martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

Artwork afloat in an unlikely medium

Now for some contrast. For me, yacht design has always been an art and a science. You pick a target for the objective elements like boat speed and handling characteristics. Maybe you throw in some objective comfort requirements too. With those items objectified and defined you have some room left over to decide on how you are going to wrap that package aesthetically. Do you want a traditional look like Chuck’s daysailer? Do you want an eclectic look like Steve’s motorsailer? Or do you want to push the boat towards the very modern, “I bet you haven’t seen this before” look?  

The designer of the LA28, Martin Menzner, of Berckemeyer Yacht Design decided on a look that would challenge your appreciation of yacht aesthetics. It’s a new look that moves forward from a lot of modern, high-performance sport boats and takes it to a new level of art.  He carefully avoided the “in your face” approach and instead gave us a boat that while almost “normal” looking is visually stunning. It looks new and it looks right. It also takes full advantage of all wood construction techniques. 

The first thing that strikes me as I look at the hull is the heavily radiused deck edge. I’m not even sure I’d call it the sheer line. The radius appears to increase as you go aft. If you use the inboard intersection of the radius with the deck camber as the sheer you get a reverse sheerline. The bow has reverse rake to it as is pretty common today. There is just a bit of overhang aft. The D/L is 74 and the L/B is 3.4. Draft with the carbon lifting keel down is 5 feet 9 inches. The beam is moderately distributed and not exaggerated aft. There is no chine but in this case I think that is a function of the cold-molded build style they have chosen, eliminating hard joints in the structure. While there is no hard chine to the hull the turn of the bilge forward is very tight resulting in an almost chine-like shape forward. The sections aft are very arc-like.

You can choose from two cockpit configurations. You can go with long bench seats forward in the cockpit or just a big, open cockpit with the only seating being on the side deck. To my eye the bench seat cockpit looks to be the more practical. The cabintrunk is beautifully contoured and simple in shape. There is volume below for settee berths and a mini-galley, but I don’t think anyone would consider this a serious cruising boat. That was never the intention. But you never know. You might get a wild hair.

The LA28 is being built in Germany by LA Yacht and is the build product of some out-of-work wooden boatbuilders who decided to combine talents and form a yard.  Four LA28s have been delivered to date and now the yard is looking to expand and get started on a 35-foot model. I wish them the very best of luck.

LOA 27’11”; LWL 26’3”; Beam 8’3”; Draft 5’9”; Displ. 3,306 lbs.; Ballast 1,200 lbs.; Sail area 398 sq. ft.; SA/D 28.69; D/L 74; L/B 3.4; Auxiliary 2.4kw electric (optional); Water 13 gal.

Our best estimate of the sailaway price  $135,000

Heinrich-Seifel-Str. 3

Waren, Germany 

+49 173 2945147

www.la-yacht.de

Also in Perry on Design

  • Wallyrocket 51
  • Clubswan 28
  • Beneteau Oceanis 37.1
  • M.A.T. 12.2
  • Jeanneau Yachts 55

Also from Robert H. Perry

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

  • Yachting World
  • Digital Edition

Yachting World cover

LA 28: The modern trailable boat that’s cold-molded from mahogany

Yachting World

  • October 8, 2019

The LA 28 is a beautiful, cold-moulded wooden trailer-sailer that was designed to be unique, and has now sold nine boats across Europe. Sam Fortescue steps on board

Appropriately, it’s a long train ride through thick, thick forest before I reach the LA Yachts yard on the banks of Lake Müritz in central Germany. This seems apposite because the boat I’ve come to see is an exquisite example of how wood is just as relevant as ever when it comes to boatbuilding.

In truth, the LA 28 has little in common with the endless rows of fir that fringe the lake; she is cold-moulded from nobler stuff. But it is striking that this young shipyard chose to build in wood. I ask yard owner Lothar Fichtner why.

“It’s lighter than GRP and cheaper than carbon,” he says without blinking. So much for the romance of traditional construction, then. In fact, there’s little about this vessel the boatbuilders of 100 years ago would recognise.

la28-trailable-wooden-boat-bow-running-shot-credit-Soenke-Hucho

Around 60kg of Sicomin epoxy is used in the lay-up. Photo: Soenke Hucho

For one, cold moulding is a technique that relies heavily on epoxy resin to stick each layer of wood to the last and sheath the whole structure to keep the water out. Then there can be as much or as little carbon in the rig and the finish as you want, while propulsion comes courtesy of a Torqeedo electric motor.

