A modified Van De Stadt Samoa
JAMS-By Steve & Bettye Hill
N5ICB/VK4ICB


JAMS Interior Layout



Steve and Bettye started building the yacht in 2000 in Yamba, Australia




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The exterior of the hull is fabricated entirely of aluminium.
More details about the design can be seen on the designer's site at:
Van De Stadt designed "Samoa" ,
(click on the blue link above for more info about the boat)



In the spring of 2001 the aluminum hull was completed enough to move out of the construction shed to add the rudder and keel, and to begin work on the interior. At the left you can see Steve hoping they don't drop her.

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After removing the hull from the shed, the rudder, keel, and many of the deck fixtures were added. Then the work on the interior began in earnest.



Thursday, May 1, 2003
SHE FLOATS
Finally in her proper element, JAMS motors down the river from the boatyard to the Yamba marina.

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Steve designed many original features into the interior.
Bettye gets credit for the beautiful varnish work.



This is a picture of the companionway steps. The shape of the treads is a true ellipse. They are a sandwich of wood and a plastic honeycomb to reduce weight. The dark stripes are bits of teak inlaid and projecting slightly as anti-slip. The slope is such that you come down more like stairs than a ladder - very comfortable. Steve says they took something like 50 - 60 hours to design (and re-design several times). Absolutely every millimeter was drawn in detail, templates made for the tough bits, etc. They are removed (the back is attached) to access the entire front of the engine.

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This is the tool box. The drawers are about 15" wide to give and idea of scale. The little silver knobs are a sort of latch - knob combination. The top three on the right are latched (knob is pushed in and almost flush with the drawer front. Pushing in against the closed knob causes it to unlatch and pop out becoming a knob. They are using these throughout the boat on all drawers and doors. These on the toolbox are a small size and all the rest are a larger version. To reduce shifting of the tools at sea the bottom of each drawer will be covered with rubber, and a cloth will be laid over the top.



This is the saloon table looking forward. Or at least the main part of it. There is a leaf that can be added to the far (forward) side. This means it is offset aft so that when the leaf is not in you can walk in down the forward side (slide in down the aft side). Looks a bit strange but should be very functional. The center is made of end grain maple blocks like an old fashioned chopping block.

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Here we have the frige. It's got a stainless steel liner and 4" of foam all the way round. Drawers, door, etc. are high gloss polyurethane. It is set up with tight fitting roll out drawers (top one is missing here) to make things easily accessible and help keep the cold in.

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Now a walk through the yacht, beginning with the aft cabin.




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Steve's brother Scott and his wife Ellie are claiming this aft cabin area for their future retirement home.

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The next area, moving forward, is the galley, on the port side, center. Not shown is the hard working cook trying to keep the stew from sloshing out on the floor as JAMS heels in a stiff breeze.

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Further forward on the port side is the dining table area of the main saloon. Not show here is the master of the yacht waiting patiently for his meal to be served by the aforementioned kitchen slave.



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And finally, in the master cabin forward, is the often sought after but rarely found queen size island bed. It is rumored to actually be possible to put the bedclothes on this bed with both feet on the floor!



Send EMail to Steve and Bettye: sebjhill(at)gmail.com