Wyvern

Historic ship, Wooden ship

Restoration

Diesel

Wyvern – ongoing preservation of a historic colin archer yacht

Wyvern is an 18 m open sea sailing ship operated by Stavanger Maritime Museum.
The ship was designed by Colin Archer on a commission from British-born Frederick Croft and was launched on 10 August 1897.

Specifications

Vessel type	Colin Archer Yacht
Vessel name	Wyvern
Delivery	2026
Description	Yacht (leasure yacht)
Hull material	Teak
Tonnage	Gross Register Ton 42,8; Net register ton 15,8
Lenght overall	18.20 m (60 ft)
Breadth beam	5.40 m (18 ft)
Depth	3.25 m (11 ft)
Accomodation	12 berths
Main engines	Volvo Penta D 7A 170 HP
Aux. engine	Mase IS 7 6,5 kw
Speed (knots)	8 knots (for engine)
Classification	Museum Vessel – protected by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage – owned by Stavanger Maritime Museum, Norway

In 2026, the historic yacht Wyvern once again arrived at Hvide Sande Shipyard for a new phase of renovation and maintenance. The work focused on essential structural and craftsmanship-intensive tasks, including recaulking of the teak hull and painting of deckhouses and masts.

These upgrades were carried out with a clear objective: to preserve the vessel’s seaworthiness while maintaining full respect for its original design and protected heritage status. Each process is executed with precision, combining traditional shipbuilding methods with modern technical standards – ensuring that Wyvern remains operational for years to come.

“Jesper is just absolutely fantastic. I just looked through my inbox, and he’s sent me no fewer than 46 emails about the project. Great follow-up, great updates – we’re always on the same page.

When we got a more precise cost estimate, which showed it would be a bit cheaper than expected, we put together a wish list of nine additional tasks we’d like done. Jesper estimated the tasks and got back to us saying that we could have those done as well.”

Nils Olav Nergaard, Skipper of Wyvern

Tasks carried out during the 2026-stay:

Recaulking of the underwater hull
Installation of additional bolts in the hull
Removal of old bottom paint
Minor repair of the keel straps
Cleaning/washing under the floorboards
Checking hull through-hull fittings
Inspection of the masts
Painting of masts, booms, and spreaders
Painting the hull
Installing additional bolts in the hull
Removing old bottom paint
Relocating the bilge pump further down into the bottom
Engine service
Sanding and varnishing hardwood on the deck
Inspection of drawers

“In my professional life, I work a lot with projects, and this is a project that has gone exceptionally well from start to finish, so we’re incredibly happy that we made the decision to bring Wyvern to Hvide Sande to have the repairs done.

We have a busy season ahead, so it meant a lot that Jesper promised we’d make it in time. And we got Wyvern ready a whole month before the season started, so we’re all thrilled – no one could have done it better.”

Nils Olav Nergaard, Skipper of Wyvern

The 2026 renovation was not the first time Wyvern had been entrusted to Hvide Sande Shipyard. In 2013, following a sinking incident in the Baltic Sea during the 2013 Tall Ships’ Race, the vessel underwent a comprehensive restoration at the yard.

The project included a complete renewal of all interior outfitting, where accommodation areas were rebuilt from the ground up. The work demanded a high level of craftsmanship to faithfully recreate the yacht’s original character while integrating necessary upgrades for safety and durability.

The successful restoration in 2013 enabled Wyvern to return to service as a fully functional leisure yacht – preserving both its operational capability and historical

Originally delivered in 1897 by Porsgrunds Baadbyggeri in Norway, Wyvern is a classic Colin Archer yacht constructed in teak. Measuring 18.20 metres in length with a beam of 5.40 metres and a depth of 3.25 metres, the vessel reflects a proud Scandinavian shipbuilding tradition.

The yacht accommodates up to 12 berths and is powered by a Volvo Penta D7A main engine, supported by a Mase IS 7 auxiliary engine, enabling a cruising speed of approximately 8 knots.

Today, Wyvern is owned by Stavanger Maritime Museum and classified as a protected museum vessel under the Norwegian National Agency for Cultural Heritage.