Who says you cannot teach an old dog new tricks? Feadship, the Dutch superyacht building consortium believe you certainly can.
To prove it, they are going to fit a new helideck onto yacht they first built way back in 1986 as part of major refit.
Their refit and repair yard in Makkum has welcomed home the 57.3 metre Amara, first launched by them as Cacique in 1986. Originally designed by Frits de Voogt with an interior by Terence Disdale, the current owners purchased Amara in 2020.
Having spent some very enjoyable times on this classic superyacht, they decided to use their experiences to refit Amara to their personal preferences and uses.
One of the key aspects of an extensive list of activities will be the installation of a new helicopter deck. This will require the removal of this part of the construction, building a new helideck at the yard and placing this entire section onto Amara.
Meanwhile, the teak on the sun deck will be replaced and the foredeck fully re-laid in teak.
The paint experts at the shipyard are gearing up to showcase their talents on the new helideck, the foredeck and a range of other areas. Various interior activities and technical work will also be carried out to return Amara to peak condition as she joins a growing fleet of Feadships placed by owners in the uniquely capable hands of the builder’s refit and services division.
Other recent examples include the refit of W (ex. Larisa) which renewed this modern supertyacht to full pedigree status over a ten-month project. The striking restoration of the classic Istros also made industry headlines both for her beauty and the eco-friendly ethos underpinning every aspect of the rebuild.
Regardless of style or requirements, the only way to ensure a Feadship remains a Feadship after a refit or rebuild – with all the benefits that brings in terms of heritage, quality and resale value – is to have the same yard take care of the work.
That way they can teach an old dog new tricks.