Despite her elegant tumblehome and the plunging curve of her coachroof, this is a thoroughly modern boat. “The best of modern and traditional,” Fichtner says.

The story of the LA 28 begins with the desire of a wealthy man to have a beautiful sailing toy. Lothar Fichtner was that man and, having sold his engineering business, he wanted to enjoy more of life from his second home on Mallorca.

Article continues below…

revolver-gentlemans-racer-bruce-ritchie-side-view-credit-crosbie-lorimer

Revolver: Bruce Ritchie’s gentleman’s racer blends traditional and modern craftsmanship

“I wasn’t expecting this,” said Michael Ritchie when his 83-year-old father Bruce showed him the lines he had drawn up…

special-yacht-European-yacht-of-the-year-liteboat-xp-exterior-credit-rick-tomlinson

European Yacht of the Year 2019: Special yachts

This category assembles a varying mix of interesting craft, many of which we might otherwise not have had the chance…

He approached a boatbuilder in the Muritz region called Andreas Zehle who specialised in the building of the German 20er Jollenkreuzer racing dinghy class, also cold moulded. Then he drafted in designer Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design in Laboe on the Kieler Fjord.

This small design house has worked on everything from dinghies to high-latitude yachts, using a range of construction materials and techniques. Crucially, Berckemeyer is strong in cold-moulded yacht design, or ‘speed strip’ as they call it.

The brief was for a trailerable 8-9m boat, that was “simple to rig, as single-handed as possible and with excellent sailing characteristics,” Fichtner explains. “I am bothered by the current development in boatbuilding. Almost all boats look the same. I wanted something exclusive that is modern in design and traditionally built.”

la28-trailable-wooden-boat-topsides-credit-Soenke-Hucho

It takes more than 15 coats of varnish to achieve this degree of shine on the finish. Photo: Soenke Hucho

Menzner is a successful J/80 sailor himself, and the two men quickly saw eye-to-eye. The whole design process took just three months. Fichtner had no clear idea of it at the time, but he wasn’t just buying a boat, he was establishing a yard.

“I founded the shipyard because two boatbuilders were unemployed and I wanted to have a boat for my area in Germany and Mallorca,” he recalls. But one thing led to another, and Fichtner is a naturally ambitious man.

“We had a lot of success at trade fairs and continuous orders. Then I found my way into Germany’s Yacht magazine.” They have now sold nine boats since 2015, when the first garnered rave reviews at Interboat in Friedrichshafen.

Working with wood

Cold moulding requires a rough plug to be made, but no female tooling is needed, making it much cheaper to set-up than in the case of GRP or carbon. The plug around which the hull is formed is simply made from strips of softwood fastened around CNC-milled frames. It’s quick, cheap and relatively easy. The natural flexibility of the 2.5mm strips of wood used in cold moulding the hull iron out any imperfections in the mould.

The first stage of the process is to place a layer of plastic sheeting over the mould. Then the strips are bent into shape and clamped in place to hold their form. Each layer is bagged and vacuum infused with Sicomin epoxy resin, which soaks into the very top layer of the wood and helps to bond each strip edge-to-edge.

Each layer is laid in a different direction to the previous: longitudinal strips of okoume first, then lateral, then diagonal. For the outer layers, Lothar prefers African mahogany (khaya), giving a warm, reddish finish to the hull, which is many times stronger than the equivalent in glassfibre, and lighter too.

The deep curve of the tumblehome is all part of the hull shape, so it isn’t possible to mould the whole hull at the same time. Instead, there are two symmetrical plugs, one for the port side, one for starboard.

When the two halves are finished, they are simply epoxied together in the middle with a sort of low keelson covering the whole length of the joint for extra strength.

la28-trailable-wooden-boat-interior-credit-Soenke-Hucho

Cold moulding leads to a beautiful interior finish. Photo: Soenke Hucho

At this stage, the hull is still just a hollow form, albeit a beautiful one. Extra strength must be added next, which is achieved by ‘backfilling’ frames, ringframes and stringers – all glued into place after the event. These support the stresses of the mast, the shrouds and the keel, and provide structure for the transom, keelbox and so on.

