Pre-Loved Extra - Dutch Metal

When a talented airport systems engineer starts dreaming about his best boat and takes three years to perfect the already excellent plans from the Van de Stadt Design team, the result should be good. It gets even better when the boat is built by a well-known Dutch boatyard with lots of experience in constructing aluminium yachts designed by the firm.

Aluminium offers a lot of advantages over other yachtbuilding materials. All structural connections are welded, strength to weight ratio, solid attachments for brackets and engine beds, and ease of repair or modifications. The ultimate benefit of aluminium is having an absolutely dry interior. With an aluminium deck all fittings can be welded or blind-fastened to prevent any leaks.

The owner chose aluminium as the building material for its lightness and strength, and the hull is well protected against galvanic corrosion. All contact areas with other metals (stainless steel AISI-316) are insulated. The construction materials and welding procedures are in accordance with Lloyd’s, and the aluminium is to ISO standards (Ai Mg 4.5 Mn - H321) and to international reg.no. 5083-H321. The welding was done by MIG and jig in an argon atmosphere for purity of the welds.

LIFTING KEEL
The strong bulb keel has 5.6 tons ballast and is lifted with a hydraulic ram. Keel down the draft is 2.7m giving the boat excellent stability and windward performance. Once lifted, the bottom of the keel is at the same level as the twin rudders, which makes it easy to beach the boat supported by a strong 8mm bottom plate. In any case she can happily be sailed into shallow waters with a draft of only 1.2m keel up.

The 100hp Yanmar diesel with four-blade feathering prop is more than enough to get the boat through rough patches and combined with the bowthruster manoeuvring becomes as easy as it gets for a 47-footer.

The boat has many interesting features such as the galley exhaust exiting through funnel vents integrated into the rear arch of the solid dodger on one side and the engineroom blower through it on the other side. The walk-in engineroom is big enough for working inside with ease and has a waterproof door that completely seals so no water can come in (or go out in case of internal flooding). The systems are well installed and maintenance is kept to a very high standard.

The boat has fully waterproof bulkheads in the front and aft sections, separating the interior into a safe area in case of a collision. All frames (ribs), stringers and deck beams are continuous with no seams or welds. The distance between frames is as little as 400mm in order to give maximum strength. The hull above floor level is insulated with 50mm polyethylene foam for protection against heat and cold as well as keeping noise to a minimum. An aluminium hull with this insulation is much quieter under sail or power than any fibreglass hull.

INNER CHARM
The interior is made from beautiful, light-coloured Burmese teak, which combined with the Alcantara ceiling and upholstery gives the whole boat a feeling of freshness. The keel case is cleverly hidden as part of the large settee. The galley is big and well-appointed and constructed of quality materials such as Corian.

The cockpit is ergonomic and well protected by the solid aluminium dodger inside of which is a portside helm station, with a steering mechanism totally independent from the twin wheels farther aft. The aft helms are within easy reach of the repeaters and the illuminated waterproof control buttons for all systems. The cockpit table can also be lowered to provide a large additional sleeping area.

Deck hardware and equipment are all oversized and of good quality — the electric windlass a 3500W model. The in-boom furler and electric winches make sailing easy. The sails, including staysail, are made from Spectra carbon. The list of extras is long and includes bowthruster, watermaker and washing machine, and everything is maintained to a very high standard.

There are many features that the interested buyer will discover, such as the companionway doors disappearing into the bulkhead for neatness, while the davits can be transformed into a crane. This boat suits the serious cruiser that wants safety, comfort and performance. She was launched in 2008 and is located in Brisbane.

FOR SALE
Mohea is priced at $700,000 and has a replacement value of $1.2 million. For more information, phone Anita Farine on 0423 974 474 or go to www.farine.net.au

[CREW’S VIEWS]
Dutch designed and built, Mohea was penned by Van de Stadt Design naval architects as an Image 47 upon request by the owner Helmut Weiler. The intrepid sailor spent three years cruising from Europe, across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal and traversing the Pacific to Australia. He tells us there were lots of planning in creating his dream boat and she was built to perfection.

(QuickSpecs)
VAN DE STADT
IMAGE 47
MOHEA

FOR SALE: $700,000
YEAR BUILT: 2008
BUILDER: K&M Yachtbuilders, Netherlands
MATERIAL: Aluminium
TYPE: Shoal-draft keelboat
LENGTH: 14.4m (overall); 12.9m (waterline)
BEAM: 4.2m
DRAFT: 1.2m to 2.65m (lift keel)
WEIGHT: 17.5 tons
FUEL: 750lt + 60lt day tank
WATER: 900lt
ENGINE: Yanmar diesel (1000 hours)
RATED HP: 100
SAIL AREA: 60m² (mainsail); 47m² (genoa); 18.5m² (staysail)

From Trade-a-Boat Issue 430, Aug-Sept 2012. Story: Anita Farine Photos: Anita Farine; Helmut Weiler