Calipso is 1 of only 12 dive cruise permits in Galapagos. No other new permits will be issued in Galapagos for the next 15-20 years, at least. The owners purchased a vessel that was operating in Galapagos as a naturalist cruise. She sailed from Galapagos to Guayaquil where construction on the Calipso rebuild began in November 2018.
From the start, this project was to create a beautiful 33 m / 109’ yacht that was like a brand new yacht with absolutely everything fresh and modern. So how do you turn an older vessel into such a prize?
For most of us, it might be easier to think in terms of renovating a house rather than a seagoing vessel. You find a fixer upper with great bones and begin the gut renovations. The planning can often take longer than the work as all design, materials and labor must be mapped out prior to the start. You leave nothing to chance and you do it right from the start because this is your forever home.
With a house, you start out with buying a fixer upper that has ‘good bones’. Then demolition begins. You gut the house, tear out anything old and start over with everything new: New roof, new siding, new wiring, new plumbing, new everything. Some walls may be opened up and other walls may be built based on the design of your new space. You decided to add a new living area and kitchen onto the existing space to increase the total square footage. You get a brand new kitchen, new baths, new drywall, new trim. You put in new flooring. It’s like a brand new house and usually, even better because you started with materials most can no longer find or afford – that’s the ‘good bones’ part. Once you’re done, you have that gem of a house that is beautifully constructed exactly the way you want it to be.
That is the approach the family has taken with Calipso. The first phase was demolition of everything inside. Once demolition was complete, the next step was to reinforce the steel hull and expand the vessel both bow and stern. The dive deck was added. The structural support for interior spaces was added. That phase for Calipso took almost 3 months. Calipso has a team of approximately 40 people working on the vessel daily.
The second phase was for all new systems to be added: New plumbing, new electrical, new motors, new generators, the sprinkler system for safety, the new air conditioning system, wiring for the closed circuit television system and new interior walls.
The third phase is the one we are in as I write this in April 2019. All the interior spaces are being finished. The walls, cabin bathrooms, flooring and windows. Simultaneously, the sundeck and dive deck are being customized for fittings.
Update: June 1, 2019: Almost everything is finished. The final 2 photos in the gallery are of actual cabins! The keel of the ship has been painted and now, it’s all about the finishing touches!
Update: Aug 1, 2019: Calipso is in the water, passed all inspections and everything is in order for our first departure, 8-15 Aug!