The finish is a matter of personal taste – every owner makes their own decisions on this. Some have opted for carbon detailing; a layer of carbon epoxied around the aluminium mast post, for instance, a carbon keelbox and carbon fibre pads where the line for the retractable bowsprit passes through the companionway bulkhead into the cockpit. The mast and boom are both in carbon, with sails recommended in X-Drive carbon from UK Sailmakers.

Others have requested a white painted interior (a lot more work, observes Fichtner), or different woods used in the construction process to give a slightly different finish. The point is that every boat is unique and can be formed and specified to fit its new owner’s wishes: engine or no engine; spade rudder or transom-mounted kick-up rudder.

la28-trailable-wooden-boat-tiller-credit-Soenke-Hucho

LA Yachts uses a very light wooden core for the tiller, then laminates it with carbon fibre. Photo: Soenke Hucho

Below the waterline the usual keel is a 600kg lead bulb, but again you can choose from a number of options. With the fixed keel there is the option of a 1.7m, 1.8m or 1.9m draught – depending on where you sail and how aggressively rigged she is.

But the hydraulic lift is proving a popular option, which reduces draught by 0.9m in the raised position. It’s a handy option for shallow waters, and makes it more feasible to land wherever the fancy takes you – perhaps with a family and a picnic basket.

True to the boat’s thoroughly modern character, Fichtner worked closely with Torqeedo in designing the LA 28 to use one of the company’s 2.5kW electric drives.

This is permanently mounted on a pod under the cockpit, but the throttle lives out of sight on a fold-down panel that pops out of one of the cave lockers. It’s a neat solution to the fact that the Torqeedo control is chunky and modern, and rather at odds with the otherworldly lines of the LA 28.

Controlled growth

The boat is resolutely designed to be simple to handle. “They sail easily and they’re very light. I can come into port by myself, and handle her myself,” Fichtner says. “With a bigger boat you always need a team – you are never alone.”

That said, there is a bigger boat on the horizon. Taking its cues from the look and handling of the LA 28, a larger 35-footer has been designed and will shortly enter the build phase. At 10.8m long, she can still be trailered, thanks to an all-up towing weight of just less than 3.5 tonnes.

“I want to invest in quality,” says Fichtner determinedly. “My dream would be to build just three boats per year.” There seems to be a preponderance of billionaires among the ownership ranks of LA Yachts, so perhaps three a year is more ambitious than it sounds.

Specification

LOA: 8.8m (28ft 11in) LWL: 8.0m (26ft 3in) Beam: 2.5m (8ft 2in) Draught: 1.7-1.9m (5ft 7in-6ft 3in) Keel raised: 0.8-1.0m (2ft 8in-3ft 3in) Displacement: 1.5 tonnes Ballast: 600kg (1,322lb) Engine: Torqeedo Cruise 2.0FP Price: €120,000 (ex. VAT)

Pure 42 DS : New aluminium deck saloon yacht

Fridtjof Gunkel

 ·  16.02.2024

Pure 42 DS: New aluminium deck saloon yacht

The boat is visually in line with the successful Berckemeyer designs such as the deck saloon yacht BM 53. The modern lines with deep chines, negative stem and fixed bowsprit are characterised by a large, quite veritable, but visually harmonious deckhouse. Further features of the deck saloon yacht are the twin rudders, the protected propeller and above all the lifting keel, which enables a variable draught from 1.20 metres suitable for shallow water to a high-performance 3.00 metres. The lifting keel with T-bomb is infinitely adjustable and makes it easier to fall dry. A retractable bow thruster is standard and an additional thruster in the stern is optional. The cutter rig with staysail and genoa is available in aluminium or made of carbon with a rod rig. Protected behind the deckhouse, the cockpit offers a fixed dodger and walkaround geometry, which also improves the ergonomics at the winches. The drums on the wheel, where the halyards and outhauls converge in the centre alongside the sheets, can be operated easily and effectively as the user stands directly in front of them.

