A lot of work has been done to make the ship ready for conversion.  It includes removing all insulation in the fishing hold, removing fishing gear, winches and masting, removing the rubbing strakes, eliminating all direct current equipment that was  needed to power the winches,  removing 2 generators to make space for smaller ones (one 5-year Deutz 1005c aux. engine left) and lots of  smaller jobs.

By removing all the insulation it’s obvious the the steelwork on this 132 ft (40 m.) vessel is in excellent condition although obviously it needs a paint job on the outside.  Only the forepeak was used with salt water and ultra sound measurements have shown that the hull there is also well within Lloyds Register limits. 

So the ship is ready to be put to adapted and be put to good use in another capacity. 

This vessel is priced to sell. Available for inspection in Panama .   For more information, leave a comment with your contact data including phone number or contact our broker Vince Krivanek or John DeCaro at www.buyexploreryachts.com.  

Below a series of pictures to show the current state of the vessel with some explanations.

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 As you can see, we are now anchored safely in the beautiful Bay of Portobelo.

The ship has been stripped from all fishing-related gear, it’s rubbing strikes, wood on deck  and all the DC equipment which is not needed any more (no more DC-motor powered fishing winches).  

It’s not exactly a beautiful yacht get but there’s  nothing a little sandblasting can’t solve.   And the lines of this North Sea trawler are still beautiful.

The bay of Portobelo is about a 1.5 hour drive from Panama City and about 45 minutes from Colon, the Atlantic (Caribbean) entrance of the Panama Canal.

We’re now looking at our options on how to carry out the practical side of the conversion.  Where, in what order, with who, etc.  While Panama may be known as a maritime nation being the biggest flag (of convenience) state and having the Panama Canal and 3 big ports, it’s not a maritime nation in a traditional sense.  There are very few Panamanian mariners working on ships (mainly due to Panama’s very bad public education system and total lack of English skills) and besides a few ship-repair shops, there is no maritime industry at all.  So finding good labor is going to be a challenge.

Therefore, we’re going to make sure we’ll have very detailed drawings and design specs, detailed project management including work breakdowns that leave no doubt, the right equipment and above all, experienced supervision.

It won’t be easy, it won’t always be fun but in the end it will be worth it.

It’s been some time since my last post.  Been busy with other things like the Balboa Inn (www.thebalboainn.com) among others but things are moving. 

The big news is that we are going to move the vessel from Cartagena Colombia to Panama and do the conversion under own management.  The Navtech shipyard in Colombia is being sold and we’re not quiet sure what the new management will bring.  One of the reasons we decided to go to Navtech was their Dutch owners who have been very cooperative with our project.  With them out of the picture, we feel Panama is a better option.  We have learned the logistics of living in Panama and doing the conversion in Cartagena brings its own set of challenges.  

Being in Panama, supervising things just gets a lot easier.  We’ve built a great time of experienced people to make sure the conversion can be executed successfully.    Bringing people, parts and equipment into Panama is a lot easier and cost effective than doing this in Cartagena and living a 45 minute drive from the conversion site is a huge positive as well.

We plan to anchor out in the protected bay of Colon while we get all the work on drawings and engineering done prior to the start of the conversion.  The good things of this location is that it’s free and safe.  And, the Panama Canal shipyard is just 1 mile away.  It has an 1.100 ton syncho-list and a 50 m. drydock.  A very nice and clean facility.

We plan to go to Cartagena in the coming week to prepare for departure.  I soon hope to post some more news about the developments.    I also have about 20+ draft posts about a variety of interesting stuff but well,  patience please .

The Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) is the Premier European exhibition of equipment, materials, systems and services for the international leisure craft trade and industry.

I couldn’t make it to METS in Amsterdam this year but I’ve been looking in their online catalog and here’s a few interesting products you might want for your (expedition) yacht, tender or fishing boat.

Caudwell Marine innovative engines
Their Axis Drive™ marine propulsion system for the recreational boating market in the 16 – 40 foot boat range is very innovative. Based on Nissan engine technology they say they plan a diesel engine too which would be THE solution for us.  This solutions clearly beats the Volvo Penta Sterndrives.

Quick Marine Lighting
With LEDs color temperature now really getting warmer there is no reason to keep using halogeen anymore. This Italian company makes really stylish LED lighting but also LED-bulbs to replace halogeen bulbs. 

Another, better known Italian manufacturer is Cantalupi Lighting.  The RGB Varilight system allows you to be very creative with lights.

Blue Green ultrasonic antifouling
This British company is the manufacturer of a marine hull protection system using environmentally friendly, low cost ultra sound. I don’t know yet if we can use this product given our thick steel hull but boy, that would be a great, green solution.

Imagine keeping your boat’s hull totally clear of all forms of algae, slime, weeds, worms and shellfish without the use of poisonous biocides that leach into the environment and leave a toxic chemical legacy or very expensive anti-fouling coatings?

