Having enjoyed your discussions for about a year, I thought I might post something about ourselves, even though we probably don't have "a trawler".
We live in Havelock in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, and are sort of part-time liveaboards in the summer.
Our boat is a Dutch steel "Kotter", by Vripack, built in 2003. The design is based on a traditional Dutch coastal fishing vessel. She is 49 ft, weighs 33 tonnes, powered by a single John Deere 6068, carries 4000 litres of fuel, 1500 litres of water.
Zeemeermin (Mermaid) was imported from the Netherlands in 2016 on a freighter for most of the way. The last 1000 nm from Auckland she motored on her own keel.
She is an unusual sight in the marinas in NZ, as almost all boats are wooden, aluminum or fibreglass.
Having emigrated from Holland almost 40 years ago, we are enjoying a touch of home in a much warmer climate.
Wilfried
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,591
Welcome to the forum! Very nice pilothouse. What speed does she cruise at?
Ted
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Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush..... "Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
Vessel Model: Malcom Tennant 20M and Noordzee Kotter 52
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 945
Very nice! These Vripack vessels were one of the fine Dutch pedigreed vessels we were looking at when we did our deal there last year. Ours was likely on a freighter going West at the same time yours was going East.
Congratulations on this ship and welcome to the forum.
Hugues, thanks for your nice comments. Vripack is indeed one of the largest and most innovative design studios in Holland. They have done some amazing superyachts, but ours is a traditional design done by Dick Boon, the founder of Vripack. I think he is now retired.
We love the abundance of woodwork inside but are very happy to have none on the exterior. No varnishing to be done.
We thought long and hard about the name, as it is not the best one to shout in a Mayday call. In the end we decided not to challenge the traditions of the sea.
Hi Bill. What a coincidence. Our kotters must have passed each other in the middle of the Atlantic.
As we had not seen our boat in the flesh before arrival, our biggest challenge was to familiarise ourselves with the systems quickly. The man on the freighter was happy to hold the lines for 15 minutes. After stepping on board with our unfamiliar bunch of keys, that is not much time to find the seacocks, battery switches, fuel switches etc.
We spent a few days in Auckland and then went on our maiden voyage south. Fortunately everything worked as it should, and we made it safely to her new home port.
Mooie boot en leuk om te zien dat je de Nederlandse bodem blijft behouden en veel succes daar!
I Immigrated to the US 6 months ago from UK and NL of course.
Vessel Model: Malcom Tennant 20M and Noordzee Kotter 52
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 945
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeemeermin
Hi Bill. What a coincidence. Our kotters must have passed each other in the middle of the Atlantic.
As we had not seen our boat in the flesh before arrival, our biggest challenge was to familiarise ourselves with the systems quickly. The man on the freighter was happy to hold the lines for 15 minutes. After stepping on board with our unfamiliar bunch of keys, that is not much time to find the seacocks, battery switches, fuel switches etc.
We spent a few days in Auckland and then went on our maiden voyage south. Fortunately everything worked as it should, and we made it safely to her new home port.
Wil,
Your photos of the pilothouse and the cargo ship disembarking are so familiar. I have one boat that has a pilot house that is similar to yours which shows such great visibility even to aft. That is Klee Wyck and is also from NL designed by Peter Beelsnijder and built in the Lowland/Nethship yard.
Libra was built in the Jachwerf van Wezel-Heijen yard. Both in the late 80s.
Libra has less visibility especially aft, but much more suited to withstand boarding seas. Klee Wyck is 28 tons and Libra is 57 tons.
Both are a joy as I am sure yours will be for you.
I had the benefit of several hours aboard Libra in NL during the survey and sea trial in April but had only a foggy memory by the time she arrived here in August so was also ill prepared to operate her as you say. We were as you according to the picture, standing by on a tender to board our new vessel as they dropped her into the water from her transport ship. Our maiden voyage was further complicated by severely contaminated biodiesel. Your trip to home port sounds like much more pleasant but we survived ours. I am sure it is the same for you in that all of this was an experience we shall long remember.
Photos here are three of Klee Wyck and two of Libra during her trip to North America. For Libra, first is loading after arriving Antwerp Harbor, Belgium via canals from Elburg NL. Second is unloading where we take over in North America.
I know the excitement you experience. Best wishes for safe and wonderful cruising your excellent new kotter.
City: Ex-Brisbane, (Australia), now Bribie Island, Qld
Vessel Name: Now boatless - sold 6/2018
Vessel Model: Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,055
Welcome to the forum, good to have another Kiwi on here. Lovely vessel, and boy, what a place to have her. I am a native born Kiwi myself, now in Australia, but I often regret I did not pursue my initial reaction when I passed through that part of the world on my way to Dunedin to Medical School, and return to Picton or Havelock to practice once I qualified.
One of the most picturesque places on the planet in my view - and that of untold others.
Welcome to the forum.
Love your boat which would (unfortunately) be too big for us.
We imported a Swedish Nimbus 380 Commander from N.Ireland just before last Christmas which we keep, at present, at Hobsonville Marina. We have ambitions to bring her round East Cape and down the Wairarapa Coast at some stage. It would be great to spend a few months in the Sounds. We have a soft spot for Picton.
We have much exploring of the Tauranga to North Cape area to be done first.
Fair winds and safe harbours. .... G
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