General Specifications  & Hull Construction

“Vanda” (ex “Van Triumph”) was built in Hong Kong in 1975 by Supercraft Ltd. as a private yacht for the yard’s owner, and maintained in class with American Bureau of Shipping, with Machinery Certificate. She was renamed after the launch of his new 65m Van Triumph. In 1993 she was laid up ashore at Supercraft’s yard in Hong Kong, where she was maintained by them until a suitable idiot like the present owner was found to buy her in 2003.

The hull is constructed of Burmese teak (tectona grandis (verbacenea)), on Borneo yacal frames. Yacal is a termite resistant and very strong hardwood of the species hopea odorata (dipterocarpaceae). It is also known as “giam” in Malay,  or “mai thakian” in Thailand (where it was used for the royal barges, each of which was dug out from a huge single trunk). Teak has a density of 650 kgs per cubic metre, and yacal 977 kgs per cubic metre.

Under supervision of the new owner’s surveyor and engineer, the hull was stripped to bare wood and all wood, machinery and equipment examined and renewed (where necessary), before being re-launched  and recommissioned  in November, 2003. She sailed from Hong Kong to Hainan Island and Bangkok in March 2004, and in 2006 to Myanmar via Singapore. In Myanmar the hull was again stripped and all caulking removed to examine condition. A small amount of soft or damaged hull planking was replaced with seasoned teak planks and the upper and after decks replaced with mature quartersawn teak planking over new epoxy sealed marine plywood. The decks and hull were then totally recaulked with new cotton and Sika caulking  compounds

The interior was cleared back to the inner planking and all frames, knees and beams cleaned and repainted with epoxy primer. The engine room was primed and resealed with fire resistant coatings