soon embark for a Caribbean cruise to make
the most of the new hydraulic swim platform, hydraulic passerelle and guest lazarette plus a
host of other facilities designed to maximize onboard comforts.
The yacht was originally purchased in early 2009 by a family looking for a pre-owned yacht
to refit to their personal requirements. “She had to be large enough to cruise the world but
still be able to access secluded areas and ports,” explains Feadship Refit Manager Ico
Vergouwe. “The owners also sought a quality product that they could be sure would retain
her value. As well-maintained Feadships rarely – if ever – drop below their original purchase
price, the clients were convinced that a refitted Feadship would offer better value in every
sense than a new build with virtually any other motoryacht brand.”
After the Feadship Refit Team had visited Florida to discuss the project, the owners had
access to all builder’s information, two decades worth of after-sales data, the design and
engineering team responsible for the original yacht’s concept and, crucially, the craftsmen
who created their new asset.
“Rebuilding a yacht requires a dedicated workforce that is available for the whole project,”
adds Vergouwe. “It is also vital that the yard has the right tools to provide the same quality
work as on the original build. All too often at maintenance and refit yards around the world,
projects are merely facilitated by the yard with the project manager and the accountant being
the sole constant factor in the process. You would not build a yacht at such a facility so why
rebuild one there?”
The primary leisure-based requirements for Odyssey were to create a more distinguished
lazarette and folding swim platform, have larger aft decks for exterior entertainment and a
more elaborate sundeck with a Jacuzzi and sun beds. Once the designers at Feadship De
Voogt Naval Architects started developing alternative profile plans and deck layouts, it
became clear that accommodating such a wish list would involve lengthening the hull by
three metres, enlarging the bridge deck lounge by two metres (including a new head) and
adding an extra metre to the sun deck.
After signing the refit agreement the yard started engineering the aft sections in order to
have production well underway when the yacht arrived at the yard in January 2010. Over the
next nine months Odyssey was completely transformed inside and out, ranging from a
complete repaint of the hull and superstructure to an extensive refurbishment of all luxury
interior areas.
The main deck aft was extended to include a new U-shaped seating arrangement, while a
new tender crane was fitted on the lengthened bridge deck. All decks have been re-laid with
teak and new cap rails adorn every deck. The ‘indoor’ changes are equally impressive, with
new bathrooms in all suites, a new galley interior (including stainless steel furniture and
equipment), a new interior for the extended bridge deck lounge, new provision freezers and
refrigerators, new laundry interior and equipment and a wide-ranging refurbishment of all
crew interior areas. Two new Caterpillar C6.6 100 kW generators have been fitted in the
repainted engine room.
FEADSHIP
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