CLASSIC YACHT RAJA LAUT
Raja Laut is a custom-built schooner designed for private charters and luxury expeditions. The name "Raja Laut" means "King of the Seas" in Malay, and was chosen in hommage to the Malay Archipelago - the history, the people, the cultures.
A Modern Classic
The schooner Raja Laut's hull shape is typical of traditional European schooners, behind the traditional style, however, Raja Laut is a thoroughly modern and practical sailing yacht, easily handled by a crew of 4, equipped with a 300hp engine, watermaker, and the latest in navigation & satellite technology. Furthermore, with her air-conditioned cabins, multimedia and SCUBA-diving facilities, Raja Laut has all one needs for the perfect escape at sea.
For more details on Raja Laut private yacht charter journeys go to www.rajalaut.com.
The schooner was built to high standards, particularly noticeable in its heavy scantlings, high quality tropical hardwoods and practical well thought-out engineering.
The hull is made from Belian. Solid timber is planked onto frames and through-bolted to full-length stringers creating an exceptionally robust vessel.
The underbody is round section full keel leading to a short skeg and full unbalanced rudder. Maximum beam is concentrated just ahead of amidships which is typical of this style of vessel where reserve buoyancy was needed for cargo carrying capability.
Stability experiments carried out afloat under instructions from the architect have indicated a positive stability of 92 degrees, well in excess to that of most commercial vessels.
The sails and rig are classic and well designed with traditional blocks suited for this size and type of boat. She has pleasing lines above and below the waterline. The deck is laid with double timber plank and the deckhouses are of strong and practical construction.
Raja Laut will sail up to eleven knots under sail alone, and with her 300Hp Yanmar marine engine will reach speeds of 10 knots at 1850rpm or 8 knots when run under a more economical power (1600rpm with fuel consumption of approx 24 litres/hour). This coupled with 7000 litre fuel capacity gives Raja Laut a range of approx 2500 nautical miles under power.
WOOD INFORMATION
Belian (Eusideroxylon Zwageri)
The hull structure was built from Eusideroxylon Zwageri, known locally as Belian, which has natural properties that are hard to beat, both by other woods, as well as materials such as fibreglass or metals. Furthermore, each of the Belian pieces used to create the Raja Laut's hull structure - the planking, frames and stringers - was carefully selected. We accepted only the longest pieces: defect-free and quarter sawn. Then there is the thickness of the planking, the size and spacing of the frames, the stringers, the quality of the workmanship, and so on, all contributing to create an exceptional hull.
Belian is one of the worlds hardest and heaviest woods: harder, heavier and more durable than Teak, Ebony, Mahogany or Iroko, and one of the most exceptionally naturally durable hardwood species in existence. In the 2005 Australian Standards report on Timber Preservation and Durability Belian achieved the highest durability ratings out of all the woods studied (including Burmese Teak).
In the same report Belian was given a probable "marine-borer-resistance" life expectancy of 60+ years in southern waters (shorter in tropical waters). This resistance estimate is for untreated/unprotected timber, therefore with proper maintenance and use of anti-fouling protection, Raja Laut's Belian hull will likely last for 100 years or more.
Another property of Belian is its very high density which means that it would overwhelmingly satisfy the criteria for fire retardant timbers in Australian Standards 3959 on the Construction of Buildings in Bush Fire Prone Areas.
Belian is native and endemic to Indonesian and Malaysian Borneo, and the southern Philippines. However, Belian is increasingly scarce, in most areas protected, and no longer available on the international market.
Other woods used in the construction include -
Deck: Burmese Teak
Deckhouse & interior (walls/furniture): Selangan Batu
Interior Floors: Merbau
Accommodation
For images see the Raja Laut photo gallery
The accommodations below are well appointed, comfortable and laid out for luxury charters, ocean cruising, and living on board for long periods of time. All passenger areas are also fully air-conditioned.
From forward there is a forepeak accessed by a dedicated deck hatch. Aft of this the forward crew area is accessed by a companionway with a top opening hatch door, leading down to a large crew cabin with 4 bunks and wash and toilet facilities.
Internally, this is followed by the 6x double guest stateroom each with closet, table, mirror, with ensuite washrooms and showers. 3 cabins have LARGE queen size beds and 3 have bunk beds. Minimum headroom in cabins is 2.05m going up to 2.15m
Centrally located between the cabins below deck is the main saloon which is an open-plan feature of the boat consisting of large settees in a U shape configuration around a coffee table. on the wall a 32" flat screen tv, dvd player, and by the coffee table is internet access point. Aft of this, to starboard is storage/laundry cupboard with washer/dryer, and to port is a wine/drinks fridge. Aft of this is the engine room and machinery space followed by a workshop, freezer, and large coldroom (3m3). To starboard is an engineers cabin. Aft of this is the steering gear/lazarette area.
