About
Dear visitor,
I’m Thorwald Westmaas. Dutch, a marine mechanical engineer by education. My year as apprentice I spent on board this 1967 general cargo vessel which took me 2x around the world. I guess I’ve always been drawn to the sea but this year definitely planted a seed to do some future exploring. Through one of those odd things in life, I became an entrepreneur in Costa Rica but after moving to Panama in early 2005 ago, the ‘itch’ of having my own boat came back.
A real trawler of course. No ‘tupperware’. I wanted a very seaworthy vessel, built to withstand a beating by nature, total piece of mind and well, I didn’t have $ 15 million in the bank either. So I was always on the lookout for a steel trawler and last year I got my hands on one. And while I sold it last February to a local investment group, I’ll remain actually involved in its conversion and hopefully in future conversions of other trawlers.
This blog is about the process of converting it into a private expedition vessel. The deliberations, the related technical issues, the equipment and eventually – how it’s behaving at sea!
Maybe it will help you if you have or plan a similar conversion project. While there’s lots of information around, it’s pretty scattered. Most publications and websites are for the weekend boater who doesn’t touch the boat himself. There is actually a nice blog on megayachts but megayacht magazines target owners who don’t typically get their hands dirty designing their own boat. Power & Motor Yacht has had helpful articles and YachtForums.com is a great resource for advice. As are of course several people we have contracted during this project to make sure it will be completed.
Finally this site helps our equipment suppliers get an idea of what this project is about, supply them with drawings, pictures and other useful information.
If you’re looking for a real expedition yacht yourself, let me help you find a great Dutch fishing trawler and convert it into a first-class go-anywhere explorer yacht.
Below a look of what we have in mind. Click here or on the first image below to check to see a manipulable 3D model of the vessel. Yes, it takes a few seconds to load, depending on the speed of your connection it is really very illustrative!
- Drag with the left mouse button to move it; use the right mouse button to zoom in or out
- Press the right mouse button and use the arrows on your keyboard to move the model inside the window
If you see a warning about installing some unknown piece of software, that’s normal: go ahead, it IS safe to install.
At any case, if you have trouble with the above link, here are a few screen shots.
I recommend you start having a look at our general plan post and then just keep reading. Enjoy!
Thorwald Westmaas
project manager
Skype: panamathor
e-mail: thorwald @ expeditionyacht . org
Phone in Panana: 507-6618-4414
(link to older 3D model)
last update: November 17, 2008
This is really excellent. A fine seagoing vessel with amazing deck space. Can I sail with you? Good Watch.
Hallo,
Genoten van je site, ziet er super uit… Ik ben stuurman bij P&O ferries, maar heb in het verleden op de Rembrandt gevaren (Ex ss Rotterdam HAL) en ik heb, toen ik in IJmuiden op school zat de door Olivier van Meer getekende conversie van de KW42 naar een 3 mast stagzeilschoener goed kunnen volgen, (Maverick)…
Ik heb wel een vraag… waarom laat je die enorme straalbuis zitten… die levert toch alleen maar extra weerstand op als je maar minimaal vermogen vraagt? Ik weet dat bij de conversie van de KW42 die grote motor door een veel kleinere is vervangen met een kleinere schroef…
Daardoor kwam het schip ook iets verder voorover te liggen, wat voor het uitzicht alleen maar beter had kunnen zijn… Ware het niet dat het stuurhuis is verlaagd.
Mooi werk… Succes met de verdere conversies… Jammer dat dit soort dingen voor de meeste mensen, ook voor mij, helaas een droom moet blijven…
Met vriendelijke Groet…
Arjan van ‘t Hooft
Mr. Arjan van ‘t Hoofd left a very nice comment and suggested we remove the – not sure about correct name – ‘tube’ around the prop as it only adds weight and resistance.
True but it’s minimal. I won’t really gain speed and it offer great protection. Beside, I have to keep that big prop. under the water line so I can’t loose too much weight in the back, especially since the stern fuel tanks will not be used anymore.
Thanks for the quick response…
Let me reply in Englisch, I believe that the tube is called a “Cort Nozzle” and the combination with the prop, a “ducted propellor”… If I am wrong please blame the Nautisch Woordenboek…
I have been searching for information on the conversion of the other fishing vessel I mentioned ( Maverick) …
That conversion, where an Olivier van Meer rigging plan was used, removed the nozzle and the big main engine, as she was to become a sailship. Her new (smaller) engine and much smaller propellor allowed for a much shallower aft draught… It also created much needed room for accomodation in the former fish hold.
As the nozzle is usually not solid, but built hollow, hull plating on frames… I believe that her own buoyancy might help that weight thing… However with the current fuel prices, it might be worth considering such an engine transplant.
Then the wheelhouse… If you are going to take it off the ship anyway, in order to increase the hight underneith, why not move the entire thing foreward a few meters… Maybe line in up with the superstructure extension you are planning already…
This way your conning position is approx midships, Above the mainframe… The best position in bad weather and rough seas, according to the Bowditch… Also it allows you to increase the size of the wheelhouse and the sheltered deckspace behind the existing wheelhouse…
Just Ideas, I hope you can use them…
Greetings,
Arjan van ‘t Hooft
Great looking plans.
I look forward to keeping up with your progress.
Regards
Tim
Dear Michael,
My apologies for the late reply.
Yes indeed the flag is wrong (on some of the older images, not the new one).
I´d love to talk with you and you can write me at thorwald @ expeditionyacht . org.
The deck will not meet the latest MCA rules (pretty impossible to comply with on a refit and vessel under 40 m.) but incorporate most class rules and safety rules defined by British and Canadian transport board. The only serious limitation is the exhaust stagg so if the pilot cannot set his heli down on the H more or less he´s should not fly heli´s to our yacht. And we don´t plan to land under extreme circumstances.
Look forward to hearing from you!
Hello Thorwald,
UK 43
“Deo Volente”
Registrationnr and name of this vessel.
You did a great job to this vessel, i’m so glad, that this vessel is not destroyed, because, it was my favorit ship for many years, i feld always safe at this vessel when the weather was very bad! I’m very proud, that i was member of the crew from 1998/’99 till 2004. I finished my job as Professional Fisherman in February 2005, that time, i was 58 years old….. it was enough to me, after 35 years Northseafishing (was it enough)? It’s never enough, because: YOU’LL LEAVE THE SEA, BUT, THE SEA NEVER LEAVES YOU!!! I really hope my English is understandable? I will follow your site! Thanks and Good Luck and many greetings from,
Ex-(Northsea-)Fisherman
Henk Rebel,
Huizen.
The Netherlands
good job…
sandra,
——
ShaitanOfCorsica.com
Expedition Yacht
Thank you. Your yacht has an interesting history as well.