Description

S.V.Nefertari 16.46metres
Don't please make the common mistake of judging this book by its cover!

Beneath this rather drab overall cover lies a never to be repeated masterpiece of one couple's 40 year old dream, sadly due to the failing health of Nefertari's creator Brian, a new custodian is sought to hopefully continue with the dream and complete this one-off yacht to conclusion.
To state that Brian is a genius is possibly an understatement of the man. Together with his devoted wife Gillian they have built this yacht almost entirely on their own, and to the highest of standards following a massive total financial investment totalling some hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Just open the temporary plywood wheelhouse door (the finished, panelled door is containerised) and the first thing you will notice is the spiral staircase, fully panelled leading below to the large full width saloon, resplendant in the unused white leather bespoke upholstery seating a total of around 12 persons. A huge dining table takes centrestage, it is a masterpiece of design and build, created by Brian, inlaid with silver from bullion dealers Johnson & Mathey. Currently this remains unused and covered up awaiting her new owner.

Everything about the work completed thus far - around 75% completed - is beautiful, my words will never do this description justice, you really need to see it to believe it!

Most important are the 3 x 20 foot containers absolutely crammed full with all the wood and hardware required to complete this fine yacht. Teak, mahogany and other exotic hardwoods abound, much of the intricate mouldings have already been manufactured and are ready for final fitting. Full sets of standing and running rigging, Electric sheet winches, now converted by Brian to hydraulic - likewise the anchor winch. 2 x new flush toilets, possibly Baby Blakes costing today some £4000 each! Bronze portholes complete with rings etc.
Far too much to re-produce here, save to say there are tens of thousands of pounds worth of tools, equipment and fittings, even the bandsaw, welder and other tools are all there. You get this remarkable vessel together with 3 containerised contents.
As a footnote, she can be comfortably lived on as is, but not where is - she will require moving to another location if the intention is to purely liveaboard.

Read on for more:

Specifications

Accommodation

Currently she is arranged for 3 cabins, each sleeping 2 persons, one of these cabins could be utilised as a workshop or office depending on your requirements. All in all the cost of the soft furnishings cost some £11,000 some years ago with the saloon white leather seating having remained in store and unused.
The workmanship and attention to detail for the panelling I am unable to describe. Pride of place must be reserved for her huge saloon table. Measuring approximately 5 feet square it is the quality and cost that is remarkable. At least 3 exotic hardwoods form the main table, rosewood, teak and mahogany. Inlaid into the joints is silver from the London bullion dealers of Johnson & Mathey. Hundreds of hours went into the manufacture which has remained covered up and unused for many years. Sitting as I was on the saloon seating making these notes and my eyes raised to the ceiling, an intricately inlaid conch shell caught my eye. You have to see all this to believe it - hopefully my photos will give some idea of the attention to detail and quality of construction.

Inlaid Conch shell

Saloon ceiling detail

Hardwood Shower Stall

Carved leaf in panelling

Corner Shelf with Oriental Vase

Saloon inlaid with silver table

Showing size of saloon table

White Leather Saloon Cushions

White Leather Saloon Cushions

White Leather Saloon Cushions

Construction

Constructed from Ferro Cement from a set of plans from the well respected Samson design stable who specialise in Ferro Cement.
The actual build was undertaken and project managed by Brian the perfectionist. A well respected company who had much previous experience of this method of construction were chosen to undertake the hull construction. Potter & Bishop were the chosen builders together with a massive team of plasterers. Two, six man teams were to undertake the actual finishing in addition to a 40 man team of labourers and one mixer man.
The hull was plastered and finished all within one day. It is testament to the quality of workmanship that some 40 years have elapsed since that day - and her hull is as good as the day she was created. Other forms of construction, whether of steel, wood or GRP would require almost constant maintenence, a good ferro hull, such as this almost requires no attention apart from a repaint - which Nefertari could do with.
Her hull was built and certificated to Lloyds A1 specification, the tops!

Port fwd. bow

Port side from aft

Port side from fwd.

Port bow from fwd.

Beam on-afloat

Beam on-afloat

Equipment

There are 3 x 20 foot containers absolutely crammed full with valuable fixtures and fittings and hardwoods required for the final fit out. Much of the finer details have already been made, intricate mouldings of various hardwood, plus uncut planks of teak and similar hardwoods. All her standing and running rigging, Electric winches are now converted by Brian to Hydraulic, along with her anchor windlass. 2 x flush toilets, believed to be the expensive Baby Blake Classic, still made today if you have some £4000 to spare for just 1! The spiral staircase has the top rails already manufactured and await final fitting. This is currently containerised.
All in all the combined value of the contents of the containers would come to many thousands of pounds. Even a bandsaw and welder are included. I have not begun to list these contents as there is simply no space to enter 2 of them!

Saloon ceiling knee and porthole

Fwd. Cabin Berth detailing

Interior Panelling with mirror

Interior Panelling

Panelling into Fwd. cabin

Bronze Porthole

Glass Fronted Cabinet

Galley Cooker

Hardwood Shower Stall

Spiral Staircase

Navigation Equipment

SV.NEFERTARI
Final comments.
This yacht underwent sea trials and was used almost as is some 5/6 years ago, and would not take much work to put back into some form of commission. I estimate that around 75% of the work required has been completed. For the past 20 years or so has been lived aboard by Brian and Gillian, so the vessel is currently ready to move aboard immediately the sale has concluded. Last out of the water around 4/5 years ago when the prop was removed and placed into storage. She will need checking/replacement of anodes - though having owned a 40 foot Endurance ferro schooner personally, ferro are not renowned for excessive changes of anodes.
The yacht currently lies as is, where is afloat on the river Crouch in Essex. She is not advertised as a liveaboard in her current location. and a quick sale is required, hence her price. Assistance where required can probably be given, but viewing is strictly by arrangement as Gillian her owner is still onboard.

Engine(s)

AEC diesel marinised personally by Brian. This came from an ex.London Fire Engine and totally rebuilt and installed by Brian and has undergone sea trials about 5 years ago. Due to a modification, Brian removed the gearbox and made some changes - this is now ready for re-installing.
2 x 3 bladed bronze 23" propellors are containerised. (1 x spare)

Main engine covered

Prop shaft

Gearbox - ready for re- installation

Sails & Spars

The Spars are hand crafted from Prime Sitka Spruce, with all standing and running rigging containerised. No sails have been built but are available from various online sail exchange businesses - no need to spend fortunes here.
Spars consist of a Mainmast, Mizzen and 2 x booms.

Kent Clearview Screen

File of Building Plans

File of Building Plans

Helm Station

Helm Station with Wheel

Saloon Seating

Perkins P3 Generator

Perkins P3 Generator

Panelling

Interior Panelling

Location Map