Yup, we pulled the trigger...

My wife and I are, as they say, "the current caretakers" of the 54' Vripack formerly named Lady Galathea. We took delivery a couple weeks ago and are planning to leave Lauderdale next weekend to bring her north to her new home on the Chesapeake. Anybody else heading north next week? Wouldn't mind the company or advice. I'll post a new thread about that.

Anyway, we are long time boaters (30+yrs) and are very excited about our new little ship. We also are looking forward to the camaraderie of the Trawler Forum community.

Regards,
Vince

Congratulations and welcome,
Vripack is a serious design studio with tons of very nice work. I am not familiar with Spiroships where yours was built but the Vripacks I looked at when I was over in Holland to buy Libra looked to be of exceptionally high build quality.
Of course I love your choice of build material.

Nice!

Looks very nice! How's about some engine room pictures. I always like seeing the machinery space.

Ted

Congrats!!! Beautiful boat....Now lets talk about those huge anchors!!! LOL

Shew, is that a beauty! Looking forward to hearing more about your cruising experiences. Will you bee living aboard?

Alaskan Sea-Duction said:

Congrats!!! Beautiful boat....Now lets talk about those huge anchors!!! LOL

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Vince, don't answer that...it's a trap! I'll take care of this. You gotta watch out for these guys!

Move along ASD, those SHHP anchors will do just fine.

Dang, that is one GORGEOUS SHIP! We're gonna need a LOT more photos of her.

Wow, what a beauty! Congratulations! I love a Vripack.

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Here's some ER porn for ya OC Diver. These pics were taken during survey and most of the hoses have been replaced as well as a to of other maintenance items. Sorry about the last 2 pics. I couldn't figure out how to keep pictures from automatically rotating when I upload them.

Klee Wyck, I'm sure your little ship has similar systems. Who else does oil cooled shaft tubes but the Dutch?? on a 50 footer?? Heated towel bars?? Can't wait to feel these Koop Nautic stabilizers do their thing. They were very impressive during sea trials but needed some bearing attention. After a complete rebuild, they spin like a top.

Anxious to get underway.
I'll keep you all posted on our progress.

OK, I now have very serious boat envy.

Welcome Vince.

Congratulations. I admired the listing of your boat, but never got aboard. Looking forward to more of your observations.

Good Luck

Welcome aboard. Beautiful.

Beautiful boat! Great interior spaces and love the engine room.

One thing that's nice about bigger boats is a bigger engine room. Love to get down there and tinker.

Very nice ship. What are the roller looking things on the stern?

Very nice engine room! To me, the engine room speaks to the quality of the design, execution of the builder, and the maintenance by the previous owners.

Ted

fryedaze said:

Very nice ship. What are the roller looking things on the stern?

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The boat has a really unique but very effective stabilizer system engineered by the stabilizer master Ted Koop and made by KoopNautics. You can see them in the haul out picture. They are the large horizontal cylinder looking things at the transom below the waterline. During our sea trial it was 8ft. close seas and when we engaged the stabilizers, there was no roll. They also work at anchor, but we have to run one engine that drives the hydraulics.

They spin both directions hydraulically to use the Magnus Effect to counteract the roll.

See the video

Wow. What a boat! I remember lusting over that listing before!

Very nice, Congratulations!

Congrats, beautiful boat. Enjoyed the vid on the mangnus.

klee wyck said:

Vince, don't answer that...it's a trap! I'll take care of this. You gotta watch out for these guys!

Move along ASD, those SHHP anchors will do just fine.

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LOL Dang BUSTED!!!! XOXO

Vripack

What a great boat ! Our Vripack is 49 ft but single story , so much less interior space .I suspect yours is like ours designed by Dick Boon the original founder of Vripack . Many similarities to Zeemeermin. Wishing you as much fun as we are having with ours , down under !

klee wyck said:

Move along ASD, those SHHP anchors will do just fine.

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Those appear to be Pooles (HHP). So Gotwex, how have your anchors performed - have you stressed them in heavy conditions yet?

Mako said:

Those appear to be Pooles (HHP). So Gotwex, how have your anchors performed - have you stressed them in heavy conditions yet?

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They have performed quite well. Worst conditions with them (original ones) were in sustained 30 knot winds for 4-5 hours one night and a 40 knot squall that hit once for 30-45 mins. Just upgraded the Pooles to a pair of Mason anchors that are 50% heavier. Went for the bling factor as well as more security with the higher weight.

That is one nice looking vessel. Maybe we'll bump into you up here on the Chesapeake. if it were me I'd hang around the nice weather for 60-90 days and then bring her up. No rush to get up here and freeze your stern off.

@Gotwex, what is your length and displacement, and the weight of the new Manson kedge? Thanks.

Congratulations

Beautiful boat. Keep the phots coming.

John T

Mako said:

@Gotwex, what is your length and displacement, and the weight of the new Manson kedge? Thanks.

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54'L and she weighs 75,000 lbs. The Mansons are 75kg. (165lbs.). Also using Suncor SO 190-020 swivels that weigh 10lbs each.

dhays said:

OK, I now have very serious boat envy.

Welcome Vince.

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Serious - although even serious sounds somewhat inadequate for mine...