Deck saloon yacht with panoramic view and crew contact

The inner and outer areas are visually connected: The seated person in the cockpit is on a visual axis with a standing and also a seated person in the saloon. The helmsman is slightly elevated in order to have a clear view of the deckhouse. The deck saloon with integrated galley provides an almost unrestricted all-round view. There are two cabins and a wet room in the hull. The bow of the deck saloon yacht has a sailing load. To starboard next to the keel box is another living area that can be freely arranged. Additional berths, a sofa or a boat office are conceivable here. The hull of the Pure 42 DS is being built at Jachtbouw Folmer in Holland and will be extended and completed by the newly founded Pure Yachts on the Kiel Fjord. Further Berckemeyer designs are to be built there in the future.

The living space ends at the companionway bulkhead | Illustration: Berckemeyer Yachtdesign

Technical data Pure 42 DS

  • Hull length 12.90 m
  • Waterline length 12.30 m
  • Width 4.10 m
  • Draught 1.20-3.00 m
  • Weight 12.0 tonnes
  • Ballast 3.3 tonnes
  • Mainsail 60.0 m²
  • Jib 46.0 m²
  • Stagfock 22.0 m²
  • Code Zero 90.0 m²
  • Gennaker 150 m²

More on the topic

  • Self-build "Remy" after Berckemeyer crack
  • BM is also available in wood: Augenweide BM 40
  • Aluminium BM 36 in test
  • BM 40 made of aluminium in the test
  • GRP deck saloon yacht Nordship 42 on test

Deck saloon yachts at YACHT tv

Most read in category yachts.

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

  • Chris Beeson
  • January 26, 2016

Yachting Monthly visits Boot 16 in Düsseldorf, Europe’s largest boat show, to see the new LA28

Boot 16

The LS28 is a modern symphony in cold moulded cedar, sheathed in khaya veneers Credit: Chris Beeson

Boot 16

The sensational lines run all the way aft, and the carbon fibre trim sets off the wood wonderfully

Boot 16

Her cockpit suggests she’s simple to sail, as a daysailer should be

Boot 16

Pretty special, eh? Not much below but what there is really impresses

  Who would she suit? Apart from having a fair chunk of the disposable and probably a waterside property (think Como, or Geneva) at which to berth their LA28, her owners are likely to be art collectors, with an unassailable eye for the exquisite.   Price €90,252 inc VAT, ex sails and motor (Around £68,435 inc VAT) LOA 8.5m 27ft 11in LWL 8m 26ft 3in Cabins 0 Beam 2.5m 8ft 3in Draught 1.75m 5ft 9in Displacement 1,500kg 3,306lbs Contact LA Yacht Email [email protected] Website www.la-yacht.de

Click here to read about more new boats and Boot 16

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

... classic, modern day sailor with fixed or retractable keel

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

Building Journal LA28

Mit den Bautagebüchern zu unser Baureihe der LA 28 sehen Sie wie unsere Boote entstehen. Angefangen von den ersten Lieferungen an Material, über die Erstellung des Rumpfgerüstes, bis hin zur Verleimung des Rumpfes und den anschließenden Feinarbeiten innen und außen.

Building Journal LA28 #1

[slideshow_deploy id=’100′]

Building Journal LA28 #2

[slideshow_deploy id=’350′]

Hull and Deck

Hull and decks are built in cold molded wood with modern vacuum technology. The inner layers are made of Okume. The outer veneers are produced with selected Khaya.The deck is teak. The veneers are glued with top-quality epoxy resin.

Keel and Rudder T-KEEL with lead bulb as fixed keel and single rudder or lifting keel with twin rudders.

Rig and Sails Mast and main boom in Carbon. Rigging in Dyform. Jib Furler below deck made by Bartels. Rodkicker in Carbon with gas pressure spring. Self-tacking jib with traveler. Mainsail with square head and one reef. Code 0 and Gennaker on retractable bowsprit. All sails are from UK sails in X-Drive Carbon or as per request by the customer.

Deck Hardware All deck gear and winches from Harken.

  • Without Engine
  • Outboard electric or gas
  • Inboard, electric or diesel

Electrical Components  (nachträglicher Einbau nach Kundenvorgabe ohne Aufpreis) Battery 180 AH, shore connection, battery charger, battery switch, switch panel for the electrical systems with automatic circuit breaker, LED lighting throughout.

Interior Bulkheads and furniture are made of warm mahogany marine plywood. Cushions etc will be made custom.

V-Berth V-berth for 2 people (length 2,20 m, 7.2 feet).

