What was originally planned as a 10-month refit turned into an 18-month challenge well worth the extra effort. So says the owners’ representative for Tamer II, built in 1986 by Jongert and just refitted there. Tamer II has almost entirely all-new systems from stem to stern and every inch of her original joinery, tiles, and other decor materials either re-used or refreshed.
At 107’9” (32.9 meters), Tamer II was the largest yacht of her era built by Jongert. If you count her long overhangs and bowsprit (which we, and some other yachting media, do not), her LOA increases 10 feet. Either way, she was a challenge back in September 1986 just to get to the water. Her depth and breadth exceeded those of the waters and locks surrounding Jongert’s yard in The Netherlands. So, Jongert had to transport Tamer II via truck—a two-day process, and one never previously undertaken for a yacht of this size in the country.
Occupying facilities in a different Dutch city now, Jongert had no troubles hauling Tamer II for work to begin in December 2013. As often happens with refits, the work checklist grew—in her case, it tripled. The timeframe for completion, however, did not. Just eight additional months could be added, since the summer cruising season this year was important to the owners.
When you examine even a partial list of the tasks Jongert completed on Tamer II, it puts the squeezed time frame into better perspective. Keep in mind, too, that for all interior technical spaces, the areas were stripped, sandblasted, spot-repaired if needed, and repainted before equipment was installed. The following items are all new:
- teak decking
- paint
- wiring and electronics
- navigation and communication systems
- air conditioning
- piping for all systems
- standing and running rigging.
The work didn’t end there. The owners of Tamer II wanted the saloon, staterooms (four in total), and other common areas to look just as they did upon initial delivery in 1986. Jongert therefore refreshed or restored essentially every decor item, from the original joinery and tiles to fabrics and light fixtures. The craftspeople relied heavily on the construction records for accuracy.
Tamer II is now cruising the Med with her owners.
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