The design name is from the Danish king
Valdemar
who in the 1200's united the Nordic and Baltic
countries into one kingdom - an early-day northern
European Union of sorts...
The design request for this vessel was to create
a strong, classic, three stateroom displacement
trawler for a couple with guests, with the objective
being retirement living aboard, long summer cruises,
ocean passage making, and travel on the canals of
Europe, including the capability for a family
circumnavigation. The material chosen is
aluminum, for lightness, ruggedness, ease of
maintenance, longevity and lasting value.
The Freycinet Standard canals of France have a limiting air draft of 3.50
meters (11' - 5.8"), a limiting water draft of 1.80 meters (5' - 10.9"), and
a limiting beam of 5.0 meters (16' - 4.9"). Other EU canals are less
restrictive.
As with the various designs in the Greatheart
series and the Voyager series, the Valdemar
53 hull form has been adapted from real trawlers - West Coast fishing
vessels - in order to retain the excellent sea keeping qualities of those
working craft. Our further objective has been to refine the
traditional working trawler lines into 'yacht' form in order to achieve an
easily driven hull having relatively light displacement.
Hull, decks and cabin are planned for aluminum construction with
scantlings according to the ABS Rule. All plating, framing and
internal structures are planned for NC cutting, including integral water and
fuel tank faces, engine girders, etc.
Vessel Particulars
Displacement will vary approximately from 54,500 lb in the 10% load
condition to approximately 67,500 lb in the 100% load condition. Other
particulars are:
- 52' - 9" Moulded Length Overall
- 14' - 6" Moulded Beam
- 49' - 8" WL Length, Half Load
- 5' - 2" salt water Draft, Full Load
- 11' - 5" Air Draft, Half Load
Power & Range
The engine specified is a John Deere 6068 TFM 6 cylinder diesel, which
produces 175 hp at 2,400 rpm in the M-2 rating. The engine is mated to a
Sabb controllable pitch gear using a 3:1 reduction to drive a Helseth three
blade 34" CP propeller.
The "cruising speed" for long range voyaging with this hull is assumed to
be around 8 knots. Theoretical hull speed is around 9.5 knots, however due
to having relatively light displacement the hull should reach close to 11
knots with the planned horsepower.
Using 5,000 liters (1,321 USG) of fuel and keeping a 15% reserve, the
Beebe algorithm shows range in the average load condition to be around 3,000
NM at 8 knots.
Exterior Arrangement
The aft deck, side decks, and interior pilot house deck are all at one
level. There are two exterior water tight doors entering the pilot house.
The side and aft decks are surrounded by substantial bulwarks, and the fore
deck by a toe rail. All decks are surrounded by lifelines with welded
aluminum pulpits forward and aft.
Right aft is a full width aft-facing seat, arranged in order to be
extended into a spare double berth, mainly for the fun of sleeping on deck
when the weather permits.
An optional mast and paravane rig are located just aft of amidships with
all control lines easily operable from the side decks. Alternately,
with sufficient budget there can be active stabilizers.
The fore deck spans the full width of the boat from bulwark to bulwark.
This provides a very large volume within the forward accommodations below.
Davits port and starb'd allow placing a shore boat onto the fore deck.
A well-deck is located forward, in order to contain the anchor gear.
A dual capstan horizontal anchor windlass is located in the well deck, and
will accommodate two working anchors - a CQR and a Bruce, which nest well
together.
The pilot house top extends right aft in order to cover the aft deck and
offer very welcome shade in hot climates, and much improved comfort on deck
during foul weather. A pair of 'wing plates' flank the forward
end of the aft deck so the aft seating area can be enclosed by a pair of
doors forward plus screens and / or vinyl - canvas around the stern.
This extends the usefulness of the aft deck area into cooler seasons, and
allows the use of screens when canal traveling for bug control, added
privacy, etc.
Interior Arrangement
The layout is intended to allow comfortable cruising for up to six
adults, and also offers the possibility of chartering the boat if desired.
In charter mode, one could accommodate one or two couples on overnight
cruises or one could take on friends or charter guests for each leg of a
longer voyage.
Beginning right forward, there is a guest cabin arranged with plenty of
shelves and generous hanging locker space. Just aft of the forward guest
cabin are a separate pair of head compartments very much as with the
Vagabond 50 and the Vagrant 49.
Aft of the head compartments, a large L-shaped galley is located to
starb'd at the base of the companionway. The galley contains a large
refrigerator / freezer aft, big single sink, and a three burner propane
range. To port is a large wrap-around dinette and table, sized for six. The
intent is that this will be the primary entertainment space. Having a full
width raised foredeck, the galley and saloon will be light and open, and
will have unobstructed views to port and starb'd. This arrangement is
very much as with the Voyager 52, though in this
case the galley has been moved forward just a bit, allowing more space
within the pilot house.
At the aft end of the saloon / galley on center is a WT door leading into
the engine room below the pilot house. Access to the engine room is also via
large opening hatches in the pilot house sole. At the aft end of the
galley, to starb'd, is a spiral stair leading to the pilot house.
Up in the pilot house, a WT door accesses the exterior side decks to port
and starb'd. The helm station is located on center, and a large bench seat
is located to port, aft. There is a narrow table with a drop leaf, allowing
occasional meals to be taken there, or just for observing and conversing
with the helms-person.
Just aft of the pilot house and below is the owner's cabin, accessed by a
companionway ladder to port, aft within the pilot house. The owner’s cabin
contains a private head and shower, queen size berth, rather large hanging
locker, and wrap-around shelves for storage.
Above the owner's cabin is a large "pilot berth" located just aft of the
pilot house. The plan here is to allow a small area of the pilot house
itself to be enclosed when desired in order to provide privacy for this
area, which then can function as a second part-time "guest cabin." At
other times, the whole pilot house would remain open for best visibility.
Design Genesis
Several of our designs share the
same essential source hull type, in this case
derived from the North Pacific
fishing trawlers which operate in all
weathers in the Gulf of Alaska, a place where the
ocean is... well, not so nice. We
refined the fishing trawler hull type to create
a more yacht-like shape and that became the
"Greatheart / Gulliver" series. See
the following links for vessels in the Greatheart series...
Greatheart
36 |
Gulliver 46 |
Greatheart 48 | Greatheart 54 |
Greatheart 60
We then modified
the hull to create the "Vagabond"
series which makes use of a proportionately longer waterline
and a more upright stem and transom. Combined, this reduces the
overhangs and increases the WL length to gain more interior space with
less overall hull length. Check out the following links for boats in the Vagabond series...
Vagrant 49 |
Vagabond 50 |
Voyager 52
| Valdemar 53
For more information on this or other designs, please
inquire
