URETERP — Homme Overwijk has a unique approach to yacht building. His company, Overwijk Yachting, builds seven open-cockpit cabin cruisers (9-12.3m/30-40ft) and three more upmarket ‘Next Generation’ wheelhouse yachts (11.7-12m/38-43ft).
All 10 Langenberg models – named after their designer, Hans Langenberg – are outsourced. Overwijk has no boat yard.
Overwijk is a latecomer to the yachting business. In 2005, he sold his parents’ motor yacht, activating his trading instincts, and Overwijk became a yacht broker.
Overwijk: “I sold a few used Langenbergs and was asked if I wanted to start selling new Langenberg Cabin Cruisers. The shipyard was discontinuing them. I talked to Langenberg and decided to handle sales and new builds.”
The Langenberg Cabin Cruiser (LCC) has a ship’s appearance with a subtle sheer, receding bow and sturdy cable fender. It is a steel-built multichine bilge. The cabin version has a windshield and open steering position. It is a spacious boat because the width is optimally utilized, and the gangways are relatively narrow.
Apart from clients, Overwijk had to find craftsmen “to keep costs and risks low.” Via Langenberg he met Edwin Cornelder of Cornelder Scheepstechniek, a marine engineering company.
Overwijk had Cornelder handle pre- and post-assembly work. Other partners were reeled in to build hulls, provide stainless steel parts, do sandblasting, painting and coatings, assembly, engineering, woodworking and hull transporting.
Overwijk’s dealings with subcontractors stand or fall, with tight schedules and solid agreements. He deliberately builds in margins to allow for unforeseen delays.
Improvements can be made quickly. The latest LCC hull has more headroom and no more scuppers in the bulwark, replaced by stainless steel discharge pipes that discharge just above the waterline. This saves dirty streaks on the cabling and hull.
This year, the Langenberg Cabin Cruiser range was extended by a 12m (40ft) version. Langenberg added another underwater hull design to get more speed.
The Cabin Cruisers come with a Nanni diesel, but hybrid and electric versions are also available. Last summer, Overwijk Yachting delivered the first all-electric Langenberg Cabin Cruiser 30 E. They were equipped with a maintenance-free Mitekel electric motor, providing a maximum power of 20 kW.
