Plenty of refit work at Balk Shipyard
After a nine month refit for Bravado, an on-going rebuild for Gisele and a newly begun refit for Valeria, Balk shipyards are full throttle this summer season.…
After an extensive nine-month refit at Balk, 45m Bravado is ready to hit the water again. She arrived at Balk’s main hall in November 2015, and whilst there, her refit included work on her exterior, interior the original twin engines have been given a zero-hour overhaul.
Bravado’s owner also ordered a new 11.58 metre custom tender from Wajer Yachts that has the same exterior style as Bravado.
Our excited source at Balk told SuperyachtNews that ‘when she came to Balk Shipyard her exterior was all white, but on Tuesday [July 19] she will be leaving the shed in Majestic Blue!’
Abeking and Rasmussen's Bravado in Balk Shipyard.
Along with an interior change that saw the former classic style reimagined as a very modern interior with light grey walls, new furniture, floors and fabrics.
The entire project was coordinated between Ralph de Joode, owner representative and project manager from R Yacht Management, and project manager Wim Mooiweer from Balk shipyard.
After the refit, the owner plans to take Bravado on a world tour, which includes the Northwest Passage with captain Mark O’Connell at the helm.
Elsewhere in the yard, explorer yacht Gisele is undergoing a rebuild, having her LOA extended from 27m to 31m. This 4m extension was a necessity to retain her balance, the yard explained. She was cut at the foredeck and extended by 3m while her swim platform was extended by 1m.
Our source added that ‘during the process many inaccuracies came forward which means that we had to start from scratch with a casco and some basics.’
Gisele was brought to Balk from Brazil where her owner ‘got fed up’ and moved her over to the Netherlands. It quickly became clear to the yard the extensive work required on Gisele to get her back to perfect condition.
Feadship’s Valeria is also in Balk Shipyard, but the yard was unable to divulge any additional information at this time.
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