Salon Salon bunk or rear bunk as seat and resting surface/partially under the outside bench (length 2,20 m) incl. two built-in cupboards on port and on the starboard side. Optional portable potty.

Keel and Rudder

T-KEEL with lead bulb as fixed keel and single rudder or lifting keel with twin rudders.

Rig and Sails

Mast and main boom in Carbon. Rigging in Dyform. Jib Furler below deck made by Bartels. Rodkicker in Carbon with gas pressure spring. Self-tacking jib with traveler. Mainsail with square head and one reef. Code 0 and Gennaker on retractable bowsprit. All sails are from UK sails in X-Drive Carbon or as per request by the customer.

Deck Fittings

All deck gear and winches from Harken.

  • outboard engine (gas or electric)
  • inboard sail drive (electric or diesel)

Electrical installations

Battery 180 AH, shore connection, battery charger, battery switch, switch panel for the electrical systems with automatic circuit breaker, LED lighting throughout.

Interior design

Bulkheads and furniture are made of warm mahogany marine plywood. Cushions etc will be made custom.

V-bunk for 2 people (length 2,20 m).

Salon bunk or rear bunk as seat and resting surface/partially under the outside bench (length 2,20 m) incl. two built-in cupboards on port and on the starboard side. Optional porta potty.

Video auf YACHT-TV

01-nc-Test-LA-28_hl-1

YACHT-Test ( PDF-Datei )

Screenshot 2016-04-19 02.11.28

Official Instagram page for the LA Yacht & Bootsbau GmbH. Traditional Craftsmanship and modern design.

LA Yacht- & Bootsbau GmbH

  • LA Yacht – individuelle Segelyachten
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martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

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no-frills-sailing.com

Completing a bargain hull

  • April 5th, 2020
  • Cruise Report

With my own boat almost sold and loads of projects for the future in my mind the search for a new boat goes on, albeit the Covid-19 crisis does not seem to slacken its grip on us all (well, I am sure it will go by and hopefully will leave nothing more than a profound shock). Anyway, my project of acquiring a bigger aluminium yacht came to an abrupt hold some weeks ago, partially due to the virus, partially due to the fact that the project planned to re-finance the boat has been cancelled. Nevertheless, my search for a new boat continues, as does the constant development of funding-projects. Knowing that the quarantine is not very healthy for my brain, I played around with a crazy idea last week of which I want to tell you, dearest reader, the story today. The idea was: Why not try to acquire a bargain hull and finish it?

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

The Dutch yard KM Yachtbuilders who are most famous for their rugged Bestevaer and Bestwind aluminium yachts have a great offer on the website: The hull of a Berckemeyer 39C German sailing yacht, catalog price 98.000 Euros ex VAT – now under offer for a fantastic price of 75.000 Euros. A bargain! The hull has been built in the year 2014 and I guess there is an interesting story why the original customer bailed out of the deal, anyway, the hull is for sale since then. So, instead of investing a budget of some quarter million Euros in a used boat, like the fantastic Allures 44 or my beloved Cigale 14 . I thought, let´s play around with a possible project of having this particular Berckemeyer 39C German finished.

Bargain on an already finished hull

Price-wise the offer of KM Yachtbuilders is really great. Since the hull is for sale in the sixth year now I would figure that the yard would be happy to have this boat sold at last and I would assume that from the 75.000 Euros some more saving is possible – probably not much, but at least some. I asked for a quote and I received an attractive offer. For me, it seemed an idea worth playing around with: With my own “big” project cancelled I do not have the need for a +44 feet yacht anymore, scaling down boat size fits neatly. It would reduce running costs sufficiently and – of course – a boat with a length of 12.70 metres is absolutely adequate for sure.

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

This Tonger 39 is originally a Berckemeyer 39C-design done by Martin Menzner . As I am an absolute admirer of his boat designs and Berckemeyer sailing yachts are in my opinion the most beautifully designed boats to date, ageless and modern at the same time, blessed with stunning performance … it would be a dream come true owning one. Looking at the bare data of a sister ship, as well built by KM Yachtbuilders, called TIN LIZZY, the figures are more than promising: 40 feet length, 8.5 tons is her displacement (a Hanse 415 displaces 9 tons). She is built monolithic, very strong and should be a fast boat indeed. I grab my phone and call Martin Menzner, her designer.

