VINTAGE 61ft FEADSHIP REBUILD

Vintage Feadship refit - design and build process

thank you for these kind words - Ive had 5 years and 2 false starts (spain & France) to consider what to do with this refit and it's been quite an evolutionary process to get to where we are now.

When I was first having her refitted in Mallorca (never again!!), I planned on basically just reproducing what was there already, but the people who worked on her (mainly English Ex pats!!) did such an appalling job that when the boat finally arrived in England I decided to start again and go back to basics. I had pretty firm ideas about the layout I wanted - for example in the galley. I attach a pic of how the galley was when I found the boat, with a large countertop on both the P & S sides - this was not the original galley but one that was most probably built in the late 1970s when the very ugly pilot house was built. After much thought and consideration, (and measuring loads of other boats at boat-shows) I figured I didn't need such a huge galley and that by reconfiguring the companionway to be off the centerline, I could still have a big enough galley on the port side, whilst leaving enough space on the stbd side for U shaped seating.

I also had firm ideas about the overall look I wanted throughout the boat (a contemporary but hopefully timeless "retro" feel that was sympathetic to and in keeping with her 1960 origins, using light oak with the grain horizontal and 4mm horizontal shadow gaps across the doors and BHs (which, incidentally, the yard originally hated but in fact it has come out so well that apparently they are now proposing to offer it as an option on the new Oysters they build).


I attach my original sketch, which the yard converted to CAD, and then used to produce 3D modeling renders. We played with the renders and made a few changes but the design and dimensions are basically exactly as per my original drawing. We then had the parts cut by CNC, which the highly skilled carpenters at landamore put together - although not without the occasional "hiccup" which required some small changes being made - to make a really beautiful and highly practical galley and seating area.

The same process applied throughout the rest of the boat and over the rest of the week I'll post other drawings and pics showing how the design and build process developed and evolved.
best
David

Flame restoration

Hi David
I know of Flame and She is a very interesting boat - in fact, at one time I considered buying her but I am based in the UK and the logistics of getting her back to Europe to restore put me off. If you send me a private message with your email we can be in direct touch. Alternatively, there are quite a load more pics of her elsewhere on this forum ( go to REBUILD OF CLASSIC 1961 62FT FEADSHIP "ALTO VOLANTE" )

In fact I got seriously ill about a year ago so the project was put on hold for several months but I'm now fully recovered and we hope to finish her this summer. She's about to have her top coats applied and then be generally finished off prior to sea trials. Eventually she will be based in NW Italy

Meantime , to answer your questions:
1) the UK boat yard was Landamores in Wroxham but their main building yard has since been bought by Oyster Yachts to build their own yachts and although Landamore are still in operation from a smaller facility I don't think they are still still equipped to do such a large refit as Flame. Tiky (now called Alto) is now at Foxs in Ipswich being painted. Foxs are a large and well equipped yard and more than capable of such a refit

2) Tiky/Alto originally had 2 x MAN V 8 engines with separate RENK gearboxes. Both engines and boxes were in a terrible state and beyond economic rebuild. We wanted low revving engines that matched her original style so We fitted two totally rebuilt Gardner 6LXBs and new Hurth gearboxes supplied by Michael Harrison of Gardener Marine diesels. They are beautiful engines that run for ever like clockwork, have no electronics, and drink virtually no fuel. I reckon you will have to allow +/- £15K per engine for replacement Gardners. If you are interested in exploring that avenue I can put you in touch.

Flame is a beautiful boat so I hope you have the skills, patience and most importantly the financial resources to do her justice and do a proper rebuild. I'll be happy to help with advice and contacts etc.
Best
David

Feadship TIKY ex Alto Volante

Hiya
Tiky (we changed her name back to her original name) is still in the UK, although I'm NE Italy (Venice to be precise) where it is very hot and humid. Work on Tiky was delayed, partly as a result of me getting very sick last year, and partly because of additional issues becoming apparent (mainly shaft alignment /A bracket issues that requires major surgery) but we are at last seeing the light . If we finish before September she may make it south, if not she'll winter in the UK and then do the trip in April. I'll try post some pics of her in the spray shop.
Best
David

TIKY ex ALTO VOLANTE.

Apologies for a very belated reply...we did in fact build the PH in a combination of materials...marine grade plywood for the flat sides, strip plank for the tightly radiused edges, balsa core for the curved roof, and a GRP moulding for the eyebrow. All coated with epoxy and glass scrim. The ringframe arch that forms the frame for the opening aft windows is teak-faced ply and solid teak.

Tiky feadship Pilothouse

Some pics of the new Pilothouse . this one without aft ring frame . Handrail has since been shortened .s/s Handrail fittings double as the lifting points for the PH.

Tiky feadship Pilothouse

The PH in build

TIKY ex ALTO VOLANTE

Some interior shots

Tiky

Thanks...BTW the prize was a bottle of rum and it would take at least a couple to lay me as low as I was.... From one day tothe next, an unidentified infection - possibly dog related- put me into intensive care for 2 months with sepsis , pneumonia and kidney failure . Was at deaths door for 2 weeks . ...I'm totally fine now but I lost ends of 8 toes inc my big toes as a result of the sepsis but im told I was very lucky not to loose both hands and feet, or even both my legs, as is often the case with severe sepsis