Case Study: Nautor Swan 65 S&S Sloop Refit
Refit Project Management for Nautor Swan 65.
When: 2015/2016
Where: Barcelona
Scope: Visit and select suitable shipyard for refit. Define work list. Negotiate contract. Attend a number of periodic site visits during refit to ensure the refit remains on schedule and within budget.
Description: The Swan 65 was purchased prior to the new owner having completed any cruising before taking it into an extensive refit.Tom Hustler from Seaworthy Services was brought on board to go over the boat using the pre-purchase survey report to then define a worklist that could be used to receive work estimates from various yards. Once the yards were narrowed down, Tom visited several in France, Spain and Italy in order to select the best one for the boat, project and owner. With the work defined and the yard selected Seaworthy Services then went into contract negotiations on behalf of the owner, and work then started to take place. The work was extensive and items included: New generator, new winch package including hydraulics, new water maker, all tanks cleaned, vessel remedial re-wiring and plumbing, full exterior paint job, with osmosis treatment below the waterline.
Tom looked in to many different technical options which required design time and planning, including options to fit a bow thruster, replace the toerail as well as replace all the spars and standing rigging for carbon fibre. The owner provided a remit that the boat be kept as original and classic as possible, though have some modern comforts – therefore the refrigeration system was overhauled along with a new HVAC system fitted to all internal areas.
Outcome: Following the successful selection and negotiation with the chosen shipyard, work started and Tom completed a number of site visits for progress updates and reports. The contract with Seaworthy Services was completed after the vessel was 50% complete in the shipyard. This was a cost reduction for the owner as they had their own representative living in Barcelona, where the yard was located. Our interest was maintained in the project through long distance communications with the owner, his representative and the yard.
By assisting the owner and his rep in liaising and meeting with the boatyard’s, Tom was able to deal with all of the technical details using his professional knowledge and experience, cutting down on time spent through unnecessary explanations.
Seaworthy Services provided the final shipyard with a brief of the quality and detail that was to be expected throughout, and at completion of the project, this was not only expectations from the owner, but also expectations of yacht industry standard quality when completing this type of work.
Tom ensured that the details of each job were understood between all parties involved, whether that be the client, boatyard or contractors, right down to ensuring cables were appropriately bundled, clipped and in conduits on the re-wire, and the fan coil units were orientated correctly for condensate drainage on a healing sailing yacht of this design. No detail was overlooked.
On launch and sea trials, the boat looked and performed very well. The boat was delivered August 19th 2016 and is currently cruising in the Balearics and preparing for racing in the Rolex Swan Cup 2016.
Testimonial: “On behalf of the proud owner of newly refited Swan 65-033 ‘Libelula’ at the EMV Nautor’s Swan Authorised Service Centre, in Barcelona, we would like to express the following:
Tom Hustler from Seaworthy Service’s involvement in this project has been vital in respect of selecting the appropriate yard to undertake this complete refit including, osmosis treatment, new paint job, new engine, new generator, new A/C, new hydraulics, new winches, mast refit, new sails, new electronics; a very difficult project.
Going back to his work as a Marine Consultant on the Libelula project, Tom started with us in April 2015 until February 2016. Always very precise in his exchanges of written communications we never had to chase Tom for answers.
Tom would be spending two days to inspect the boat at the EMV yard in Barcelona, and then back on the plane to the UK he was already writing his report that we would get in the morning, with all answers to our queries, allowing us to make good work progress with the yard.
Tom’s very experienced skills combine with his passionate work did save us lots of time and in the end, money. The boat was delivered August 19th 2016.
We shall be more than happy to recommend Tom and Seaworthy Services to any owner willing to hire their services.”
John Audabran
Barcelona Private Yacht Services