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

“Yes, the 39C-design is a quick and robust boat, she will sail very well”, he says: “Personally I do not quite like her big superstructure mimicking a raised saloon very much but the clients wanted this, but in the end she offers a load of internal volume, natural light and of course a superior performance.” Well, that sounds quite nice, I thought and in my mind ticking a check-box for this new project. Martin continues: “But have you considered all items connected with such a project?” Nope, I haven´t.

Calculating the Project

Although I would describe myself as a fairly educated insider to boating business and prices when it comes to purchasing new boats or refitting old boats, I admittedly never calculated finishing a built hull. Martin gives me some hints: “In times with overall low price level the ratio in terms of budget needed to build an aluminium hull and having her interior finished would be 1:3. In times of raised prices the ration would soar to 1:4, even 1:5. Now, considering your 39C-project, I would assume you´d need at least a budget of 150.000 to 200.000 Euros, probably much more, because, strange enough, we seem to have entered a high-price-period” Martin explains that during the last months prices for custom built yachts have skyrocketed due to increased demand, waiting times of 2 years are common practice and thus the price level for “real” ships are through the roof. No good news though …

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

But what does finishing a hull mean in detail? First of all, there is the engine and connected machinery, like saildrive, prop, tanks and auxiliary equipment with a minimum price of 30.000 Euros. Next up would be the complete electric circuit with lighting , electronic equipment and alike, surely mounting for another 30 to 40.000 Euros, if not more. The fresh-, grey- and blackwater-circuits with valves, piping, tanks and instruments. The hull needs to be insulated, all electric wiring and installations must be done in a mass-free configuration (raising as well the price for the Diesel engine). And we haven´t even talked furniture …

Berckemeyer boats, as well as most of the other well-known aluminium brands out there, come up with variable keels. With “my” Berckemeyer 39C German it´s the same: The boat has a drop keel which is operated by a hydraulic system. Definitely not cheap equipment. “And you shouldn´t expect to be able to acquire the lead for the keel bomb to a bargain price”, Martin continues: “Right now it´s 4 Euros per kilogram.” For the 39C´s drop keel lead bomb of 1.9 tons that would be that the price tag for the raw price of the lead alone mounting to a staggering 8.000 Euros-budget plus working hours to cast the lead. Gulp.

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

And all this with not a single piece of wood sanded. The biggest portion of the budget needed for finishing a hull is the interior furniture, the woodworks. I absolutely know what I am talking about since I did this for the past 3 years in my own boat. Things as simple as making a roofing panel are very complicated projects calling for very skilled craftsmen spending lots of time working on these pieces. Part by part. A painstakingly slow process, 100 per cent hand-crafted. And I just have experience in making the nice upfront pieces: For a raw hull like the 39C the full substruction needs to be made in the first place. Oh boy. Sounds like a load of work. Remember: Ratio 1 to 5, like Martin said. “You will probably end with a budget around 400.000 Euros, if you want to make it right”, Martin finishes.

Really a bargain?

So, is that really a bargain? Is this really an alternative plan? I´d say no. Maybe KM Yachtbuilders might give away the hull for a very good price. As an aluminium hull I am sure it is done in a perfect way and knowing that Martin Menzer did the design I am sure that the boat is a perfectly capable, seaworthy sailing yacht for sure. But investing another 200 to 300 K in getting her ready? We haven’t even talked rigging and sails yet … For sure, she won´t be cheaper than the 250 to 300 K aluminium yachts under offer I took a look at two months ago in France , but considering that price – nope, definitely not a bargain. At least not for me. I am a bit sad: I thought this might be the chance to finally become a Berckemeyer-sailor myself and I am sure KM Yachtbuilders will do a wonderful job in finishing the hull …

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

„It is a good idea”, says Michael Krämer, owner of a Luebeck-based yard to which I am talking later about this project: “We can do this for sure, just bring her on!” But he also tells me about the mounting costs of executing such a project: “Your idea of stretching the cost over two to three years may be attractive for a re-financing plan but on the other hand I can assure you that prolonging a project makes it even more expensive. It´s a s simple as that.” I can understand this to the fullest. So, any alternatives? Well, as it turns out, there are of course.