Above deck is a compressor room/ bosun's locker area. Exactly midship is a flush, spacious open deck area suitable for setting a large dining table, perfect for al-fresco dining, with canopy that can be quickly setup for shade.
In keeping with the Baltic trader tradition there is a cargo hatch styled seating area at midship with a skylight providing light to the saloon below.
Aft of midship is the main deck house with an access on the port and starboard sides where the dining area comprises two dinner tables able to accommodate 12 diners in total. The galley is separated from the dining area by a breakfast bar and is equipped with modern stove, fridge/freezer and microwave.
The fully equipped navigation and captain's area is located aft of the galley leading to the outside helm and poopdeck seating area above the transom. The captain has a separate air-conditioned cabin with toilet and shower.
Galley (Kitchen)
The galley is located in the central area of the main deckhouse. It is equipped with all of the equipment required for cruising or living on board for long periods of time, with a double sink, cupboards, 3-burner propane stove, propane oven, microwave oven, and a large stainless steel fridge/freezer. There is space for 4 propane tanks in custom vented deck boxes with selector valves.
Sails & Rigging
The rig is designed by Bosgraaf Yacht & Boat Design, Amsterdam, NL. The rig is well designed and suited to the vessel. The sails are constructed of Dacron with the appropriate weights for each by Lee Sails of Hong Kong. The sail eyes are stainless steel and there is traditional leatherwork covering the head, tack and clew. Bronze is used to secure the inner and outer jibs to the forestays.
There are a total of 5 sails:
- Mainsail (125 m2)
- Main topsail (30 m2)
- Foresail (89 m2)
- Jumbo (44 m2)
- Yankee (32 m2)
Shrouds are of 20mm galvanized wire rope and connected to the chainplates by means of dead eyes in the traditional manner.
Halliards and sheets are nylon and polyester. Masts are of 9 mm thick x 320 mm diameter steel. Spars are of timber with stainless steel fittings. Netting is employed between the sprit and the martingales.
Deck & Hull
Raja Laut has a good practical layout with emphasis on quality timber and professional joinery throughout. The entire hull is of exceptionally hard and resistant ironwood timber (sp. Belian/Ulin).
- The keel is 30cm x 35cm x 22meters in one seamless piece
- The keelsom is 20cm x 20 cm
- The planking varies in thickness from 7cm for the bottom hull to 6cm at the turn of the bilge and 5cm for the topsides
- The internal stringers extend from keelsom to deck, are 20cm x 7cm and spaced at 17 cm interval
- The wood for the frames was specifically selected to fit the curvature of the hull. Each frame is construed of 2 pieces, each 15cm thick by 10 cm wide, bolted together with a minimum of 50 cm overlap where joined.
- The stem is formed by a 30cm x 30 cm solid piece of Belian/Ulin, supported by a timber knee off the stem that has a rake of 62 degrees
- The sprit is boxed with a stainless steel band at the stem and covered with painted non skid planks
- Decks are double timber, starting with a layer of hardwood boards upon the deck beams, followed by a layer of fiberglass, marine plywood, and Burmese teak caulked with Sikaflex
- All fastenings and bolts are 304 stainless steel
- 20 tons of ballast is cast in the bilges (ballast material is formed by layers of solid steel bars cast in pitch)
- The cabin sole hatches are removable and allow ready access to the bilges and tanks below
Electrical System
240v AC System
Power is supplied either by shore power, or from one of the 28KW Mitsubishi Gensets on board, to the main AC panel located in the engine room.
AC power is then distributed through 4 secondary panels located in: 1) Engine room,
2) Guest accommodation area, 3) Deckstore, 4) Navigation room.
Electrical problems can thus be localized and fixed without having to shut down the whole supply system. Furthermore, each cabin has a dedicated fuse box which enables to narrow down further potential problems.
24v DC System
8 x 120 amp hour 12v batteries provide as house batteries a total of 480 Amp Hours in 24 volts. The batteries are charged by the engine or the 28KW Mitsubishi Genset driven alternators as well as with a 20 amp battery charger.
The 24v DC system is equipped with vapor proof battery selector switches. The main 24v DC electrical panel is located in the chart room area and a 24v DC is supplied for navigation instruments, navigation lights and bilge pumps. All wiring is DC cable and new within the last 4 years.
