IVER C. FRANZEN
- Naval Architect, Marine Consultant, Licensed Master
Principal, Iver
C. Franzen Maritime, LLC
Design:
Yacht
design, Commercial vessel design, Historical vessel
design, sail and power.
Consultation
and Services: Hydrostatics
and Stability Packages (Incline Tests).
Coast Guard Liaison.
Factory Consultation, Inspections.
Research & Education.
Public Speaking Engagements
New
AAWPP Stability Requirements and Calculations Assistance after
December 1, 2011
Additional Services:
Yacht
Deliveries & Commercial Vessel Operations.
(Licensed
by the USCG, 500GRT, N.C., Motor, Aux. Sail; 1600GRT OSV)
Marine Services & Consulting.
Marine
Accident Investigations (NTSB-trained).
ISM/ISPS Certified Maritime Auditor (discontinued except for Subchapter T and R vessels).
NOTE: Right-click for all links.
Member:
SNAME - Society of Naval
Architects
and Marine Engineers (associate)
ABYC
- American Boat and Yacht Council
NMHS - National
Maritime
Historical Society
WSS - World
Ship Society
INA - Institute of
Nautical
Archeology
ASTA - American
Sail Training
Association, dba Tall Ships America
The
Maritime Consortium
CAPCA - The Chesapeake Area
Professional Captains Association
NACO - National
Associationof Charterboat Operators Work Synopsis:
On
July 27, 1997, the USS
Constitution set sail for the first time in over 100 years
to celebrate
her bicentennial anniversary. In preparation for her "maiden"
voyage,
the Navy hired naval architects Thomas Gillmer and myself to perform a
structural assessment,
to research her original configurations, and to
design structural (and historically befitting) remedies for a
comprehensive
refit of "Old Ironsides". That process also resulted in a book (Old
Ironsides:
the Rise, Decline, and Resurrection of the "USS Constitution", Thomas
C.
Gillmer)
that describes and illustrates her history and the complex
nature of the project, for which I created many of the drawings
therein.
From researching the National and other archives for pictures,
drawings,
and written records of the ship's original structure and rigging, to
confirming
the original designer's identity, to designing components for making
the
vessel stronger and more seaworthy, our involvement in this noteworthy
project was a fascinating challenge, and a distinct honor. (I
was
later to renew my association with "Old Ironsides" when I had the
additional honor of being the captain of the official Navy escort
vessel [STARFISH, YP-679] for Constitution's
4th of July Turnaround Cruise in 2003.)
After
I moved to Annapolis following four years in the Caribbean as a
charter
captain, Tom (a noted maritime historian and author, and retired
Professor
of Naval Architecture, U.S. Naval Academy) and I worked together on a
number
of projects in addition to the Constitution. I first
assisted
him with the Pride
of Baltimore II project in 1986. The POB II is
a full-size
replica of a Baltimore Clipper, conducting sail-training and
world-wide
ambassadorial cruises representing the city of Baltimore and the state
of Maryland. The research and design of the Kalmar
Nyckel,
for the city of Wilmington, Delaware, was our partnership's next noteworthy "tall ship" project, and with whom I continue
to
have a working relationship. This ship is a 139' (sparred
length) replica of the Dutch pinnaceship which brought the first
Swedish
settlers to Delaware Bay in 1638, and performs sail-training and
ambassadorial
duties for the state of Delaware. Some of our other projects
included
the Freedom's Wind,
a 179' (sparred length) sail-training/educational/time-share
brigantine to be based in Newport, Rhode Island; major modifications
to
the Borja, a sail-training Baltimore Clipper replica based in
Singapore;
consulting work for a group researching John Paul Jones's ship the Bonhomme
Richard; and a number of vessels for individual clients.
From
these, and other interesting projects from my own office, including
a new 116' (sparred length) topsail schooner replica, my experience at
successfully dove-tailing historical accuracy with modern safety and
certification
requirements has put me in a unique design niche, and has led to the
honor
of contributing an article ("Modern Traditional Sailing Ships") to the
2005 edition of the McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science &
Technology.
When I am not doing replicas or major reconstructions (see my article
in
Professional Boatbuilder Magazine, number 63), my design work includes
yachts and commercial vessels, sail and power, in both modern
materials
and wood, as well as work as a consultant, here and abroad. (See
the Franzen PilotCruiser®
57, 49, & 42 pilotyachts®
below.) My design philosophy
incorporates
a common sense blend of new design ideas and materials where
practical,
with time-tested and proven concepts and practices to create handsome,
logical, comfortable, and well-performing vessels. A good bit of
my work also involves performing design, stability and certification
work
for USCG certified commercial vessels such as the replica schooner America.
My
relationship with the Coast Guard has facilitated the certification
process for a number of clients. I also teach the Cruising &
Seamanship Seminars for North U, and conduct marine accident
investigations.