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

Just some days later, I join my company to help get the boats out of winter storage and into the water, I spot another aluminium hull on the area next to our marina. A 34 foot hull. Hard-chined, very voluptuous, probably for sale (as it is parked there for years as well) and surely purchasable for a really low price, probably as low as 15 to 20.000 Euros. But apart from the fact that this hull is not a Berckemeyer nor a seemingly performance-oriented boat, all other points I talked about with Martin apply just as well to this hull as they did to the 39C German, except for the hydraulic keel. Not an option either, I would assume. And I remember very vividly my own experiences with building a boat, mounting to a “never again investing in a Black Hole like this!”-résumé.

martin menzner berckemeyer yacht design

So, what to do? My tendency towards acquiring a much, much smaller boat is the right way to go. The old saying “Go small – go now!” is certainly true. Smaller budget means much smaller invest in the first place as well as much smaller maintenance and running costs-budget needed after purchase. Maybe I should force myself to give up the dreams of having an aluminium boat and return to the good old GRP-made boats which in turn are much more affordable. Besides, talking of bargain: Other than custom-made yachts these plastic boats could experience a price-drop because of the crisis, which applies at least for stock boats of the dealers. Thanks Martin, thanks Michael for your expertise but I think I will dive deeper now in the research to find a suitable, small, sexy, performance-oriented and affordable new GRP-boat. I do have some on my list …

Copyright all pictures of German 39C hull and TIN LIZZY sailing yacht by KM Yachtbuilders

You may also be interested in reading these related articles:

Looking for a new boat, part 1

3 Aluminium Yachts I´d like to buy

Steel is real: A Berckemeyer 36

IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. Berckemeyer Yacht Design

    Oswald Berckemeyer (see "BERCKEMEYER") HEAD OF BM-YACHT DESIGN : Martin Menzner successful and experienced sailor designer of all BM-Yachts: EMAIL: [email protected]: ADDRESS: Berckemeyer Yacht Design Strandstr. 34 24235 Stein / Germany

  2. LA 28

    The designer of the LA28, Martin Menzner, of Berckemeyer Yacht Design decided on a look that would challenge your appreciation of yacht aesthetics. It's a new look that moves forward from a lot of modern, high-performance sport boats and takes it to a new level of art. He carefully avoided the "in your face" approach and instead gave us a ...

  3. LA 28: The modern trailable boat that's cold-molded from mahogany

    Then he drafted in designer Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design in Laboe on the Kieler Fjord. This small design house has worked on everything from dinghies to high-latitude yachts, using ...

  4. Berckemeyer BM 50 in the making

    Berckemeyer yachts are made in two main lines: For the cruisers it's the apparent sleek, steamlined performance design and for people interested in having a yacht that adheres to the more classy and "ship-like" looks Martin Menzner can make a pilot house classic cutter, much like KM´s Bestevaer - but only on Steroids. Streamlined deckhouse

  5. Aluminium Marvel: A Berckemeyer Yacht in the Making

    Martin Menzner: "You see, our clients don´t have a problem with budgets or prizes at all. They have a problem with delivering times. Right now the waiting queue for a Berckemeyer yacht made here in Emden is very long. Time for a new yacht to even start building process is 1.5 years now upon order signed …" Massive structure - one ...

  6. Hard Chines in Sailboat Design

    Talking to head of Berckemeyer Yacht Design, Martin Menzner, is always a pleasure - not just because of the fact that he is a very relaxed, unpretentious and open guy, he boasts a great sense of humor and carries his heart on his lips: You may have read the previous article on inverted bow in current cruiser-design.During this conversation he kind of drifted away from the bow-discussion ...

  7. Berckemeyer Yacht Design

    Website of Berckemeyer Yacht Design. Individual modern and classic sailing yachts... dreams get true! CURRENT BM YACHTS. BM23 classic; BM24 classic; WOY 26; LA28 daysail; BM30 Bristol; BM31 classic; BM33 classic; BM34 classic; ... BERCKEMEYER SERVICES.

  8. Pure 42 DS: New aluminium deck saloon yacht

    Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design has designed a modern light metal cruiser that is being built at a new shipyard in Kiel. The boat is visually in line with the successful Berckemeyer designs such as the deck saloon yacht BM 53. The modern lines with deep chines, negative stem and fixed bowsprit are characterised by a large, quite ...