Navigation lights compliant with the International Regulations for Prevention of Collision at Sea (COLREG) are fitted and operational.
Steering Gear
A quadrant run by two 1.5" hydraulic rams and hydraulic steering pump arrangement in line with the teak steering wheel. The hydraulic steering system is solidly mounted on the stern post which is itself a solid 12 inch x 12 inch piece of timber.
Plumbing
Each cabin, including the forward crew cabin and captain's cabin aft, contain an ensuite with shower. Passenger cabins have plumbing for hot and cold water.
Pressure pumps are AC and the main fresh water pump is located between the two midship water tanks.
Each cabin is fitted with isolating valves allowing the water to be turned off in one cabin without affecting the others
Drainage uses gravity to direct overboard via 3 pumps for grey water. Black water goes from macerating toilets to a holding tank and discharged at waterline via a 2? pipe using a 3 phase pump. The system may be used to discharge at a pump out station with slight modifications only.
Deck wash system is by a 220v 1? seawater pump with outlet on the foredeck and hose to reach all deck areas. Amidship is a fresh water outlet for showering on deck and cleaning diving/swimming gear.
There are 3 x 220v AC 50 litre immersion heated hot water tanks that supply hot water parallel to the cold water system.
Bilge pumps.
2 Double Diaphragm 2000 g/p/h bilge pumps 24 VDC ,one located in the engine room and the other above the stuffing box keep the bilges dry at all times. A 3?submersible pump can be set up within minutes in an emergency.
Watermaker
A 240 litre/hour ESP reverse osmosis desalination plant provides all the fresh water necessary to the running of the vessel with full complement of crew and passengers, without restrictions.
Ventilation, Access & Bilges
Ahead of the saloon is a ladder and hatch leading to deck level that provides an emergency escape route as well as providing good ventilation.
Air-conditioning units mounted alongside the deck house and the associated units below deck providing comfortable cool ventilated areas in deckhouses and down below.
Ventilation to all cabins is ensured by an exhaust fan located in the ceiling of each ensuite bathroom. Butterfly hatches above the saloon area can also provide ventilation.
Ventilation to the engine space is adequate with inlet and extractor blowers which supply fresh air from outside and remove excess heat.
Access to the bilges and hull fittings is via the cabin sole floorboards which are designed to be secured in place firmly by stainless steel flathead bolts whilst at the same time easily removable.
All fixtures and fittings beneath floorboards are accessible.
Machinery, Fuel Tanks and Fuel System
Specifications:
- Yanmar 6HADTE 300HP Turbo 6 cylinder Diesel engine
- Gearbox is Yanmar YP15, Ratio 3.3:1
- Engine is fresh water cooled through fresh water / seawater heat exchanger
- Taro 900 FH fuel filtration system is fitted
The exhaust is a riser connected to a fiberglass water collector/ muffler and exits above waterline out the portside via a 5 " rubber exhaust hose. This system is insulated.
The shaft is stainless steel, 3 inches in diameter and the stuffing box of classic conception with packing rope.
Main engine beds are timber and longitudinal stringers are integral with the hull construction. Motor mounts are bolted to the engine beds that are attached to stringers. The mounts may be shimmed to adjust the propeller shaft alignment as well as to secure the engine to the engine bed structure.
Sea water comes from two 2? through hull fittings with 2? stainless steel ball valves openings, one port and one to starboard, into a seawater strainer from which it then runs to the main engine and generators.
Engine spaces are clean and in well maintained condition throughout. Maintenance access to engines and gensets is good with the engine located in the centerline and a genset to port and starboard with a walkway between.
The batteries are encased in solid timber and well secured boxes.
Both generators and the main engine are equipped with 24v DC 50 amp alternators for battery charging. As well as this there is a 220v battery charger that is used when in port or as a backup charging system at sea.
The charging capabilities are sufficient as only navigation equipment, starting batteries, and bilge pumps, require 24v DC power. The 24v DC batteries are controlled by a main 24v DC switching panel located in the engine room (switching capabilities in the event that one bank was discharged).
There are two day fuel tanks, each with a capacity of 500 litres and located in wings either side of the engine room. They are set up with a manifold valve system to allow the genset and the main engine to run from either day tank. Tanks are fitted with inspection/cleaning hatches.
The fuel can be transferred using a 3-phase gear pump to day tanks, or between Fuel Oil tanks, through a series of gate valves. This manifold is located in the engine room port side. It is simple and failure proof.
To see images of the yacht Raja Laut go to photo gallery
