Velvet Glove- Alden 50
Osmotech Refit November 2007

The Velvet Glove is now twelve years old and Osmotech have been commissioned to undertake a total overhaul for her new owner. This is a large and exciting project with a detailed and high-specification brief that includes a great deal of work both inside and out, so over the coming months we’ll be keeping a diary of her refit and you can follow the progress here.

Much of the super structure needs to be restored; the topsides need to be repainted with awlgrip the hull needs to be blasted, given anti osmosis treatment, an anti-foul copper coat and repainted in classic yacht white. All the teak decking, capping rails and steps have to be stripped and varnished to super yacht standard with 8-10 coats being applied over the coming weeks, and the rail around the deck needs to be replaced

All the windows in the main saloon need to be removed and resealed and all the port lights need a thorough overhaul including painting and resealing. On the fly bridge the two helm chairs and all the deck cushions need to be re-upholstered and we will make a new, retractable fabric bimini. The mast will be re-stepped with new whip antennae, radar, nave and flood lights, a steaming light and finished with Bheuler horns. A new bespoke tender will be installed and its crane on the mast overhauled.

The interior of Velvet Glove is predominantly a rich dark wood and the brief from the client is to restore and re- varnish everything from bow to stern, but to maintain the distinct Alden style. All the hinges, locks and handles have to be assessed, cleaned or replaced (with Alden original parts) and both the heads will get new taps, showers and woodwork. All three cabins and the main saloon will get new upholstery, mattresses, head linings, carpet, light fittings and chrome switches. The galley will be stripped and overhauled including new gimbals for the stove and the refrigerator and freezer will get a full service.

The Alden’s two 600hp Caterpillar Diesel engines will get a full overhaul in situ and all the aging pipe-work, relays and electrics will be replaced. The engine room will get a fresh coat of paint, improved sound-proofing and cleaned bilges. One of the most complex jobs will be to tag and clearly mark all the vital, leads, cables and pipes and, as this is an American made boat, to certify all the systems to European C.E. standard.

We will install a state of the art Sliepner Sidepower bow and stern thruster system with remote control, which will involve moving the bow thruster tube forward to improve agility and fitting a new stern thruster in its own aft-mounted tube. The props, anodes, shafts and rope-cutters will all be checked and re-furbished and all the seacocks checked.

We will install a Webasto heating system and the generator, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems will also all get a complete overhaul, service and replacement if necessary. The sanitation system will be overhauled to include new toilets and a deep clean of the relevant tanks.

On the bridge, the aging computer and radar will be replaced with an integrated Raymarine navigation system and a new chrome clinometer, barometer and clock will be fitted. A new retractable plasma TV will be installed and linked to a new sound system, dvd, cd and MP3 player.

The Velvet Glove is now out of the water and has had her hull blasted bellow the water-line. Our team, led by Mike Ingram and Matt Ferris are now making a detailed assessment of what needs to be done and working out the programme and timetable for the re-fit. This will be updated every week so you can see how things progress.