Steel yachts are just as much a part of the Netherlands as tulips, tomatoes, windmills, jenever and bitterballen. People stand by their traditions. However, this does not mean that our neighbours sail around with "old hats". The days when every second "Dutchman" knew how to build a proper boat and did so are long gone.
There are now new production techniques, better materials and plenty of creative minds who are putting their ideas into practice. The premise of "simple workmanship and as much space as possible for as little money as possible" is out; anyone looking for a Dutch steel yacht today wants anything but a grey mouse. Innovation is the order of the day. And that applies to all aspects.
King Customer demands a boat that he can be seen with, one that is rock solid and functional, as well as attractive and comfortable.
Fine woods and fabrics, an owner's suite with a view of the sea, separate bathrooms for guests, a fully equipped galley in which the smut would prefer to spend the night, air conditioning and a retractable flat screen are high on the wish list. Nowadays, the interior has to be classy and chic, "Gelsenkirchen baroque" was the day before yesterday.
Zero-eight-fifteen has also long been a thing of the past when it comes to drives and navigation. People want state-of-the-art technology and are prepared to plunder their bank accounts for it. Nevertheless, conventional shaft systems are still the first choice, which is due to the fact that 90 per cent of the steel yachts built are designed as displacement yachts and can cope perfectly with a reversing gear, shaft and rudder blade.
Whether the diesel engines in the perfectly soundproofed engine compartment need to have 50, 100 or 200 hp depends on the size and weight of the boat and what the owner wants to do with it. If the owner wants to navigate coastal waters and/or the Rhine against the current, even in uncertain weather, this is not possible without powerful engines and modern navigation electronics such as GPS, radar and plotters.
And what about harbour and lock manoeuvres? Here, joystick-controlled bow and stern thrusters actually help everyone but the divorce lawyers.
In other words, the sleepless nights, nightmares and marital crises of the "crew" have decreased significantly with the invention of these things. People (and women) are having fun boating again.
The commitment of the steel yacht builders, who respond to the wishes of potential owners, is also a pleasure. They know that: If you want to be successful on the market, you have to be flexible and innovative. If you look at the "guild" as a whole, it has a portfolio (previously known as a collection of objects) that leaves hardly a wish unfulfilled.
For those who always think big, there are flybridge yachts whose "fine suit" can easily keep up with the plastic competition from England and Italy in terms of elegance.
Old-fashion fans will find attractive models in the classic and retro lines that some shipyards have in their programme.
The trend towards "small" boats (8 to 9 metres), which some well-known shipyards are pursuing, is also noteworthy here.
Do you love to be together? OK model ranges are particularly popular with owners who want to travel without children. To understand:OK means Open Kuipwhich translates as "open cockpit". OK owners forego the aft cabin and instead enjoy the benefits of an open cockpit, which is only separated from the saloon by large sliding doors and is thus a terrace on the water.
Of course, "steel constructors" also think about people who have nothing to do with the discovery of slowness. The solution to the problem is calledAluminium and turbodiesel in a double pack. If you want or have both, you can make rapid progress if necessary, but don't forget that you can't get D-train speed for a penny.
All professional sceptics who immediately think of "rust buckets" and red lead when they hear the word "steel yacht" should be told that the quality of the sheet metal (that's what rolled metal is called) is significantly better than it was twenty years ago. What's more, the days of welding torches, acetylene and oxygen are long gone.
Today you cut with Plasma or laser technology and welds with shielding gas - this guarantees dimensional accuracy and dimensional stability. An effective remedy against the nightmare of "rust bucking" are modernTwo-component colour systemsthat offer outstanding corrosion protection. One more reason to be optimistic about the future.
"To be successful in the long term, we have to recognise trends tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and look for and find new markets," says Bart Bouwhuis, Head of Designers, Naval Architects and Engineers at yacht developer Vripack.
"OurRecipe for success", he reveals to the author of these lines, "innovation combined with the art of listening and understanding, our quality is the combination of skill and enthusiasm."
That makes us curious. We are excited to see what the Dutch yacht builders will do next. We show you a little foretaste of "Future made in Nederland" here:
STEELER
"We leave out kitsch," says Steeler boss Hans Webbing, "the people who build your boat are real experts with the ambition to design yachts whose enjoyment factor lies in functional and comfortable innovation."
Sounds good. And it looks good too. So good that Steeler yachts 2015 and 2016 as European Power Boat of the Year have been honoured. Whether Steeler can win the "triple" with its new NG 57S remains to be seen.
"Custom-built" is more than just a buzzword at Steeler. The idea for the construction of the NG 57 arose from the desire of an NG 50 owner for something larger. The living space on board was to increase, but the saloon was always to take centre stage.
Is that possible? Sure, you put the saloon and cockpit on the same level, open up the galley, install two master cabins equipped with a shower and toilet, and place not only two comfortable seating areas and a dining room in the saloon, but also the command centre with the helm station, from which the navigation electronics, bow and stern thruster and the 305 hp diesel are controlled. Info: www.steeleryachts.com
SK-JACHTBOUW
They can also listen. Sure, they can do what they do. Nobody can or wants to deny the people from Sneeker Meer their craftsmanship. But they can do much more. Their greatest strength, they say themselves, is their ability to listen to their customers' wishes. And they obviously no longer want to live "underground".
You can hear and be amazed: SK has simply raised the saloon and cockpit floor of the Pilot 1350 - with great effort and success - by 25 cm.
successfully - by 25 cm. This transforms the saloon sofa into a "viewing platform", the cabin underneath has become much more spacious, there is more storage space, and the engine compartment now offers plenty of room for installations and, on top of that, other options when it comes to the choice of engine, which the 150 hp "placeholder" from Volvo Penta likes less than the potential buyer.
The Pilot 1350 is a robust boat that can be used in all weathers. For those who prefer a smaller boat, the open aft convertible version of the 1350 is a suitable alternative. Incidentally, the bow cabin, shower room and kitchen are available for both. Info: www.sk-jachtbouw.nl
GROUWSTER VLET
Only the best is good enough. The only thing that is standard on a Grouwster Vlet, writes the shipyard's webmaster, is the use of the best materials. If you read on, you will learn that the special thing about a Grouwster Vlet is that it is customised to its owner. Everything fits like a glove.
In other words: all wishes are fulfilled. No wonder when the customer is his own interior designer - if that's what he wants. The yacht builders from Grou ensure that they keep pace with the latest developments in technology and interior design.
It goes without saying that a Grouwster Vlet has excellent sailing characteristics. The new Kotter advertises itself with a jogged, i.e. overlapping welded round bilge hull. It is available in steel and aluminium and can be equipped with two engines on request. In the standard layout, the bow cabin, saloon, galley and cockpit set the tone. Info: www.grouwstervlet.de
SMELNE
Well grown. A small workshop where rowing boats were "cobbled together" became a modern shipyard with its own marina. This was not always easy and took almost fifty years. Today, the family business in Drachten builds cruisers, vlets and trawlers up to 15 metres in length. More than 30 models are on offer.
The most recent, the Vlet 42 OK, impresses with a mix of classic shapes and modern technology and style elements, creating invigorating contrasts. Conventional features include the multi-chine hull, the diesel engine and shaft drive and the layout of the cockpit, saloon, guest and owner's cabins, advanced corrosion protection, stainless steel fittings, bow and stern thruster, shower room, galley and integrated bathing platform. Info: www.smelne.nl
VAN DEN HOVEN
He is right. According to Bart van den Hoven, a yacht should be able to sail anywhere: in the Norwegian fjords, around the UK, in the Mediterranean and to the Canary Islands. The brief is clear, and the result that designer Willem Nieland has brought to the computer is impressive.
Its dynamic lines are intended to make the Van den Hoven 66 unmistakable, without standing in contrast to the timeless trawler
trawler characteristics, which promise functionality and lasting value. Van den Hoven knows what a 20-metre yacht needs; on the plus side, there is an XXL-sized fly, a saloon that forms a single unit with the cockpit and galley, as well as the obligatory dinghy garage. Overnight accommodation is provided in two cabins, both of which have a spacious bathroom, and in the "children's room". Info: www.bvandenhovenjachtbouw.nl
JETTEN
"I proudly present ..." Petra Jetten is proud and happy that the first boat in the new Beach series can be seen in the water. "A lot of work and passion went into it," writes the PR and marketing manager at Jetten Shipyard to everyone who needs to know.
It is also worth knowing that the Beach 45 is built entirely to superyacht standards. Responsible for this are Cor. D. Rover and the Naval Architects of Van Oossanen, who (almost) everyone in the world of large yachts knows. Jetten is setting itself new goals and wants to emphasise this by renaming Jetten Yachting to Jetten Shipyard.
The type designation Beach stands for laziness, well-being and safety on board. The aim is to bring the beach house feeling to the boat. Large windows, a sliding roof and the retractable window between the saloon sofa and cockpit are designed to help achieve this. "If we give the owner and his guests the feeling of sitting right on the beach, we've done everything right," says Petra Jetten.
Nor does she want to conceal the advantage that the private beach can be moved quickly (20 knots) with two 600 hp diesel engines in the "Sandburg". The owner is in charge of the layout and interior design - he has a free choice of furniture, fabrics and woods. Info: www.jettenshipyard.de
YACHTYARD B. DE GROOT
A case for two. The Pikmeer 40 OC is the ideal boat for a couple who want to travel in comfort. This is the conclusion reached by BOOTE tester Ralf Marquard in his Driving report (BOOTE 5/2016). Due to its low clearance height, it is well suited for canals. However, with a range of around 600 nm and CE category B classification, longer trips at sea are also possible. The bow cabin, bathroom, kitchen and deck saloon ensure comfort in every case.
If you want to go higher, order the 48 AC and get a two metre longer boat with aft and forward cabin, saloon, galley, dinette, two bathrooms, poop deck, a folding equipment carrier and the outside steering position. Both boats have a Deutz diesel engine with a conventional shaft system in the engine compartment. Info: www.pikmeerkruiser.de
DE BOARNSTREAM
Everyone starts small. That's why the premiere tour of the Elegance series from De Boarnstream started in 2013 with the 1100 and 1300 models. Today, just three years later, the big sisters, the 1500 and 1700, and the 1200 are also on the market. Whether flybridge or sedan, they are all elegant. They radiate power and beauty, writes BOOTE tester Peter Lässig in his Driving report (BOOTE 7/2015).
Because King Customer sometimes wants or needs to get from A to B a little faster, the Hockwerdas (father Henk and daughter Wies) have invented the express version. However, the tuning remains invisible at first glance. They swapped steel bodies for aluminium ones and the standard diesel soloist for a twin pack.
At the top of the list are two 435 hp turbodiesels. This gives Elegance 1300 Express a speed of 22 knots. Respect! How it looks below deck is largely determined by the owner, who is offered a standard guest and owner's cabin with comfortable double beds, two separate bathrooms and the saloon, where the helm station and kitchen are located. Info: www.boarnstream.com
DE ALM JACHTBOUWERS
Don't know where to go? Never mind, the Grand Voyager 74 will take you anywhere. With its solid construction, full equipment and 10,000 litres (!) of diesel in its belly, it knows no limits. It's not just the two 300 hp Perkins diesels that have what it takes for a marathon cruise. Werner Yacht Design's brief was for a motor yacht that could be easily and safely sailed by two people in all climate zones and weather conditions.
What you don't see are five cabins, the galley with its elegant dinette, table and chairs in the wheelhouse and the second helmstand on the XXL flybridge. Fancy a look at the equipment list? Stabilisers, generator, air conditioning, titanium anchor, radar, satellite telephone and internet, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer are standard. And even though the Voyager is a Dutch steel yacht, the orange
orange hull colour, there is more than just one alternative. Info: www.alm-jachtbouw.nl
LINSSEN
It stays in the family: anyone who talks or writes about steel yachts will sooner or later end up talking about Linssen. The career of the yacht builders from the Meuse is legendary. After training as a ship's carpenter, Jac. Linssen founded the Scheepswerft and Houtindustrie St. Jozef Jac. Linssen, which initially produced and sold wheelhouses made of solid teak and steering wheels with a patented hub construction. With success.
In the seventies, Jos Linssen took over from his father in the boardroom and successively brought his brothers Harry, Jan and Peter on board. Today, the Linssen brothers and their children are the "decision-makers" at Linssen Yachts, as the shipyard has been called since Jos joined the company. The centrepiece of the state-of-the-art production facility is the Grand Sturdy series. ( Test: Linssen Grand Sturdy 530.)
Grand Sturdy means big and strong. And that's exactly what they are, the Grand Sturdys. The "top seller" and number two when it comes to sheer size is the twin-engined GS 530 AC Variotop. It is equipped with a deck saloon, kitchen, dinette and three cabins with separate bathrooms. The highlight is the Variotop, a remote-controlled convertible developed by Jos. The same top is available for the number three, the 14.30 metre long GS 470 AC, and the GS 410 AC, which is 12.85 metres long overall.
The two "little" sisters have aft and forward cabins with comfortable double beds, two bathrooms, a slip cabin for the children, galley and dinette. They are propelled by a Volvo diesel (180/150 hp), which is positioned in front of a reversing gearbox with shaft. The diesel in the 10.70 metre long GS 350 Sedan delivers 75 hp. It is clear that this does not make it a sprinter. The concept of this yacht with a bow cabin, cockpit and a saloon with a driving position and kitchen is designed for two people. Info: www.linssenyachts.com
RHEBEN
You don't treat yourself to anything else. Although it is significantly (5 per cent) more expensive than the standard version with a multi-bent hull, the round bilge version is very popular with buyers of the Allure 1440. No wonder, it simply looks better round and smooth than multi-bent. In addition, the rounded shapes above the waterline are proof that Rheben knows its trade.
The shipyard calls the interplay of shapes, colours and perfectly crafted precious woods "timelessly elegant". The hull construction, the 6 mm thick steel used, dimensions and equipment make the Allure 1440 a robust boat for inland and coastal areas. Two cabins, comfortable beds, a shower room, kitchen, dinette, the saloon, the open cockpit and the tasteful interior provide the feel-good effect. Safe manoeuvring is ensured by the conventional drive with a 150 hp diesel engine, the bow thruster, radar, GPS, plotter, VHF radio and the non-slip teak deck. Info. www.rheben.nl
FLEVO
Do it yourself. The concept of the 66 Bonker is designed so that the owner can manage without a crew. If he wants to. If not, there is the option of a crew cabin in the stern. Otherwise, the boat offers everything you need for the "big trip". That means: a solid construction, safe movement, reliable engines (2 x 300 hp), generator, 11,000 litres of diesel, stabilisers, navigation electronics, a camera system as well as bow and stern thrusters for safe mooring manoeuvres and a top speed of 12 knots. For the "sweet life" on board, Beeldsnijder has provided the three cabins with comfortable beds, separate bathrooms and a barrier-free lift. Cooking takes place in the deck saloon, while cruising takes place in the wheelhouse or on the flybridge. Info: www.flevojachtbouw.nl