Cobra electronics
A very cool product.  The Cobra’s MR F300 BT is the loudest and clearest way to make and receive mobile phone calls on your boat! Do you ever worry about getting your mobile phone wet or missing a phone call? Do you have a difficult time making clear calls while underway or in windy conditions? Cobra’s MR F300 BT solves all of these problems.

Strong-grip
From Sweden a handy fastening system with superior grip ability that holds all kind of tarpaulins and fabric materials.

Mastervolt’s 24V/160Ah Li-Ion battery
This well-known Dutch company claims to have developed the world’s first practical high capacity Lithium-ion battery that can be used as a direct replacement for big lead-acid battery banks on boats. This innovative new product is smaller, lighter, more efficient and has three times longer life cycle expectancy than its lead-acid equivalent. 

Of course, it will also cost 3x as much but even then, worth a serious look.  Right now, our 24V batteries are on the  top deck in the exhaust stag enclosure. There’s hardly a hotter place to store batteries which means a reduced life. If we can put them in the airconditioned bridge house, next to the 24V switchboard, that would be a drastic improvement.

And finally, for the music fans, all the way from New Zealand:

Fusion Electronics Marine I-pod docking station
Their iPod Marine Stereo Unit (MS-IP500) is the first stereo unit in the world to feature an internal iPod dock and flagships FUSION’s True Marine product range. The Unit enables users to dock their iPod inside the Stereo Unit and keep it protected from the harsh marine environment. The Unit also features True iPod Integration, allowing complete control of all iPod functions through a simple-to-navigate user interface which mirrors that of the iPod itself.

The unit also complies with international waterproof standards on both the front and rear of the unit and features True Multi-Zone Control allowing four separate audio zones to be created within the vessel. 

I guess now all we need is a “true marine” Playstation 3!

Meeting with yacht crew, brokers and owners was also very useful.  I had the opportunity to visit several yachts from accross the spectrum. On the top of the chart no doubt was the 198 ft. Blue Moon by Feadship.   Feadship director Koos Zitman was kind enough to take the time to give me a personal tour.  The level of quality and detail on this yacht is nothing short of awesome.  On the other end of the scale was the Phoenix, a 1974-built supplier converted into an expedition yacht (for sale).  Both are ships I don’t plan to imitate but for very different reasons.  In between was the Beothuk, an extraordinary well detailed Vripack Doggersbank design, built by Kuipers Shipyard in Woudsend.  I also had a quick look at a Christensen and Trinity yacht but mainly to have a quick look at the crew accommodations.

The result of the visit?   Lot’s of decisions made. In no particular order:

