The 36 Meter Luxury Charter Phinisi
'KLM' Dunia Baru
Aft Perspective Low
| Aft Perspective Above |
Side Perspective |
Perspective Above Aft
Larger Exterior Profile |
Bridge
Deck Layout |
Main
Deck Layout |
Lower Deck Layout
Copyright 2006 - 2007 Michael Kasten
The 36 meter wooden yacht shown here is modeled after the traditional Indonesian Kapal Layar Mesin -
literally translated as "boat-sail-machine." In the
West, we
usually refer to this combination as a "Motor Sailor." In Indonesia
they are just called "KLM."
The vessel shown above is a larger version of the relatively much smaller
30 Meter KLM we developed during a visit
to Indonesia in 2004.
Here we can see that at 36 meters on deck the vessel is large enough to
more gracefully carry the double deck. Much of the information below is
virtually identical to that provided for the smaller 30m KLM, since both
vessels share the same purpose and the same styling inspiration: i.e. the
working KLM types of Indonesia.
For a complete
introduction to the history of the traditional Indonesian
Phinisi types as well as the relatively newer
KLM types, please see our
Phinisi History
web page.
The Traditional Kapal Layar Mesin...
These
craft are very common throughout Indonesian waters, and are used as
cargo vessels. They are built nearly everywhere in Indonesia in one
form or another, and in sizes ranging from 25 meters to over 50 meters.
The KLM are in fact the "semi-trucks" of the Indonesian archipelago,
just as the sailing Phinisi had been before them.
The KLM are heavily based on the older sailing
types of Phinisi (also spelled Pinisi) - so much so that the KLM are
often called Phinisi. The KLM bow is identical to the older
sailing vessels - complete with the sailing Phinisi foremast, standing-gaff
sail, gaff tops'l, jib sails and bowsprit. From amidships aft though,
the KLM differ from the sailing Phinisi altogether.
Aft, the sailing Phinisi would traditionally have had a pointed stern and overhanging aft deck like that on our
sailing phinisi design, the 35 meter Si'Lolona.
By contrast, the KLM hull has a motor vessel stern. In other words the
KLM stern is wide and the "run" is straight and relatively flat. We
would refer to this as having a "counter-stern" with a transom at the
end.
The KLM "transom" is very much
like that of a US west coast fishing seiner, the stern being rounded in plan view. The
stern on this Western fishing vessel type and the stern of the KLM are both built up of
wooden "lifts" rather than being planked with "staves" as
would be more common on a yacht. This kind of construction is
extremely robust...!
In
any case, the KLM always have a broad stern. As with the sailing
Phinisi the KLM have an overhanging aft deck, however in this case the
overhang is quite a lot wider than on a traditional sailing Phinisi.
Aft of amidships the working KLM often have a two story superstructure,
ordinarily beginning perhaps two thirds of the deck length from the
bow, thus considerably less long than on the design you see above.
On
cargo craft, the lower story is at deck level and is used for the
galley and crew, while the upper story contains the bridge and
captain's quarters. Naturally there are many local variations...!
A few photos of traditional KLM types can be found on our
Indonesia Pictures web page.
The KLM as a Yacht...?
In order to create a luxury yacht using the traditionally built KLM has
mainly been a matter of sizing and arranging the cabins for their new
purpose and to refine the hull shape for use as a yacht, rather than as a
much more burdensome cargo vessel.
As a bonus, the more refined yacht
hull shape is much more comfortable in the sea than the much more boxy cargo
hull types, which have a reputation for having a rather harsh and unkind
motion when not deeply laden with cargo. After all, a yacht need only
carry a load of fuel, food, passengers, and their water toys.
Additional goals have been to provide greater strength and longevity of structure
than is found among local craft. Our
aim in so doing has been to reduce maintenance,
to provide a high degree of comfort, improve
the performance under power, and to increase
the long term safety of the ship.
Power is provided by an 830 hp Yanmar diesel, sufficient for close
to 10 knots, depending on conditions. Of course a larger engine could
be provided, however above around 10 knots the power requirements and the
consequent fuel use, as well as the machinery cost become excessive.
The local phinisi are given much less power yet. For example, an
equivalently sized cargo KLM would rarely have more than around 350 hp...!
Still
further requirements have been to blend the excellent Konjo / Bugis
boat building traditions with a few of the specific requirements of the
West, primarily in terms of comfort, structure, safety, and stability.
A
number of structural improvements over the typical cargo vessel
construction have been specified. These were not dramatic changes in
terms of the construction methods, but definitely they were a
big change in terms of finesse and quality, so cumulatively the changes
have been very important to the structure.
For more information about how we have accomplished such goals with these vessels, please see our
Phinisi Building
web page.
The Intent...
For the interior, the request
was that the interior layout enable the vessel to be used in either of
two modes:
- As a personal world-traveling yacht
for a private owner and guests, or
- For use as a charter yacht with "managed
ownership."
By "managed ownership" we mean that the yacht
is privately owned, but is managed by a charter company who is able
to charter the vessel when it is not being used by the owner. In
exchange for its use, the charter company takes care of the vessel's
maintenance and repairs, and provides the owner with an income stream.
Done
correctly, this is a rather ideal way to own a boat
- no maintenance, it pays its own way, and the owner can step aboard
a well maintained vessel nearly any time and simply enjoy their time
aboard rather than having to manage the vessel's upkeep.
