KM Yachtbuilders nominated for the IBI/METS Boat Builders Award

“Great news for the team!” is the first thing that Eeuwe Kooi, founder and owner of KM Yachtbuilders, says when told that KMY has been nominated for the IBI/METS Boat Builders Award. The nomination is for the category ‘Innovative On-board Design Solution’.

Eeuwe Kooi explains: "Together with designer Erik Wassen (Dykstra Naval Architects), our engineering department and hull builders have designed a completely retractable drive system for a custom expedition sailing yacht. The rudder, the propeller, the propeller shaft and the keel can be retracted fully into the hull. Also, the drive system is built into its own moving watertight aluminium box. The whole system is driven diesel-hydraulically. This will be used for the 78 ft, 85 ton expedition yacht that we're now building. The owner plans to sail in cold regions where he will find himself in and on the ice. Making it possible to retract everything under the yacht will prevent vulnerable parts from being damaged."

The nomination was given for the combination of the drive system and the moving, watertight structure. The system was developed, improved and built into the yacht by showing courage and taking an innovative approach. Teamwork at its best!  

"The nomination is a superb accolade for the people who have contributed at the shipyard," says Jildou Huisman, KMY's marketing manager. "This is a project that's never been done by another shipyard, which is what made starting it such a challenge. The owner had certain requirements that couldn't be met anywhere else, and the creative and innovative people we've got here made it possible for us to build his dream yacht. The drive system on board is just one example of this."

The award is due to be presented on the Wednesday evening of 15 November, during the IBI/METS Trade evening at the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam.

Specification expedition yacht
Yard:             KM Yachtbuilders, Makkum, NL
Design:            Dykstra Naval Architects, Amsterdam, NL
LoA:            23.75m
LoW:            21.25m
BoA:            7.26m    
BoW:            6.25m        
Draft:            1.50 - 4.65m
Weight hull:        35.000 kg
Weight yacht:        85.000 kg 
Ballast:            13.500 kg
Diesel tanks:        2x 2500L and 2x 3500L
Water tanks:        2x 640L
Masts:            2x carbon Wing Rig with carbon furling boom, Hall Spars
Clearance height:    24m
Engine:            2x L136, Doosan