Author Archives: rdw
Custom fabrication of ramping rabbit shaped water sea filter for MY Mimi #mymimi #benetti #benettiyachts #yachtrefit #yachtrefitting #weldingfabrication @stpshipyard
An american classic.
In early november, our team faced a hull repair project on an american sailing yacht classic built in 1983. The yacht, built entirely in aluminium by the prestigious house Palmer Johnson; renowned by their luxurious yachts made with technologies and materiales ahead of their time. Beginning with their aluminium boats in 1961 and more recently with their carbon fibre hulls.
[Palmer Johnson sailyacht]
Our yacht, a 26m long (84ft.) sailyacht with an amazing classic interior and a very-well-thought construction. The only issue we could find on board was in the keel. Specifically in the bow of the yacht where almost 4 tons of ballast in lead ingots were laying almost bare on the aluminium plate. This caused what is known as ‘galvanic’ or ‘bimetallic’ corrosion. It happens when two metals of different electrode potentials get in contact with an electrolyte (i.e. salt water) causing one of the metals to become an anode and the other one a catode. Much like sacrificial anodes in yachts, but unintendedly.
It was quite a hard work we took over, and although it took longer than expected, our client was satisfied with the quality of our metalwork.
Here you can find some pictures of how to project went.
[Sections replaced because of corrosion]
[Paint work by our friends at Benymar]
Bespoke handrail for spiral staircase on board CMY IBI.
A challenging crafty work that took a lot of sweating and swearing, but we got that done and our customer very happy. In his own words: “It is exactly what I wanted”
The job was on paper very simple: Take the existing handrail and extend it to the end of the stair, but there’s a catch: a horizontal half moon door that sits on the brown coloured aluminium frame.
So we had to weld a tube that copied the curve of the handrail and fix it to the entrance’s wood frame, and to finish the handrail, a dismountable section was designed with a lock-n-release system inside.
Like we said, many hours of sweating and swearing, but worth the final result.
Why Mallorca?
Recently during a conversation with a boat client´s captain this question arose: why does Palma de Mallorca represent the ideal destination for your yacht’s refit? That simple question deserved a comprehensive answer.
Here are a few reasons why we consider that Mallorca is the perfect place for refits and repair works that require a long stay in a shipyard:
- The island counts with a vast array of yachts’ repairs and refits providers, who over the years have built a strongly knit community of nautical expertise and strategic partnerships. Mallorca gathers a wealth of expertise in the fields of nautical engineering, yachting hydraulic services, project managers, electricians, mechanics, metal workers, specialist welders (such as ourselves) electronics, cabin makers, shipwrights, yacht specialist painters, sail makers, sail riggers, yacht interior designers and so on.
- Most of the suppliers for yachts’ repairs, maintenance and refits are located nearby which not only facilitates communications between suppliers but also speeds up the delivery of projects.
- Mallorca has a long nautical tradition with renowned marinas and two big shipyards. STP, located in Palma, can service ships of up to 120 m in length with travelifts of up to 700 tons; and Port Adriano, situated 9 Km away from Palma, with 250 tons travelifts.
- Mallorca has the facilities to issue DUA TPA temporary importation certificates and allows undertaking ships refits and repairs under this regime.
- It may sound trite, but Mallorca’s great weather for the largest part of the year is a very good reason to considering having your refit done here. We all know that in this industry wet days often lead to delays, which in turn can cause that budgets and timescales are exceeded.
- Mallorca provides plenty of accommodation should you require to place your crewmen near the yacht while the refit or any maintenance works are being completed.
- Mallorca has great aerial and maritime connexions with main land Spain and the rest of Europe. Articles or prime material can be shipped very quickly from Valencia, Barcelona, as well as from other parts of Spain, or freighted from Germany, France, Denmark, England, Holland etc as and when required.
This list can be continued but we are running the risk of boring you! Hopefully you are convinced by now!
Lady Rose’s Awning
A good part of May 2015 has been absorbed by the fabrication and installation of a polished stainless steel awning frame on board the top deck of Motor Yacht Lady Rose (Custom Line, Ancona, Italy, 2005). The awning was screwed onto the teak deck with round flanges and onto the sundeck sides with rectangular ones.
We also oversaw the fabrication and installation of the textile and provided the installation of the lights. Anyway, words will do no justice to describe how pretty its finishing was. So please have a look at the pictures if you want to check this work out. We as well as the client are very proud of the final result.
CMY IBI’s Bow Refit
The 34.50 metre classic superyacht IBI (formerly Polycarpus) was built by Arsenal in 1949. She was converted in 2003 from a strong tug boat hull into a superyacht.
Here we can see on the port side of the boat, the extractor tube sucking all the dust projections in order to maintain a clean and safe working environment.
Ruben Doñaque oversaw her latest refits in December 2014 and March 2015 at STP in Palma de Mallorca. The last work required consisted of repairs to the bow area, where cement ballast had to be cut out and frames and plate sections of the hull were successfully replaced.