Comfort
and privacy have been primary goals. Given the overall size, the
interior layout is not at all crowded. Given that the vessel will be
sailing in the tropics, excellent ventilation has been given the
highest priority. Each cabin has a private head and shower and all
accommodation spaces are air conditioned.
The Layout...
The requirement in this case was to achieve generous guest cabins below,
and to provide an owner's private "grand suite" on the upper deck.
Briefly, the layout is described as follows:
Bridge Deck: As on the smaller
30 Meter KLM, the owner's suite has excellent access to
the bridge, the galley, and the saloon, essentially as an extended part of
the owner's personal space. This allows the owner to occupy the vessel as a
home on the water with each essential region accessible without having to
impose on or pass through any guest areas, yet also allows guests to share
those spaces without compromising the privacy of the owner. As a
safety matter, the owner can readily get to the bridge and the promenade
deck forward of the bridge, and on this larger KLM a captain's cabin has
been provided on the upper deck as well.
Main Deck: On the main deck, we reserved the fore deck
for entertaining outside - where most of one's tropical living will be
done anyway. On the main deck aft, we put a generous lounge within
the forward end of the house for the best view, and filled the rest with
a large galley, walk in refrigerator, and computer / communications /
media room.
On
the aft main deck is a covered "veranda" arranged to serve dual use as
a dive shop and as a covered exterior buffet / lounge, open to the air.
Quite a good place for open air sleeping too...!
Below: Below decks forward are four large guest
suites and accommodations forward for two stewards and a laundry
room. The stewards' bunk room (forward to port) is also viewed as
being an ideal cabin for teenage guests who may be aboard with their parents
- allowing them privacy yet good access to the other guest cabins. Below decks amidships is the engine room,
located right below the lounge. Below and
aft are cabins for the crew.
In
total, there is sufficient accommodation space for a ship's complement
of two owners, plus ten guests, a cook, cook's assistant, captain,
mate, engineer, second engineer, dive master, dive assistant, two deck
hands, and two stewards. This amounts to around 12 crew - the preferred
arrangement for chartering in Indonesia. We generally observe on a
yacht of this size that each crew member must be well versed in several
talents...!
For private use there may not need to be such a large crew, although if
you wish to be thoroughly pampered... you can be!
Can One Build a New Wooden Yacht Economically...?
Yes, and of course that is the ultimate goal...! Unfortunately, due to the extraordinarily low cost of building these
vessels, there will always be a steady supply of misguided Westerners who
approach the local boat builders with the idea of turning one of their
locally built craft into a yacht or charter boat at the lowest possible
cost. Most often the result is extremely poor - mainly due to very
inadequate planning and non-existent project management.
In other words, these half hearted attempts to create a yacht will
inevitably result in an ill-conceived and poorly executed vessel, i.e. one
that has not been 'designed' nor built to any standard, nor even effectively
'managed' during construction.
Although the local builders are very capable of producing excellent
results with their own local vessel types, when those indigenous vessels get
arbitrarily modified by various 'owner requests' during construction, the
final product can be shockingly bad - even to the point of being unsafe.
Consequently there is a very large difference between those
vessels and the likes of what we have outlined here...!
For complete information about the
process we recommend, please visit our Phinisi
Building web page.
How to Do It Right...?
Planning...!
When one of these vessels is planned well, and is subsequently finished according to the plans and specifications, the result
can be a world class yacht. Whether used as a private yacht or
in charter mode, this kind of vessel will offer a generous measure of luxury
to anyone who steps onboard.
The
KLM design described here is now under construction in Kalimantan
(2007). To kick off the construction of the Dunia Baru, Lena and
I traveled to Indonesia during 2006 in order to meet with the owner at his home in Java. We then traveled
together to the building site in Sangkulirang, Kalimantan Timur in
order to guide the builders through the lofting process, and to
oversee construction of the mould frames.
This vessel will be launched in the spring of 2008,
then transported to Banjarmasin or Surabaya for engine installation, and then
onward to Bali
for completion of the systems and interior finish.
Lena and I
have greatly enjoyed our journey through the design and building
process with the owner and his building team, all of whom have been
working hard to make the 36 meter phinisi Dunia
Baru a stunningly fine new private charter yacht.
For complete information about our work with these traditional Indonesian vessels, please see the links below.
Summary
The best
introduction to this design is to have a look at the KLM layout
drawings linked at the top of this page. Please also check out the
'Perspective' image links above which provide a three dimension look at
the shape of this design.
If the KLM / luxury yacht / managed charter yacht
concept is of interest, we offer our local knowledge and
a thorough set of building plans that take full
advantage of traditional methods and up to date world
class structure.
For the most complete review of the KLM there are Study Plans and
Estimating Plans available. When complete Building Plans are purchased
we will be pleased to make local introductions to a proven team for building
the vessel and an extended team for managing the construction. Please
see our Plans List page for plans cost and
ordering information
For
complete information about a traditional Indonesian Phinisi of our
design that is now sailing, please see the links below, or if you'd
like to know more, please inquire.
More Information...
For more information on these or similar craft, please
inquire.
Si'lolona Photo Courtesy of Aman Resorts
Check out these web pages related to the Indonesian Phinisi and KLM types
of our design:
Phinisi History | Phinisi
Building |
Sailing Phinisi vs. KLM Types
30m Sailing Phinisi |
36m Phinisi Silolona |
50m Sailing Phinisi
30m Charter KLM |
36m Charter KLM
| 50m Charter KLM
Silolona "Homecoming" |
Indonesia Boatbuilding Images