I
have also retained my Master's license (500GRT, motor & aux. sail,
and 1600 GRT OSVs)
and, after many full-time positions in the past (Alexandria,
a 140' three masted schooner in Alexandria, VA, 1984 [still called the
Lindø then]); Lammer Law,
a 98' trimaran schooner dive boat in the BVI, 1985; et.al.),
I continue to take on relief captain duties periodically on
sail-training and commercial vessels where needed (e.g., the 122'
privateer Lynx,
the 160'
staysail schooner Arabella in New England and
the Caribbean, and the 158' topsail schooner Clipper
City and cruise vessels Bay
Lady (now the Spirit of Baltimore) & Lady Baltimore (now the Majesty) in the Chesapeake and Florida), and to do occasional yacht and
commercial vessel
deliveries as time and inclination allow. My wife Deb and I
lived
and traveled on our own boat for 10 years until 1998, including
several
winters in the
Bahamas, where we ran a number research and other charter trips.
We still have that boat, and plan to do more cruising on her
again.
Thomas
C. Gillmer (1912-2009), Naval Architect - Remembrances of
his “Last Student”
A very nice obituary
for Tom by Michael Thoele was also found on the Privateer
26 website. That organization is now a private Facebook page. When a new link to that obituary is found, I'll include it here.
Capt.
Franzen's Summary and his Thouhgts on the USCG Report on the
Sinking of the BOUNTY
Capt.
Franzen's Paper for the 2013 Chesapeake Sailing Yacht Symposium, published
in SNAME's 2013 Transactions:
A Refinement of the Methods Used to Determine the Balance of a
Sailing Vessel during the Design Phase, with Application to Sail Design
and Subsequent Sail Selection and Sailing Operations.
The final draft published in SNAME's 2013
Transactions
also includes an acknowledgement to Professor Bruce Johnson (retired,
US Naval Academy), whose gracious advice and help was invaluable to the
proper completion of this paper. My heartfelt thanks to him.
Past &
Present
Projects:
"Maryland Dove" (replica of the original "Dove" which brought the first English settlers to the St Marys River in 1634)
"Pride
of
Baltimore II" (replica of an early 19th century Baltimore
Clipper):
*
USS
Constitution ("Old Ironsides"):
* 
"Kalmar
Nyckel"
(replica of a 17th century pinnaceship, sail-training and
ambassadorial
ship for Delaware):
*
"Freedom's
Wind" (a brigantine, for use as a combination sail-training,
educational,
and time-share vessel):
* 
The
above Drawings by Iver Franzen, Copyrighted by ICF and TCG.
"Berbice"
(replica of a late 18th century American schooner, a private,
long-range,
liveaboard vessel, 74 LOD):
*
Full
Moontm
- 27'
cutter-rigged offshore-capable sailing yacht. Hull #1 built and
launched
2004 at Covey Island Boatworks, Nova Scotia.
*
*
* *
PilotCruisers®
56, 49, & 42:
Below is our new
family
of long-range, high-speed cruising pilotyachts®.
These 20-28kt semi-custom workhorses will get you there smoothly and
expeditiously
with strong, lightweight epoxy composite construction, and with
systems
and layouts sensible and commodious enough to assure long-term
comfort
both at the dock and on the hook.
Franzen
PilotCruiser® 56:
Construction of this boat has been completed at Constellation
Yachts,
Key West, Florida. Launching of hull #1 was in October of
2006,
and she made her public debut at the 2007 Miami Boat Show.
Arrangements
are under way to present this boat in upcoming boat shows.
*
*
*
Franzen
PatrolCruiser® 56: A variation
on the PilotCruiser 56, the PatrolCruiser enlarges the deckhouse and
incorporates a
flybridge and seating for outside dining.
*
Copyright 2001-20011, ICF, NA
Franzen
PilotCruiser® 49:
*
Franzen
PilotCruiser® 42:
*
Summary List
of a few
of my other Projects:
- Various
recent stability test and certification submissions to the USCG MSC: 70'
university
research vessel, 65' tri-hull pontoon vessel, 44' VA state
fisheries
research vessel; 70' passenger vessel; 140' sailing passenger
vessel;
fleet of 6 vessels (2 power, 4 sail, including USS
Constellation) for Living Classrooms Foundation;
assist with USCG Eagle;
40' industrial inflatables; 110' replica
Schooner America . . . among many
others.
- Maryland Dove - Design and construction oversight for this "replica" vessel for the State of Maryland and St. Mary's City, launched in 2022.
- Author - Paper for
the Chesapeake Sailing Yacht Symposium, "A Refinement of the
Methods
Used to Determine the Balance of a Sailing Vessel ...," 2013.
Selected by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine
Engineers
(SNAME) as a "Significant Paper," and published in the 2013
Edition of
SNAME Transactions."
- Assist USCG
Marine Safety Center (MSC) in revamping the calculations and
structure of the Simplified Stability Test.
- Co-Author
-
Paper for the Chesapeake Sailing Yacht Symposium, "SNAME'S
Stability Letter Improvement Project for Traditional
SailingPassenger
Vessels," 2007, B. Johnson, J. Womack, J. Miles, I. Franzen.
Winner, the Captain Richards T. Miller Prize.
- Author -
Article for the 2005 edition
of the McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology, titled
"Modern
Traditional Sailing Ships."
