Danielle Wallin
04/01/2008
As Step Two of a three-step plan, the young, but experienced owners of Elisabeth F sought to buy a used yacht and take her through the refit process to make her their own. They wanted a high-quality boat with classic lines. Their previous yacht, a CRN from the same era, also renamed Elisabeth F, allowed them to check off Step One: buy a finished yacht and familiarize the family with the water and the yachting lifestyle. Step Two involved a deeper commitment of time and resources. A search netted what they believe is the perfect vessel for the project: a 1979 Feadship.
The owners’ former captain and current yacht manager, Vesa Kaukonen, says they wanted a classic yacht, but with modern systems and functional amenities. He helped them find just the right candidate to fulfill Step Two. The new Elisabeth F had to handle an extended stern and swim-deck addition to accommodate all the family’s watersports. She also needed enough space to fit the whole family and friends.
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Stepping aboard the now-174-foot Elisabeth F, it’s abundantly clear the owners got what they wished for. Originally launched in 1979 as Daria, Elisabeth F went through several iterations before her most recent incarnation as Avante IV. The 10-month refit at the Pendennis shipyard in England successfully blended her classic charm with a contemporary flair.
"The owners were in tears after receiving the first picture of
her afloat," Kaukonen says. "They love being by the water, and the new stern is
perfect for it."; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Photograph by Vesa Kaukonen. (Click image to enlarge)
Walking aft, you immediately notice a newly installed teak
deck, a dark, semi-circular bar, a large round table that seats nine and loose,
dark-colored Dedon wicker furniture with white cushions that show off the 16
feet added during the refit. The large aft deck that extends from the original
Feadship stern runs down and out to a well-equipped swim platform complete with
an outdoor shower, an indoor dayhead and changing room, and dive gear and toy
storage. For easy water access, twin sea stairs, a diving board and a new
passerelle also were added. Looking at Elisabeth F’s profile, you would
never guess she didn’t always sport this bonus space aft. The addition was
designed by De Voogt Yacht Services and seamlessly executed by Pendennis.
Out of view, the stern received a new stainless steel anchor pocket for a stern anchor, complete with a windlass and chain locker. This addition is unusual for a yacht this size, especially on a refit.
With interior design by UK-based Design Unlimited in
conjunction with the owners’ interior consultant Peter Mikic, Elisabeth F emerged from the yard with a refreshingly bright, sophisticated
cottage-like décor. The main deck received a full makeover. Mikic and Design
Unlimited styled the salon in white and neutral sofas and chairs and low tables.
The space has a clear sightline to the dining room. Throughout the main deck,
sixties-retro furniture, glossy white-planked overheads, light sienna
silk-paneled walls, plantation shutters with each blade covered in white
leather, whitewashed wainscoting and stained wide-planked European walnut floors
continue the contemporary cottage vibe.
The dining room before and after. Top photograph by Vesa Kaukonen. (Click images to enlarge); function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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Passing from the main salon through an expansive new entry
flanked by bright white shelves filled with books and colorful art, you arrive
in the dining area. The dining space feels private from the rest of the main
deck, but also open with sightlines aft and out. Removal of the original
dividing bulkhead and doors between the two areas achieved that more spacious
orientation. The samewhite bookshelves from the main salon double as storage and
lighted display shelves in the dining area. The sharp-lined, dark wood dining
table seats 12 beneath two modernized sixties-style light fixtures. Hand-painted
de Gournay wallpaper covers the recessed walls above the low-profile built-in
buffet. This dramatic focal point also conceals storage on the other side of the
bulkhead.
Just forward of the dining room is an original Andy Warhol "Dollar Sign" painting, reportedly created by the artist in response to the question: "How do you make money?" Beyond the Warhol artwork is the striking, dark, nautical dayhead, designed by Design Unlimited and Mikic and built by Struik & Hamerslag. The wall along the corridor between the dayhead, VIP and master suite displays framed black-and-white family photos.
The VIP stateroom retains some of its original fittings, including the honey-colored drawers, which exude a glowing warmth and comfort amid the white leather headboard and white linen comforter atop the king-size berth.Makeover plans in the master suite called for a total refit. Among other swap-outs, they moved walls and replaced the gold finish. Now the room exudes an angular, modern ambiance with chrome fittings, silk wallpaper and silk-wrapped bulkhead panels, white fabrics and low-profile, European walnut furniture. The master bath, which acquired extra space and a full-size tub in the wall movement and wardrobe removal, metamorphosed into a minimalist masterpiece, with its white rectangular vanity and sink, Thassos white gloss limestone and polished stainless steel and chrome accents.
Belowdecks, the owners made sure they had plenty of room for
their six children and friends. Two doubles with queen berths and four twin
singles with Pullmans guarantee sleeping space for a crowd. The lower deck
wasn’t completely overhauled, but it did benefit from lots of updating. All the
lower-level wall panels got a fresh layer of light-colored silk, and all the
guest staterooms received teak bathrooms, each with a different bold color on
the walls and in the shower stalls. The colorful bathrooms are set off nicely by
light carpeting, light wood furnishings and white linens.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The updated main salon has plenty of seating for
all. (Click image to enlarge)
Revamped crew quarters round out the refit below. This area’s
freshening includes new floors throughout, new bathroom and shower fittings, new
mattresses and better lighting.
