Meryl Grandy

Previously we posted an article about Irving Johnson's Yankee. As mentioned 8 boats were built to this design. Here is hull #2, Caravan. The boat is appropriately named as she was built for Wally Byam, father of the Airstream trailer. According to a relative of his who contacted us "Wally was going to retire and use his ketch to travel the oceans, the rivers and canals of the world. Unfortunately he became ill and died before he could fulfill his dream".

The boat was built in the same shipyard as Yankee, the Westhaven Scheepswerf yard of Zaandam, Holland. She was launched in 1959.

Caravan has a different interior layout than that Yankee. Here's the General Arrangement plan.


Here are some interior images.

We posted a brief blog about this design last year. We're a bit further along in the design process now. As we said then, she is a new tri-deck 40-meter motoryacht design with emphasis on hull efficiency, sea-keeping, and with a seaworthy interior design that provides safety and comfort while underway. Plus she is designed with a bit of "retro" aesthetic.

Here's the general arrangement. I think it's a great layout. I especially like the Chris Craft launch as tender that stows athwartship and comes out either side of the boat on a beam crane. We did this so the owner could still have a very nice lazarette with wet bar, day head and shower.

Check out this beautiful image we just received from the owner of Theodora. (See my previous posting on this subject). She will be featured in Boating New Zealand magazine in an upcoming issue. I believe that's who we need to thank for this image. Nice looking boat!