Dollars and cents drive virtually all boat projects, but… at Palumbo Superyachts Malta someone is on a path to breaking that pattern!
This is the unique story of two yacht Owners who defied all statistic evidence on the upkeep cost of vessels, to prove that there’s more to maintaining a ‘seasoned lady’ than financial sense. When it comes to looking after a beloved boat that’s been in the family for decades and that one wishes to keep for her sentimental value, money is no longer an issue.
Usually, women don’t like to talk about their age and size, but the two ladies concerned have no qualms with revealing that are in their 50s and measure 33 and 90 metres. Having often crossed troubled waters and weathered many a storms, they proudly prove that what time has taken from them in youth, has been replaced with experience.
All they need at this stage is a just as an experienced yard to remove their ‘signs of resilience’ so that they can manoeuvre with confidence and grace again.
Refitting a ‘seasoned’ boat can be a rewarding challenge also for the shipyard involved, once overcome the painstaking exercise of assessing the entire process. Essentially, in these circumstances most of the machinery is obsolete, spare parts are discontinued and communication equipment is long outdated.
But no job is too big for Palumbo Malta where these projects are now well under way. The teak will be replaced on all decks after hydro-blasting the steel underneath to remove existing rust, followed by the application of primer and paint. Tank cleaning will also require a lot of work as hydro-blasting is expected to uncover a substantial amount of steel in need of replacement, especially in the sewage holding and freshwater tanks. Other critical tasks will be: tail shaft and rudder surveying, overhauling thrusters, generators and main engines and also replacing the whole HVAC system on board.
As always, our concern is to do a good job within the set time, making these yachts seaworthy again and letting their Owners experience life aboard as it was in their good old days.