• Air conditioning
  While I knew a long time ago I would get Dutch engineering to assure a silent and well-dimensioned air conditioning system, I had been doubting which company to choose: NR Koeling (using Italian Climma equipment) or Heinen & Hopman (using MarineAir and their own brand).  The combination of brand strength and local (Ft. Lauderdale) support made me decide for Heinen & Hopman.  Both companies make great products and have been very helpful at all occasions so this was not an easy choice.  By the way, 2 of the yachts I visited had serious design problems with their A/C.  Noisy exhaust fans, cold air blowing in your face and even one cold air inlet above a crew member’s pillow!
• Lights
  Visiting the Beothuk which runs on 100% LED lighting, including engine room, that’s the way we want to go.    They are becoming more affordable, the color temperature is not an issue anymore  and they last ‘forever’.  Add enormous reduction in heat – allowing lower air conditioning capacity  and the fact that you can basically light your whole ship on battery power, why bother with fluorecent or halogeen?  Even the underwater lights are getting really strong as I saw in the OceanLed stand.  LED is simply the future.
• Vibration control
  Boy, was I glad I stopped by Van Cappellen Consultancy, the noise and vibration control specialists.  One of the products  I was seriously considering was Mascoat, sound dampening coating.  Well, within a minute of my conversation with technical director Willem van Cappellen I learned that would be a total was of money in my situation. Not that Mascoat is a bad product but, as Willem explained, it doesn’t work on 8-10 mm steel!  Instead, he recommended me to spend my money on Swedac Damping cassettes if I wanted to see some real results.  He wasn’t familiar with the vibration compensator from Danish company Gertsen & Olufson and after 2 weeks I still don’t know if this product works with mid-speed engines but I hope to find out soon.
• Lloyds Register
  Besides FLIBS I had a very pleasant meeting at the Lloyds Register office in Plantation to discuss our project with their principal surveyor.  It clarified several unanswered questions about the rules, requirements and procedures.  Very friendly and helpful guys.
• Lighting control
  By-me Marine from Vimar combines the simplicity of the architecture of home automation, Italian design and electrical equipment for the nautical field. I’ll write more about this soon but the bottom line is: great flexibility and functionality, less wiring and it looks beautiful.  In the US this product line is available through the experienced guys of DRSA in Riviera Beach, FL.  Very informative website.
• Paint system
  I was tilting toward Sherman Williams Marine painting systems but the folks at AlexSeal Yacht Coatings also made a very strong case about their paint that they claim is easier to repair, supported by a growing list of big-name yards changing to their system. Jury is still out on that one.
• Waste incinerator
  I’ve reported on these before in an earlier post.  Talking with crew and yacht builders, I think it makes a lot of sense to have one on board.   Instead of building an additional walking cool room and freezer to store waste you simply burn it.  In a very clean way.  And not only garbage and waste but also waste oil.  Instead of the logistical complications of dropping the waste with a shore based facility (who in developing countries will simply dump it in and open air dump), it’s a lot environmentally friendly to dispose of it in a IMO-approved waste incinerator like that made by Norwegian incinerator specialist Teamtec.  We had some space issues but I think we’ll be able find some space in the engine room.
• Submarines for yachts
  I consider myself pretty good at digging up info on the Internet.  If there’s something written about it, I’ll find it. Well, one company has eluded me successfully.  I thought I had identified every serious small submarine maker but Italian submarine maker VAS was a total surprise at FLIBS. As I write this, their website is down so don’t be surprised if the link above doesn’t work. They make great (RINA certified) subs (3-10 people capacity) and their 3-person model seems a serious competitor to SeaMagine’s Triump which is heavier, slower and doesn’t offer a distortion-free view.   But for now, the SeaMagine’s website  totally kicks their butt!
• Tenders & tender engines
  I looked around at the (many) RIBs shown on this show but I’m sticking with the folks of Humber Inflatables and the Volvo Penta D3.  More customization, better pricing and a wider range. 
• Navigational sonar by Farsounder
  Just have to get this.  It totally blows away the ‘competition’.  These consumer sonars give you an image that’s updated every minute.  Farsounder gives you a 3D-like picture every second.  Now, that’s something you can really use!  O.K. Before you order one, check your bank account. But if you  think sonar and you have a big yacht with at least 3 feet of draft at the center of the bulbous bow, don’t settle for less, get something that really works. 
• Doors & hatches
  It seems Freeman is the way to go, combining quality with affordability.

Based on what I heard from crew,  I think we’ll try to squeeze in another head in the forward crew section.  I got the impression that sacrificing a small desk would be preferred over having to share a head with 3 other crew members.  We’re also going to see if and how we can enlarge their messroom a little bit to provide space for all.  At any case, our crew cabins will have more natural light than all  crew cabins I saw on the yachts I visited.  OK, except the captain’s cabin on  the Blue Moon .

Crew or yacht builders, let me hear your comments please.

The last few months have been busy with another project I’m working on with my wife, the Balboa Inn, a Bed & breakfast in Panama (www.thebalboainn.com).  I’m also in the process to sell my Spanish language school in Panama (www.ilisa.com) so I’ll have a more time soon to get supervise this project.

Last month I was in Holland and among others I visited the company that will do the design on the new electrical system.  We’re basically going to re-do most of it. New switchboards, a lot of new cabling and of course 2 new generators.  With the engine in top condition, the electrical system new, the hull in excellent shape, this ship will be ready for another 50 years of service when it leaves the shipyard.

Keep reading, enjoy and don’t hesitate to leave feedback.

Last week I attended the Seatrade Cruise convention in Miami Beach.  While this convention primarily focuses on the cruiseship industry (quite a different dresscode than the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show !!) it has a lot of interesting product we can also apply on yachts.

To name a few, think low maintainance furniture, products to give glass new life, high-tech glass coatings that keep heat and UV out, waste incinerators, waste water treatment, coating and flooring systems including a really awesome incredibly good teak replacement from Bolith.  Also great info on sound isoloation and vibration damping.  Danish manufacturer Sika had a lot of interesting products on display.  And then there were lots of manufactures of bedding, fabrics, wall covering materials and items for interior design.  And if you want to impress your guests with a nice scent on your yacht, check out Microfresh.  Very innovative product.  Did I mention security and access systems?  Some very innovative systems out there that can also be used on yachts.

There are really a lot of beautiful materials out there that are safe (meet IMO guidelines) and easy to apply.  George Fisher piping systems was also present.  Awesome products that can replace most steel applications. 

We also had ample opportunity to talk with the folks at Lloyds Register and get all remaining questions answered. Pictured above is a garbage & waste oil incinerator from Teamtec in Norway.  Instead of carrying your waste along (and using valuable freezer space), paying fees to ’shore based facilities’ (who then dump it God knows where) this compact burns everything and is IMO-approved.  Another practical AND green solution. 

All in all a very worthwhile event.

While I  figure out how to create a direct top menu choice to access this page, you can access the new directory here.