- Author
- IBEX Seminar Presentation: "Stability Standards," an overview
and
comparison of 46CFR, ISO 12217, RINS, MCS, and SOLAS, 2002.
- 105' wood
Feadship m/y,
built 1955 - Major rehabilitation. Design of unique hull
repair technique,
consultation/oversight. Article about this project written
by Franzen,
published in Professional Boatbuilder Magazine, Feb/March 2000,
#63.
Presentation about this project to the regional Society of Naval
Architects
and Marine Engineers 2000 fall meeting.
- Various new
designs: 50' liveaboard riverboat; 43' schooner, private
yacht; 42' sloop, private yacht; 62' performance motorsailor; 45' schooner, private yacht.
- 77' commercial
passenger
vessel - Incline/Stability package for Certification, major design
modifications
for upgrade of Certificate.
- Hans Christian
48T - Accommodations
and Modifications design for handicapped owner, systems, and
construction
oversight in Taiwan.
- "Galileo" -
125' LOD Brigantine
for sail-training and research. Preliminaries
complete, Design
in progress, on hold pending funding.
- 75' commercial
(passenger)
schooner, steel. Re-design entire sail plan, major hull
modifications
and below-deck layout modifications, stability calculations and
liaison
for USCG Certification. Construction oversight and
consultation
- Tayana Yachts -
Five models/sizes.
Custom interior layouts and sail plans, sales support.
- 35' yawl -
Major design
modifications and consultation for round-the-world cruise.
- Major
Production Builder
- New models, 50' sloop, 61' & 81' sloop/ketch. For
production,
design, construction supervision, sales support.
- Production line
of four
motorsailors, 38'-56'.
- Major
Production Builder
- 65'-75' power yachts. Custom interior layouts.
- "Borga" - 75'
LOD topsail
schooner. Major reconstruction & modifications.
Design,
consultation. Singapore.
- Research and
Drawings
for several other T. C. Gillmer books: "Pride of
Baltimore",
"A History of Working Watercraft."
- Numerous other
design/redesign,
modification, stability, and consultation projects.
A few of my
commands
as a licensed Master, and a few of my other positions:
- "Lynx"
- 122'
tops'l
schooner, 40 pax, East Coast, Great Lakes, Caribbean.
Mid-Atlantic relief capt., '15-present.
- "Clipper
City" - 158' tops'l schooner,
150
pax, East Coast, excursion, charter, sail-training,
relief capt., '95-'03, Port Capt., '04-'05.
- "Arabella"
- 160' 3-masted
staysail schooner, 40 overnight pax, New England,
Chesapeake, Caribbean, relief capt., '05-'07.
- "YP-679"
- 108'
US
Navy research ship, minesweeper, systems & operations
testing
for the Office of Naval Research, '03-'04.
- "Lady
Baltimore" - 136' m/v, 575 passengers, Chesapeake,
excursion, charter, captain,'95-'02. (now the "Majesty")
- "Bay
Lady"
- 140' m/v,
600 passengers, Chesapeake, excursion, charter, captain,'95-'02. (now the "Spirit of Baltimore")
- "Woodwind"
- 74' staysail schooner, 49 passengers, Chesapeake, excursion,
charter, '93-'94,
occasional relief to present.
- "Thunderstar"
- 75' research vessel, commercial shipping services, support
services contract
with U.S. Navy research facility, '90.
- "Lammer Law"
- 96' trimaran schooner, 18 overnight
passengers, USVI, BVI, dive charter,
(chief mate, relief captain) '85.
- "Dolphin"
- 95'
schooner,
12 overnight passengers, USVI, BVI, St. Martin, St. Barts,
charter, sail-training, '82-'83.
- "Alexandria"
(ex "Lindø")
- 125' topsail schooner, 12 overnight passengers, New England,
Chesapeake,
sail training, '83-'84.
- Cruising &
Seamanship Seminar Instructor, North U, 2003 - 2008, occasionally to present.
- Senior Captain
with SeaTow, fast response boats for commercial assist towing and
pilot and crew transfer, 2010 - 2019.
- Ski Patrol Hill
Chief & Coordinator of Grooming Operations, Killington Ski
Area, Killington, VT, '75-'81.
Contact
Information:
Capt. Iver C.
Franzen, NA
P.O. Box 4044
409 Washington
Street
Annapolis, MD
21403
Ph: (410)
268-2105
Email: iver.franzen@comcast.net
For more
information
about the PilotCruisers®,
contact:
PilotCruiser®
Motoryachts
web: www.pilotcruiser.com
Ph: 866-372-2190
Fax:
703-620-1779
Email: pilotcruiser@ccr.org
Other Links of
Nautical
Interest:
The
Mother
of All Maritime Links: John's Nautical Links List.
https://tallshipsamerica.org: Tall Ships America is a non-profit organization commended by Congress as The National Sail
Training Organization representing the United States. We support and
promote the ships, people, and programs of sail training and the tall
ships.
Contact Webmaster
for comments and changes / Last Modified: 14 December, 2025.