Reality Check: Could This 1965 Classic Be Our Next Boat?
We found ourselves completely smitten with this gorgeous 1965 classic yacht in the Netherlands! With stunning teak decks, beautiful wood details, and that timeless vintage charm, she's everything we love about classic boats. But is she the right liveaboard vessel for us? Is she right for the high latitude chapter of our cruising journey?
These are the questions we aim to answer as we tour every inch of this 50-foot 1965 Feadship Akerboom. From her spacious salon with incredible ceiling height to the luxurious owner's cabin with a (spoiler alert) jacuzzi tub! We're being brutally honest about what it would really take to own a nearly 60-year-old vessel, including the varnishing, repairs, and upgrades needed for long distance cruising.
Speaking of long distance cruising. Let's quickly take a look at the fuel burn rate. This is a full displacement vessel, meaning it's very fuel efficient vs a go-fast plaining yacht. Without getting detailed notes from the current owner, I can't be certain, but based on the boat and the engines below is a general ballpark estimate.
A 1965 Fedship Akerboom cruising at 7 knots of speed, burns approximately 3 gallons per hour. With the 1600 liter tank, that's a hair under a 1000 nautical mile range.
For comparison sake, on our 2005 Leopard 43 Sailing Catamaran:
- With both engines we could motor at 7 knots of speed and would burn around 2 gallons per hour. That is a 333 nautical mile range (and why we needed to carry at least 8 full jerry cans for any ocean crossing).
What do you think, would you take on a classic like this? Do you already own a classic yacht and have some words of wisdom to share?
P.S. We're not leaving the Netherlands just yet. We've got two more true blue explorer yachts to show you in the next episode that might be the perfect fit!
The Swan
This 1965 Feadship may not be our next boat but if it is perfect for you, the full specs and listings can be found here (no kick backs for us or any affiliation):
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