  9. Berckemeyer Yacht Design

    All traditional and classic yachts designed by us feature modern underwater bodies, e.g. short keels (if requested with ballast bombs) and spade rudders. Moreover we try to a design for a displacement level that is realistically achievable in modern boatbuilding. Hence with our designs, the usual 20% need not be added to arrive at the real ...

  10. LA28

    Her rather sumptuous curves are drawn by the very talented but curiously uncelebrated Martin Menzner, head of the German concern Berckemeyer Yacht Design, on Lake Waren. She's build in cold moulded cedar using vacuum bagging for maximum infusion efficiency, then those dreamy khaya wood veneers are glued onto the hull using epoxy resin.

  11. BM-36: aluminum yacht from Germany

    The construction of Martin Menzner/Berckemeyer Yacht Design is characterized by its modern design with a wide rear, the material owed Chines and a highly functional cutter rigged. In the YACHT-Test of the BM knew how to convince 36 by perfect ergonomics, excellent sailing abilities and a direct feeling of Control in the large part of the sunken wheel.

  12. The Berckemeyer BM49 Yacht: Ready for Fitting

    And you can go upriver exploring, discovering places no fixed keel yacht can ever go. Amazing. Berckemeyer yacht´s specialty: Variable draft with a drop keel "Thanks to Martin Menzner´s brilliant construction here", says Martin and points to the keel. The drop keel is operated by a string hydraulic system.

  13. Segelyacht LA 28

    Martin Menzner Berckemeyer Yacht Design: DESCRIPTION. Hull and Deck. Hull and decks are built in cold molded wood with modern vacuum technology. The inner layers are made of Okume. The outer veneers are produced with selected Khaya.The deck is teak. The veneers are glued with top-quality epoxy resin.

  14. BM 36: into the Wide,

    The construction of Martin Menzner/Berckemeyer Yacht Design is characterized by its modern design with a wide rear, the material owed Chines and a highly functional cutter rigged. In the YACHT-Test of the BM knew how to convince 36 by perfect ergonomics, outstanding sailing skills and have a direct feeling of Control in the large part

  15. Moscow Metro Design Competition 3rd Prize

    Moscow Metro Design Competition 3rd Prize Winners News, Russian Architecture Contest 2020 Moscow Metro Competition 3rd Prize Winners 7 Oct 2020 Moscow Metro International Competition 3rd Prize Design: AI and Nowadays Location: Moscow, Russia AI/ Nowadays consortium 3rd Prize Winner in an international competition for a metro station in Moscow, Russia. Consortium of London-based practice ...

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  17. Berckemeyer Yacht Design

    Website of Berckemeyer Yacht Design. Individual modern and classic sailing yachts... dreams get true! BM YACHTS. BM23 CLASSIC; BM24 CLASSI C; BM28 CLASSIC; LA28 DAYSAIL; BM30 BRISTOL; BM31 CLASSIC; BM31 MIURA2; BM32 DAYSAIL; BM32 CLASSIC; BM33 CLASSIC; BM34 CAPE; BM35 BRISTOL; BM36; BM37 BRISTOL; BM39; GERMAN 39; BM39 ARCTIC; BM39 BRISTOL;

  18. Inverted Bows in Sailing Yacht Design

    It was the facebook-post of yacht designer Martin Menzner last week showing of one of his designs in the production yard which made me think of this particular design detail: The inverted bow. ... I prefer the classic Berckemeyer design over the inverted bow, but even with me the effect works pretty well. A detailled look onto the Berckemeyer ...

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  21. Completing a bargain hull

    This Tonger 39 is originally a Berckemeyer 39C-design done by Martin Menzner. As I am an absolute admirer of his boat designs and Berckemeyer sailing yachts are in my opinion the most beautifully designed boats to date, ageless and modern at the same time, blessed with stunning performance … it would be a dream come true owning one. Looking ...

  22. Berckemeyer Yacht Design

    Website of Berckemeyer Yacht Design. boat plans for modern and classic sailing yachts... dreams get true! CURRENT BM YACHTS. BM23 classic; BM24 classic; WOY 26; LA28 daysail; ... BERCKEMEYER SERVICES. EMAIL. BM39. Fast cruiser/racer with lifting keel. DIMENSIONS L (Hull) 11.95m LWL 11.09m Beam 4.00m