History of Mulder Shipyard

Dirk Mulder Senior was 27 years old when he opened his yard in 1938, at the same location as today. He had spent many evenings studying yacht building while also running a ironmongery and carpentry workshop and building canoes and rowing boats. The early years of Shipyard Mulder saw various small open wooden sailing boats launched, including the racing class 16m and Pampus. The first steel sailing yacht was built at the end of the decade.

A steel hard chine sailing yacht stands on the slipway. While the frames were riveted, all the shell plating was welded by this stage. In 1953, the first 7.50-metre steel motoryacht was launched. This was the forerunner of the highly popular Favorite Cruiser range and went under the name Baby Favorite. There are a number of these yachts still afloat today. From 1955 onwards, the yard concentrated primarily on motoryachts ranging between 8.30 and 9.20 metres. Due to Dirk Mulder's preference for wood, all the steel yachts still had a mahogany superstructure.

This decade was dominated by the construction of motoryachts. In Holland, the brand-name Super Favorite Cruiser became well known. These luxury, stylish yachts were instantly recognisable for their flared bow, mahogany superstructure, distinctive windows and the letters DM on the stern. There were three different lengths available: 8.30, 9.20 or 10.20 metres. At least one yacht was launched every month and a lot of these classic yachts are still cruising today. Needless to say, their value has increased many times over from the original delivery price.

The last sailing yachts were built at the beginning of the 1970s, the largest of which was 12 metres in length. From now on, Shipyard Mulder would be exclusively focused on the construction of motor yachts. The models became larger and more modern. While the traditional flared bow was no longer included, the characteristic wooden superstructure remained in place. By now almost 60 years old, Mulder Senior began to take life a little easier, leaving the everyday running of the yard to an outside manager.

In 1984 the yard was taken over by the 22-year-old Dirk Robert Mulder Junior, leaving his father to retire completely at the age of 72. The traditional flared bow made a comeback and, by the end of the 1980s, the yard was delivering yachts of 13.50, 15.50 and 17.50 metres under the name Favourite Superior. A new construction hall was built to allow the yard to grow even further.

This Mulder 63 Flybridge (19.20 m) was the flagship of the Mulder Yard until 1995. With her light steel hull, aluminium superstructure and flybridge, she was one of the highlights at the Düsseldorf boat show. Fitted with twin 1100 hp diesels, the yacht reached a top speed of 26 knots during sea trials, a unique achievement for the time. From this year onwards, all new models carried the brand name Mulder.

This Mulder 68 Convertible came from the drawing board of up-and-coming designer Guido de Groot, with naval architecture by Ginton & Weber. In addition to her fabulous looks, her ingenious round bilged hull design gives the Mulder 68 Convertible an impressive performance both at the slow speeds necessitated by heavy sea conditions and at speeds as high as 26 knots. Regardless of how fast she sails, this aluminium yacht also has excellent trim and stability..

This Mulder 88 has become one of the new standard bearers of the Mulder yard. Some 27 metres in length, this lovely aluminium yacht has twin 1400 hp engines and a top speed of 27 knots. The perfect round bilged hull also offers excellent sailing characteristics in heavy seas. Finishing is of the highest possible standard, with a stylish cherry interior and first-class technical specifications. This Mulder 88 was built for the satisfied owner of a Mulder 74.