The sun deck delivers a pleasant surprise: a wooden
Japanese-style hot tub (ofuro) made by household furniture designer
William Garvey. For soaking up the sun, multiple comfy dark Dedon wicker
loungers and armchairs with thick white cushions are arranged neatly around the
deck. Exercise equipment shares the space for alfresco workouts.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
A revamped twin. (Click image to enlarge)
On the bridge deck, the sliding doors and adjacent bulkheads
between the skylounge and the aft deck were removed all the way across to create
an indoor/outdoor space. In bad weather, a clear drape protects the interior. In
good weather, a huge cinema screen drops down and the deck speakers kick in for
a surround sound movie night.
In the skylounge, black-checkered flooring and outdated
furnishings were replaced with wide teak soles, vertical wengé timber planks on
the outboard bulwarks and gloss-white panels forward for contrast. A high-gloss
black bar topped in oiled teak, paired with stylish dark Dedon deck furniture
with white cushions replaced the ho-hum furnishings of Avante IV. The
effect is bold and sophisticated, yet very inviting.
The master suite and bath gave up their gold trim and a closet to
make way for a bright white, spacious bathroom and comfy, contemporary
master. Top photograph by Vesa Kaukonen. (Click images to enlarge); function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
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The new teak deck off the skylounge provides a table that seats
18 guests, some along a settee and the rest in freestanding chairs. If dining by
day, a foldout canopy covers the eating area. Large, built-for-two Dedon
circular deck chairs beckon relaxation, either for sunning or cozying up for an
evening of cinema under the stars. The design of the new spiral staircase was
taken from the last Elisabeth F and installed between the skydeck and
main deck, where previously there was no outdoor access between the two
levels.
The pilothouse got a new sofa and helm chairs and a new monitoring system. What gets monitored also received an overhaul. Pendennis modified the navigation light system and control panel to meet the latest regulations and to serve Elisabeth F’s added length. Electronic propulsion control and monitoring systems replaced the old analog systems. The main engines and diesel generators were completely cleaned and rebuilt, as was the windlass. The freshwater, black water and gray water tanks underwent inspection, cleaning and painting. New freshwater boilers were installed. Elisabeth F also received a new foremast to accommodate the additional lights needed for her increased length. Two new low-profile deck cranes do the heavy lifting. Her Sea Tel VSAT satellite system is brand-new, as is her Transas chartplotter. The yard removed the Sat B dome and its mast spreader to improve the profile and gain more space on the sun deck.In the office off the bridge are more visible upgrades to Elisabeth F. This is where the captain and crew monitor all the new entertainment systems, including the 1,000-plus DVD database, the music library, the new CCTV system and the broadband Wi-Fi. A newspaper printer also resides here for printing the 600 international papers to which the yacht subscribes—a plus for prospective charterers.
On Thursday, July 12, 2007, Elisabeth F completed sea
trials to the satisfaction of the class surveyor. On July 17, she left the yard
in Falmouth to meet up with her owner, exactly 10 months after arriving at Port
Pendennis Marina as Avante IV.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
A screen drops down from the wide-open skylounge for movies on
the bridge deck. (Click image to enlarge)
When asked about the biggest challenge of the refit, Captain Jim Aladin, who joined Elisabeth F for the final three months
of the project, says: "To complete it so we could pick up the owner. As nine out
of ten refits/builds are delayed, the crew was working sixteen-hour days in the
end, then a three-day passage from the [United Kingdom] to Gibraltar, eight
hours to prepare for the owner, then six weeks straight cruising. We had a
fantastic cruise, and the owners were over the moon."
"It’s all about immediate problem-solving and quick decision making when you refit an old yacht in such a fast schedule," says Kaukonen. "The pre-planning was limited because the ownership was transferred only two months before the yacht arrived at the Pendennis yard. The owners were deeply involved in following the refit. We were in daily contact. It’s great to have owners who are so in love with their yacht and keen to be involved, but [who will] still take advice from their people."
Was it all worth it?
"The Elisabeth F extension is a 110 percent success," Aladin concludes.
With a beautiful execution of Step Two—the refit—one can only wonder how long it will be until Step Three: the new build.
| Yacht Name: | Elisabeth F |
| Yacht Year: | 1979/2007 |
| Yacht Type: | Motor Yacht |
| Builder: | Feadship |
| Interior Design: | Design Unlimited/Peter Mikic |
| Draft: | 10' 1" (3.07m) |
| LOA (Actual length): | 173' 8" (52.93m) |
| LWL (Length of water line): | 160' 5" (48.90m) |
| Max Speed: | 16 kts |
| Cruise Speed: | 14 kts |
| Range: | 4,500 nm |
| Beam: | 20' 4" (6.20m) |
| Architecture: | De Voogt Naval Architects |
| Hull Material: | Steel |
| Superstructure Material: | Aluminum |
| Exterior Design: | De Voogt Naval Architects |
| Fuel Capacity: | 17,380g (65,790.46L) |
| Classification: | ABS |
| Engines: | 2x 1,125-hp Caterpillar D399 |
| Generators: | 2x Caterpillar 3306 engines coupled to G&M alternators, 181 hp |
| Air conditioning: | Heinen & Hopman |
| Shore power: | Atlas SPUL 100KX 633-HL-MD |
| Watermarker: | HEM, 2,640 U.S. gal (12,000 L) per day |
| Bow thruster: | Schottel S31LK, 74 hp |
| Stabilizers: | VT Marine 3L Mk IV |
| Paint: | Awlgrip, applied by Rolling Stock |
| Deck Windlass: | Steen YMA22 |
| Tenders: | 2x Novurania Q560 (18'/5.6 m) w/150-hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboards |
