Since 2011, when Royal Huisman renewed its focus on refit, repair and renewal, the word about Huisfit has been spreading constantly. The division reports steady growth in yachts year after year, appreciating Royal Huisman’s quality guarantee, competitive pricing and reliable delivery schedules.
Huisfit by Royal Huisman
Not to mention the exceptional facilities in Vollenhove and its deepwater locations in Harlingen, or the comprehensive support package for crews and owners’ advisers. Whether it is a ‘cosmetic’ paint job and interior refurbishm ent, or a more complex hull extension and new systems installation, Royal Huisman is able to draw on the skills and expertise of both a dedicated refit team and the wider resources of its new-build capability.
With four maintenance and renewal projects conducted in Holland (Flyer One Yacht, SAMURAI, Heartbeat, Juliet) and a fifth carried out by the Huisfit team in Antibes (Borkumriff IV), it has been a very busy time for the shipyard’s refit department so far this year.
Furthermore, motor yacht Skat and Hyperion yacht recently arrived in Holland to start their refit programmes and Huisfit is pleased to announce that Athena has signed up for Huisfit support in the Med the coming fall/winter season. In addition, Adèle has booked a slot for 2015-2016.
Sailing Yacht FLYER ONE delivered
A performance-oriented project, and a highly nostalgic one for Huisfit, the 20m/65ft ketch Flyer designed by Sparkman & Stephens was launched by Royal Huisman in 1976 for the late Conny van Rietschoten. The renowned Dutch sailor (who sadly passed away at the end of last year aged 87) famously raced the yacht to victory in the 1977-1978 Whitbread Round the World Race.
Flyer One before Huisfit -photo by Hans Westerink
Flyer returned to the Netherlands earlier this year after being acquired by the ‘Revival of Flyer’ foundation and having sailed more than 300,000 nautical miles as the sloop Alaska Eagle. She has been given back her ketch rig by re-stepping the mizzen mast, a deckhouse has been added and her aluminium hull has been overhauled and repainted the original dark blue.
Flyer One yacht after Huisfit - photo by Royal Huisman
The foundation ‘Revival of Flyer’ was initiated by Dutch sailor and entrepreneur Diederik Nolten, Els Vroegindewey, skipper Gerard Schootstra and Paul Wilms with the aim of returning the yacht to the country where she was built as a maritime monument under her original name. Gerry Dykstra, the founder of Dykstra Naval Architects, was navigator and watch leader aboard Flyer during the 1977-1978 Whitbread Race. Van Rietschoten went on to win the event for a second time in 1981-1982 with the Frers-designed, Huisman-built 76ft maxi sloop Flyer II.
Flyer One yacht after Huisfit -photo by Foundation Revival of the Flyer-Marlene Stoffelen
Royal Huisman has supported the initiative from the start and, now restored to her former glory, Flyer departed Vollehove this summer. She will take part in various regattas and charitable events and will also be available for charter.
Length overall 20m/65ft
Hull & Superstructure Aluminium
Build: Royal Huisman, 1977
Huisfit: 2014
Huisfit location: Vollenhove
Sailing Yacht SAMURAI in progress
The client’s mission statement to Royal Huisman was that sailing yacht SAMURAI must be beautiful, stealthy looking, very fast, elegantly comfortable, technologically advanced and unforgettable to sail. William Bishop of Yachting Partners International assisted the client with the selection of the interior designer, the creation of the exterior concept design and the choice of the refit shipyard. Yacht consultant Jens Cornelsen & Partner has undertaken the project management.
SAMURAI before Huisfit - ext photo by Hans Westerink
The conversion began with modifications to the carbon composite structure. Some carbon composite bulkheads have been re-installed to make way for an interior where once there was none. The new Japanese-inspired luxury furniture designed by Rhoades Young Design and built by Greenline Yacht Interiors is focused on being extremely lightweight yet comfortable.
SAMURAI Yacht - Huisfit - ext rendering by Rhoades Young Design
The exterior has also been revisited by Rhoades Young Design and will receive a new deckhouse and cockpits, a completely new colour scheme and decks covered with easy-tomaintain, ‘teak’ surfacing. A swim platform will be added to the transom, which will be deployed manually using a halyard, as a hydraulic system would have added unwanted weight.
Sailing Yacht SAMURAI - Huisfit - ext rendering by Rhoades Young Design
Onboard systems that the original race boat lacked (including alarm, monitoring, entertainment and navigation equipment) are being installed and high-speed hydraulic winches will substitute the manual winches. Her canting keel will be replaced with a lifting keel more suitable for cruising and access to shallow anchorages, in addition to a lightweight anchor system with a removable davit. The Huisfit team is well prepared and fully equipped to work with carbon composites where optimum performance is the driving factor (Royal Huisman is also building a 20m/65ft sailing yacht with carbon composite hull, deck, spars and standing rigging, its 35th project with Sparkman & Stephens).,As the hull and rig of SAMURAI yacht have remained largely intact, after being thoroughly checked using laser and ultrasound equipment, the focus of the Huisfit team has been on modifications to the deck and interior composite structures.
SAMURAI yacht - Huisfit - ext rendering by Rhoades Young Design
“The aim has been to convert a pure racer into a fast cruiser and still keep the weight below a certain threshold, which has been very challenging for the team,” says Royal Huisman’s design manager Jan Knol. “This has meant closely investigating the weight of both the interior and exterior components being added. Honeycomb substrates, for example, are used for the interior furniture, and titanium for items of deck gear instead of stainless steel.” The conversion of SAMURAI is scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2015.
Sailing yacht SAMURAI - Huisfit - int rendering by Rhoades Young Design
Length overall 42m /139ft
Hull & Superstructure Carbon composite
Build: JMV Industries, 2003
Huisfit: 2014 – 2015
Huisfit location: Vollenhove
Other superyachts signed up:
Huisfit - motor yacht Skat - photo Skat crew
Following on from her visit to Harlingen in 2012, the owner and captain of the motoryacht Skat were so impressed with the quality and timeliness of the refit programme, they returned for more. Work on the project has just commenced and includes:
- Servicing main engines and gensets
- Systems updates
- New teak decking for all decks
- Painting hull and superstructure
- Servicing of all transom doors, passarelle, side boarding platforms, cranes, etc.
- Overhaul of complete sewage plant
Length overall: 71m/232ft
Hull & Superstructure: Steel & aluminium
Build: Lürssen, 2002
Huisfit: 2014-2015
Huisfit location: Harlingen
Huisfit - sailing yacht Hyperion - Norway photo by Daniel Rawlins
Following a Scandinavian cruise this summer, the Royal Huisman built sloop launched in 1998 has returned to Vollenhove for a Huisfit programme with a master list that will keep her on schedule for many more years to come:
Upgrading propulsion shaft and propeller
Replacement and installation of new gensets
New main switchboard
Upgrading of navigation and communication electronics
Upgrading of PLC hardware and Alarm and Monitoring software
Maintenance, overhaul and painting of hull and superstructure
New teak decking
Length overall: 47m/156ft
Hull & Superstructure: Aluminium
Build: Royal Huisman, 1998
Huisfit: 2014-2015
Huisfit location: Vollenhove
Huisfit - Athena yacht - Malta photo by Max Cumming
Since her delivery 10 years ago, Athena has been engaged in some extensive world cruising. Taking advantage of a stopover in the Mediterranean, the Huisfit team will be taking care of:
Refinishing work on the interior varnish
Updates of the electrical systems
Rod inspection of her rig
Length overall: 90m/295ft
Hull & Superstructure: Aluminium
Build: Royal Huisman, 2004
Huisfit: 2014
Huisfit location: Palma de Mallorca
Huisfit sailing yacht Adele - photo by Adele crew
Her owner’s team has booked Adèle into Vollenhove for a 2015-2016 Huisfit, which will include:
Servicing and overhaul of propulsion, gensets, thrusters and various board systems
Climate control update incl. new chiller, fancoils and ducting
Replacement of batteries
Replacement of various existing lights with LEDs
Upgrade and replacement of various electronics (nav, com, alarm and monitoring
Interior touch-ups and repairs
New teak deck and partial replacement of the caprail
Servicing of hatches, winches and various deck equipment
Painting of inside of hull and parts of the interior
Repaint/varnish of the hull, superstructures and rig
Length overall: 55m/180ft
Hull & Superstructure: Aluminium
Build: Vitters, 2005
Huisfit: 2015-2016
Huisfit location: Vollenhove
Refit, repair and renewal defined by Royal Huisman
Summary of Huisfit’s flexible facilities:
3 climate controlled halls: 45m to 81m, with gantry cranes
Dedicated spray booths: up to 55m (masts up to 75m)
3 covered dry docks: 90m to 144m
4500 ton synchro lift: 120m
Electrical supply: up to 1000A @ 400V 50Hz
