When Dick Schmidt decided it was time for a new boat, he couldn’t have
realized the ripple effect his decision would create. Ultimately it resulted in
Newcastle Marine building its biggest expedition boat to date, Novurania adding
a new model to its tender line and Schmidt getting a suite with a spectacular
sea view.
 Schmidt enjoyed his old boat, True North, a 118-foot
Broward, but got an itch to cruise farther and stay longer. To fulfill that
desire, he needed a different boat, one with some serious seagoing chops that
had sufficient tankage and food storage capabilities. He found a candidate at
the 2003 Fort Lauderdale boat show in Newcastle’s 125-foot expedition-style
yacht, but his needs required something a bit larger. (Click image to enlarge)| Click on the Spec tab at top to see complete list of resources. |
Schmidt was ready to build his next True North. The
137-foot steel-and-aluminum yacht would be the PalmCoast, Florida, yard’s
largest build, and the quoted 24-month build schedule stretched to 35 months.
The delays, due to vendor issues, were overcome to everyone’s satisfaction.
Schmidt and his veteran captain/project manager Durk Offringa weren’t in a
hurry, and their patience paid off. The extra time in the yard allowed Offringa
and his crew to perfect many details usually left until the sea trials. Schmidt
said: "The generator had 150 hours on it by the time the boat was delivered. We
used the crane a few times and got used to it." It also allowed them time to set
up the compressor-equipped dive room in the lazarette.
Top: The dining area sits adjacent to the salon. Middle: The North Star is
interpreted in multiple marbles in the foyer floor. Bottom: The salon has three
separate spaces for entertaining. (Click images to enlarge)
As with the 125, DeJong and Lebet provided the naval
architecture and Luiz de Basto did the interior/exterior design. Most of the
added length shows up in the 10 feet added to the well deck, while the other 2.5
feet widened the swim platform. They had been towing a 32-foot center-console
fishing boat behind the Broward, but with the distances they would now be
traveling, they didn’t want to tow anymore, Offringa said.He told Novurania that he needed a high-performance boat that
could take them offshore fishing and diving. "It had to have an open transom and
operate on diesel, so we could fuel it from the big boat," Offringa said. Novurania designed a 31-foot, 11-inch boat for True
North with a Protex foam collar instead of inflatable tubes. Powered by a
350-hp Volvo engine with a Duoprop drive, Novurania called it the Chase and put
it into production. A Hobie 18 to satisfy Schmidt’s sailing needs and three PWC
share True North’s well deck. All are boarded by a MarQuipt crane. Offringa convinced Schmidt to locate the owner’s suite abaft
the bridge, rather than lower on the main deck. "Build it for yourself,"
Offringa advised. He didn’t want Schmidt to design for resale at the expense of
his own pleasure. With 270-degree views, the dual-purpose space has entrances
from the amidships foyer into the sleeping area and from the aft deck into the office. Separation is achieved with a retractable headboard that partitions
the spaces, or by closing the doors on either side. The suite is elegantly
finished in dark mahogany accented with mahogany burl inlays, the theme used
throughout the yacht. A large his-and-hers bath, with walk-ins on either side of
the suite, features counters and soles of honey onyx with a portoro marble
trim.
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