Yacht survey Grand Banks 41 Heritage in Pula (Croatia)

Extract from a yacht survey for a Grand Banks 41 Heritage EU in Pula (Croatia)

Assignment data

Motoryacht

Grand Banks 41 Heritage

2009

Marina Polesana, Pula

Croatia

Pre-Purchase-Survey

Seaworthy

74 from 100

Summary of the report

As part of the contract in question, a pre-purchase survey was carried out on a Grand Banks 41 Heritage EU in Marina Polesana in Pula, Croatia. The inspection was carried out on land, at the water berth and during a sea trial.

The yacht was a 12.59 m long GRP motor yacht of CE design category B, equipped with two Cummins QSB 425 HO diesel engines with a combined 820 BHP as well as a ZEUS pod drive and a DMS Magnus Master rotor stabilization system.

The overall condition of the yacht was rated as good. The yacht was classified as seaworthy within the agreed inspection scope.

The most important finding concerned the internal structure in the area of the two stabilizers, where stress cracks and local detachment of the secondary bonding were detected, which were taken into account in the report with appropriate reinforcement measures.

Another focus was on the ZEUS pod drive system, which proved to be basically functional during the test drive, but required some maintenance work.

Our expert opinion thus provided the buyer with a sound technical basis for decision-making, in particular for evaluating the structural repair to the inner shell and the upcoming service and repair work on the pod drive system.

The checkpoints

The focus of this assessment was on the following inspection points:

Visual inspection of hull, underwater hull and hull-deck connection on land including moisture measurement, percussion test and assessment of antifouling, sacrificial anodes and visible signs of osmosis.
Investigation of the inner structural composite with special focus on the transverse stiffeners and adhesions in the area of the retrofitted DMS Magnus Master rotor stabilizers.
Inspection of the ZEUS pod drive including propeller, trim tabs, visible housing areas, corrosion protection, anodes and function during the test drive.
Testing of the two Cummins QSB 425 HO diesel engines including visual inspection, cold start behavior, test run, test drive, engine parameters, fuel, cooling and exhaust system.
Functional testing of steering, autopilot, dynamic positioning, navigation and cockpit systems as well as relevant operating and display instruments.
Inspection of the on-board electrical system, batteries, charging equipment, shore power systems, inverter, generator and the main comfort, water, bilge and sanitary systems.

Yacht profile and gallery

The Grand Banks 41 Heritage EU is a classic, high-quality cruising motor yacht with a flybridge, spacious deck areas and a distinctly long-distance character.

The combination of a traditional Grand Banks look, solid GRP construction and modern pod-drive technology makes this type of yacht equally interesting for comfortable coastal cruises and longer trips in the Mediterranean.

The tested yacht was equipped with two Cummins QSB 425 HO diesel engines, ZEUS pod drives, generator, hydraulic passerelle, flybridge crane and DMS Magnus Master rotor stabilizers.

Length overall: 12.59 m – Width: 4.77 m – Draught: 1.12 m
Hull material: GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic)
Propulsion: 2 x Cummins QSB 425 HO with a total of 820 BHP, Zeus Pod Drives
Displacement: approx. 18,200 kg
Area & purpose: Coastal cruises along the Croatian Adriatic and longer trips in the Mediterranean
Character: classic flybridge motor yacht with high-quality fittings, good space and complex technical equipment

Identified defects

Category A Defects

Category B1 Defects

Category B2 Defects

Category C Defects

The central safety and cost-relevant deficiencies included, among others:

Stress cracks and local detachment of the secondary bonding of the inner shell in the area of the retrofitted Magnus Master stabilizers.
Outdated automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment with last documented service in 2013.
Defective sacrificial anodes on the pod drive or trim tab area.
Heavily worn coating on the lower ZEUS pod drive housingand trim tabs with increased risk of galvanic corrosion.
Significant play on the trim tab cylinder bearings; the starboard side was out of tolerance.
Rotten stiffeners and local detachments on the bathing platform.
Cracks on both anchor locker hatches and loose hinges on the port hatch.
Water ingress at the base of the flybridge helm with moisture ingress in the area of the saloon roof.

Recommendations

Structure / Inner Grid: Opening of the affected bonds, determination of the actual extent of detachment, restoration of the structural bond with suitable epoxy structural adhesive and re-lamination of the bond with graded biaxial glass layers.
Stabilizer system: The use of rotor stabilizers should be avoided in heavy seas until structural reinforcement is achieved.
ZEUS Pod Drive System: Complete rebuilding of the coating of the lower drive housings and trim tabs including a suitable epoxy primer system; renewal of the defective anodes; inspection and service of the trim tab cylinders by an authorized ZEUS technician.
Replacement of the automatic engine compartment fire extinguishing system by an authorized specialist company.
Deck and bathing platform: refit of the teak bathing platform by a boat builder or marine carpenter; reinforcement and repair of the anchor locker hatches; sealing of the flybridge helm pedestal.
Seawater desalination system: Service of the system that has not been used for a long time, including replacement of filters and membranes before recommissioning.
Tender / flybridge crane: Check whether the existing tender/outboard package is appropriately dimensioned for the flybridge crane and the trim behavior of the ship. A smaller and lighter tender was recommended.

Gallery of defects

Challenges

The biggest challenge during this assessment was the combination of the retrofitted rotor stabilization system and the ZEUS pod drive.

The DMS Magnus Master System was functional and passed the sea trial.

At the same time, the structural damage found on the inner shell was located precisely in an area where additional loads from the stabilizer, fuselage structure and sling or load-bearing areas can interact.

It was therefore crucial for the evaluation not only to test the function of the stabilization system, but also to specifically assess the adjacent structural zones with percussion, visual inspection and moisture measurement.

Do you need a yacht appraisal in Pula, Croatia?

Whether sailing yacht or motor yacht – we are your partner for yacht appraisals in Croatia and often also appraise in Pula. We would be happy to prepare an individual offer for the appraisal of your dream yacht in Marina Polesana or Marina Veruda.

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Definition of defect categories

Category A defects
Defects that acutely endanger seaworthiness, navigational safety and/or the safety of persons and require immediate rectification.

Category B1 defects
Defects that represent an incipient failure mode in a primary structural system (e.g. keel-hull connection, standing rigging, propulsion engine).

Category B2 defects
Defects that only restrict the convenience or usability of secondary, non-safety-critical systems (e.g. insufficient freezing capacity or minor electrical faults).

Category C defects
Defects that do not pose a safety threat and are mainly cosmetic.

Your certified marine surveyor in Pula, Croatia

This yacht survey in Pula was carried out by

Ing. Ingolf Schneider, MASc (AffIIMS)

Certified Marine Surveyor for Boats and Yachts up to24m. (LLoyds Maritime Academy, American Boat and Yacht Council). Member of the International Institure of Marine Surveying and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.