Yacht: "Plan B"...

Motor yacht Plan b

Anyone interested the motor yacht Plan b is sitting in Mackay ,Qld ,Australia. Now fitted with a bell helicopter sitting on the bridge deck.

More Plan B background

I don't think this info has been posted yet. One of the companies behind the conversion was De Villiers Yacht Design in NZ. From their web site, "Our brief for this project was to provide the CNC cutting information relevant to transforming this ex-survey vessel into a modern superyacht. As always with these types of projects the challenge proved to be that of dealing with the different parties involved and ultimately keeping them all happy. We were directly responsible to Culham Engineering who fabricated the new superstructure modules."

A color illustration and collection of construction photos can be found at the following site.

http://www.devilliersyachtdesign.co.nz/flinders.htm

If it was built in 72' and they STILL don'y have a site after 36 something years... lol.

Flinders Arises

yep, it's ex-Flinders, but an amazing transformation.

New skylounge or bridge or ???. To see her as Flinders, the yacht-conversion of the cutter, go to www.charterworld.com/index.html?sub=yacht-charter&charter=motor-yacht-flinders-593.

Nice... I just recognized the photos in the page you posted. That boat and it's pics are in the latest Dupont Registry - Boats Edition. (they have home, car, and boat ones, for those whom don't know)

Hi,

The yacht conversion wasn't done in '72.

Don't think many Military Vessels from that era have their own websites either.

Thats a very clever nameplate / logo design.

Here she is in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Very jealous

Thanks for the pic smithym.

And welcome to YF.com.

PLAN b

okay where do i start , i worked on the plan b at atlantic drydock in jacksonville florida, this is where it had it's second make over, while in j'ville it had whole new super structure and paint. the first owner was a newzelander who bought it from austrailian govt, the ship was a naval surveying ship and it was the flinders, the first mate of the plan b actually was stationed on this ship during his service to the australian navy the crew has two aussies an the rest newzelanders exept the last sign on he is from europe,,, this yacht has alot of goodies you cant see in the front hold between the two boats on the bow you will see a crane it is used for a miniture sub that is in her hold at the stern where the name plan b is it is cleverly discuised 30 ton winch on the top deck above the helipad it is a workout room and and as you step out to the front of that cabin there is a large hot tub sauna,, this yacht is a exploration yacht and you wont believe who owns it, the crew are a pretty good lot oh i forgot there are a couple of americans onboard one is a retired us navy deepsea diver and the other is a specialist in underwater submersibles i guess he is the sub driver and they are out of california so is the owner but if you have any questions do ask but this is one cool boat.

PLAN b

okay where do i start , i worked on the plan b at atlantic drydock in jacksonville florida, this is where it had it's second make over, while in j'ville it had whole new super structure and paint. the first owner was a newzelander who bought it from austrailian govt, the ship was a naval surveying ship and it was the flinders, the first mate of the plan b actually was stationed on this ship during his service to the australian navy the crew has two aussies an the rest newzelanders exept the last sign on he is from europe,,, this yacht has alot of goodies you cant see in the front hold between the two boats on the bow you will see a crane it is used for a miniture sub that is in her hold at the stern where the name plan b is it is cleverly discuised 30 ton winch on the top deck in front of the helipad it is a workout room and and as you step out to the front of that cabin there is a large hot tub sauna,,two decks down from that on the bck of that deck their is a portable movie theatre this yacht is a exploration yacht and you wont believe who owns it, the crew are a pretty good lot oh i forgot there are a couple of americans onboard one is a retired us navy deepsea diver and the other is a specialist in underwater submersibles i guess he is the sub driver and they are out of california so is the owner but if you have any questions do ask but this is one cool boat.

their is only one owner well i guess there is two if you count his wife and her dog

Plan B

Private adventure. 2nd refit in Atlantic. Can you say top of the line?

yes it was top of the line as far as i could see

$$$

How much money can we estimate to buy this kind of used navy survey boat and to refit just like this? The exterior finishing looks great though.

think in more than 2 figure million with first number higher than 4 ;D

What submersible is onboard?

cost of ship

i was told that the ship was purchased for $800.000 from austrailian govt thats all i no.

sub on plan b

if you look at the photo's of plan b their are two boats and a crane in the middle of them, there is a hatch there and in the hold there is a small submarine. i no this first hand because i helped lower it into the hold.

More background

Hey all, I'm new to the site and thought I'd add a little more background on Plan B.

As you've pretty much figured out she was originally built for the Royal Australian Navy as a hydrographic survey vessel, launched in 1972 as HMAS Flinders and decomissioned in 1998. She and her sister ship HMAS Moresby were replaced with two vessels, HMAS Leeuwin and HMAS Melview built by NQEA in Cairns, launched in 1997/98 and commissioned in 2000. I was involved in the project for both vessels.

After Flinders was decommissioned she was sold to a New Zealand businessman and underwent a major re-fit program over about 3 years in Whangarei, about 2.5 Hrs north of Auckland, New Zealand. I was involved in the project that was overseen and managed by the ships owners (name withheld). The original hull was retained albeit with a slightly modified bow but ALL of the superstructure from the main deck-up was replaced. Interestingly the original bridge cabin served as a site office during the re-fit and I understand was sold afterwards on Trademe (NZ version of eBay).

Most of the interiors where done by TBW Design and custom fittings built by Specialized Marine Interiors, both in Whagarei. There was some final fit out and paintwork done here in Auckland toward the end of the project.

She departed NZ shores September 2004 for a planned 2-year circumnavigation and, as I understand it, was sold to the present owners after they chartered her in Sth America somewhere, apparently fell in love with her and made what by all accounts was a very attractive offer. I must admit I was a little gutted when I heard this as the owners were so passionate about the re-fit as it was to be their boat, taking so long and being intimately involved at every detail... only to sell her off so quickly...

She then underwent a further re-fit in the US, most notably the enclosed space above the bridge that was originally and outdoor dining area and a complete re-paint (I prefer the original scheme personally). Not sure about the submersible though since directly below the spot it's supposed to be in is some of the crew quarters and stores plus the structural parts of the fwd crane. I could be wrong but if I was, the sub would have to be pretty small to fit in the space.

The same owners also did a "trial-run" refit prior to Flinders on an ex Greek Sea tug "Asteri" which I believe is now named "Asteria"

I have a whole heap of images of Flinders after the NZ re-fit, will dig them out of archives and post a few here soon.