Expeditionyacht.org

I just got back from ‘FLIBS’, certainly worth visiting. For anybody planning a conversion, this show are a great opportunity to learn about new products, check out existing ones, compare products, validate assumptions and get to know the people behind the products.   5-10 Minutes of talking avoids lots of typing e-mail!

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.