Smit Jr. Pilot Boats Review and Specs

Year: 1916  
Manufacturer: Van der Vliet Quality Yachts BV
Price: EUR 1,795,000
(US$2,364,195)  

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The unique history of  “Silver Spray”, the former Dutch pilot schooner. In 1916, pilot schooner No. 1 left the Rotterdam ship-yard of Piet Smit JR and entered the Pilot Service as a sailing station in district Rotterdam and between 1927 and 1929 in district Texel. Pilots were rowed from the pilot schooner by dinghy to the cargo ships coming and going into the North Sea. In total 10 pilot schooners of this type have been built. These specific pilot schooners were built after the lines similar to those of the famous 1850 built America Cup yacht  “America” as speed and manoeuvrability were of great importance for the pilot service and for safety. “Silver Spray’s”  2nd life in new seas started when she set sail to catch whales. During World War II, “Silver Spray” was stationed at Nova Zembla where she fished for haddocks and scallops in polar waters. In the late 1970’s “Silver Spray” was rediscovered in the Faeroes. As the sole survivor of an interesting class, the Rotterdam Maritime Museum was very keen to save “Silver Spray” for posterity and  they immediately established a Foundation for this purpose. Whilst they were able to negotiate the purchase of “Silver Spray” (or rather what was left of her), they unfortunately could not raise the funds to restore her and she faced an uncertain future. Fortunately a Dutchman felt in love with “Silver Spray” and saved her from the scrapyard by buying the schooner for one symbolic Dutch florin.  A total renovation plan following the demanding standards of the Dutch yacht charter authority ‘Register Holland to make the vessel suitable for luxury yacht charter was made by a team of Dutch specialists and soon thereafter the ship was towed to Heeg in the North of Holland where the restoration (almost rebuilt) of the hull took place. The entire rebuilt of the yacht consumed  four and a half years and in 1999 the proud owner could set sail with the reborn “Silver Spray” The gaff rig was replaced by a wishbone schooner sail and top rigged mainsail. The last years the current owner of the Silver Spray made it possible to give the yacht a high-level refit. The Silver Spay is a yacht with character and has been refitted in 2010 / 2011 with eye for detail.

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Fuel  Hull Material  Hull Shape  Beam  Draft Board/Drive Up  Engine Make  Engine Model  Engine Year  Fuel Capacity  Length at Waterline  Length on Deck  Length Overall  Holding Tank Size  Water Capacity  Number of Engines  Max Bridge Clearance

Diesel Steel Displacement 21 ft 10 ft 2 in Scania DI9 60M 2010 1215 gal 80 ft 1 in 91 ft 10 in 112 ft 10 in 924.60 gal 9700 gal 1 109 ft 3 in

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Contact Information

Phone: Fax

+31(0)294 261264 +31(0)294 264957

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