June 2023
An air of expectation: Final stages of Sixzero build underway
With the sophisticated technical systems in place and paintwork completed, the first Breedendam Sixzero recently emerged from her construction hall for engine installation. As project manager Jan Leegstra explains below, it’s time to launch into the interior and finishing phase.
We decided to let the boat remain in the primer stage of painting for six months while all the technical infrastructure was installed. This allowed the filler to settle and provide a smooth canvas for the work of the expert hull spray-painters and the artists from Grainz who’ve made the superstructure look like she’s made of wood rather than aluminium (click here for more on this visual illusion). The results speak for them themselves and make clear what a major project this is and how beautiful the lines are.
Technical masterpiece
There’s lots of wizardry already in place below decks too on a boat packed with modern technologies. From bus systems and fibreglass cabling for communications and data management to a gas-cooled air-conditioning that gives colder air and reduces the space needed for hoses, this will be the best possible boat. The electrical systems and piping are smartly finished behind the panels with easy access for later maintenance assured.
In a similar vein, a clean and tidy engine room offers the perfect backdrop for our next task of installing the engines. These weigh 2000 kilos each so we’ll use a giant outdoor crane to lift them into place. This also provides an ideal opportunity to temporarily place the mast and make sure everything fits seamlessly. We will then move the boat back indoors so the carpenters can start writing the next chapter of the inside story. Featuring an impressive blend of woods and upholstery, the interior has been designed and styled by Guido de Groot in close partnership with the owner.
Higher goals
The creation of the first Breedendam Sixzero has been a process in which we’ve been massively supported by the owner’s shared determination to reach for the greater goal. Having owned technical companies himself, the client is fully aware of the need to avoid compromises and ensure perfection. Having already owned a Breedendam he is on the same page as us and various ideas that have emerged to improve further without adding costs have been incorporated.
The whole team is now looking forward to completing this final phase and prepare for sea trials in the autumn. It is wonderful to see the yacht outside and know that the result we’ve worked so hard to achieve is on the horizon. For owner and yard alike, nothing beats the sensation of building a boat to such a high standard.
