'Lady K II' refit underway
At least 15 months will be taken to restore the classic motoryacht 'Lady K II' to her erstwhile glory. Allan Foot from Solent Refit speaks of the project.…
Work has started on the refit of classic motoryacht, 57.55m Lady K II at Solent Refit, Southampton. The 1961 Sunderland, UK built yacht caught the attention of Allan Foot whose company Yacht Project Associates (YPA) manages Solent Refit. Foot discovered her in disrepair in Marseille and was inspired to source an owner to invest in her 15 month refit.
The first stage in the work is centred in the engine room where the team is rebuilding the main two stroke cylinders back to zero hours. Significant plumbing work around the engine room is also being completed to suit the classic style. Lloyds is inspecting all areas of the yacht to assess her re-admittance to Lloyds Classification.
“It’s a beautiful boat, a real classic,” said Foot. “It looked like a project too good not to find an owner for it. The owner is going to have a beautiful yacht at a really good rate at the end of the day.”
After engine work and some stripping of her exterior, Lady K II will be lifted out of the water in Spring with a 1500 tonne boat lift on the horizontal slipway.
From then, work will involve some modification of the superstructure to suit the new owners requirements and older teak decks renewed.
Plans are also ready for the rebuild of the crew accommodation, which has served its purpose for fifty years. The main accommodation will also be refurbished as a later stage in the programme.
Foot explained the project had to be done at the Southampton centre rather than any of YPA’s bases in Europe for several reasons.
“It wouldn’t have been commercially viable in a local yard where she was discovered in France. It was really too expensive,” he said.
Foot added that the company was seeing business grow because of its competitive pricing.
“We’re using the advantage we’ve got at the moment. I think people are realizing you get really good quality work, because of the plethora of apprentice trained engineers at a really good rate (in Southampton).”
Lady K II’s refit programme is expected to last for 15 months or more, when she will be fully restored. New sponsons are being fitted along the waterline to assist stability and achieve worldwide capability.
The first stage in the work is centred in the engine room where the team is rebuilding the main two stroke cylinders back to zero hours. Significant plumbing work around the engine room is also being completed to suit the classic style. Lloyds is inspecting all areas of the yacht to assess her re-admittance to Lloyds Classification.
“It’s a beautiful boat, a real classic,” said Foot. “It looked like a project too good not to find an owner for it. The owner is going to have a beautiful yacht at a really good rate at the end of the day.”
After engine work and some stripping of her exterior, Lady K II will be lifted out of the water in Spring with a 1500 tonne boat lift on the horizontal slipway.
Work on Lady K II's engine room
From then, work will involve some modification of the superstructure to suit the new owners requirements and older teak decks renewed.
Plans are also ready for the rebuild of the crew accommodation, which has served its purpose for fifty years. The main accommodation will also be refurbished as a later stage in the programme.
Lady K II at Solent Refit
Foot explained the project had to be done at the Southampton centre rather than any of YPA’s bases in Europe for several reasons.
“It wouldn’t have been commercially viable in a local yard where she was discovered in France. It was really too expensive,” he said.
Lady KII has had many incarnations. She was previously Princess Tanya, Radiant I and the Radiant II as in this vintage poster
Foot added that the company was seeing business grow because of its competitive pricing.
“We’re using the advantage we’ve got at the moment. I think people are realizing you get really good quality work, because of the plethora of apprentice trained engineers at a really good rate (in Southampton).”
Lady K II’s refit programme is expected to last for 15 months or more, when she will be fully restored. New sponsons are being fitted along the waterline to assist stability and achieve worldwide capability.
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