Born in 1958 to a Dutch mother and 'Kiwi' father Karl grew up beside a tidal estuary South of Whangarei in Northland New Zealand. With his endless energy this riverside lifestyle provided Karl with the opportunity to 'knockabout' in small boats, using the tides and tacking up and down the narrow waterways. Along with this 'idyllic' boating childhood and his frequent exposure international yachties (whom his parents often befriended) inevitably Karl, very early in his life developed a passion to build yachts and to live aboard, exploring the oceans.

In 1976 Karl started a Fitting and Turning apprenticeship at a ship building and servicing company in Whangarei, called WECO. During this time he sailed small keelers and while single handing in a rather windy weekend down the harbour and coming across a 'nest' of singlehanders at anchor, he was offered to "come across for a plonk' by the largest yacht and later the opportunity to sail to Tonga and Fiji as crew. The trip cemented his desire to spend time exploring the wonders of the seas, it's creatures, Islands and inhabitant's cultures.

In 1982 Karl purchased a partially completed Ganley Shadow 34 hull and spent years going to and returning from Australia to pay for the yacht and complete it. In 1986 Karl sailed for Tonga, planning to spend years sailing in the Pacific and ending up for 4 months in the beautiful northern Tongan Island group of Vavau. While spending 2 months in Fiji he dived the reefs at every opportunity. Karl decided to single hand his yacht back to NZ , having great confidence in the integrity of the yacht which was well founded and although a steel yacht, made a good time home in 8 1/2 days, convincing him steel yachts need not be slow while still very safe. Anyone who has launched off waves day in and day out, knows at that time only one thing is important, ' will the hull take it?' Two singlehanded yachties followed Karl back to NZ (both interested in purchasing his yacht) further convincing him that steel cruising yachts have a great future and often is the material of choice (but not always readily available on the market) for a safe ocean going yacht.

In 1989 Karl moved to Auckland where he started a business building Ganley designed steel hulls. Dennis Ganley became a good friend and Karl learned a lot about the design and construction of steel yachts of moderate displacement. After a lot of study, Karl designed the Fuller 60 which he had in the water and sailing within 18 months. While living on board, the yacht was completed and the design lived up to the expectations of a slender easily driven hull which was easy to handle, did not require excessive hours to construct while giving the look of a round bilge yacht. Karl and subsequent owners found the yacht well balanced and quick, Karl averaging with ease, 10 knots when making the frequent voyage from Whangarei to Great Barrier Island. In about 2000 Karl sold the yacht and she was sailed to Australia and then on to Pucket where she is now on the market for sale. See link.

In 1995 Karl Was contracted to design a 50ft version of his Fuller 60. Most of the design work was carried out in his favorite sailing destination, Fitzroy Harbour at Great barrier Island where he had a lot of time to hone the design to a level where he was satisfied the client would be very happy with the result. Karl built the hull and in 2006 the yacht was launched. Glowing reports were given as to the performance and handling characteristics. The design brief required the yacht to be flush decked and cutter rigged; the beam was kept similar to the Fuller 60, enabling the design to carry greater sail for the displacement. In the constructed design the yacht has a center cockpit, giving space for a large and private aft owners cabin. In 2007 the Fuller 50 named 'Jemellie' returned from a sailing trip of many months to Fiji and by all accounts proved to be safe and make quick passages.

In 2000 Karl started a 4 year period of sailing as a 2nd engineer for Greenpeace and predominantly sailed the oceans of the world on the Rainbow Warrior as well as on the Esperanza.

In 2004 Karl contracted to Johnson Yachts International and associated clients, where he carried out the roles of engineering systems designer/installer, project manager and new boat designer. It is during this time a generous client had Karl study Junk Rigs for his project and although reluctant at first, Karl grew an appreciation of Junk Rigs and applied those skills to a 65ft junk rigged schooner (concept by Jay Benford) design. He was also requested to begin the new design of a 35ft Junk rigged schooner, the concept of which was inspired by the historic and very seaworthy Falmouth Quay Punt. The Quay Punt was used to service windjammers with cargo and supplies.

2007 - Karl is currently self employed, working on the design of clients projects and those of his portfolio. He is also considering the construction of a David de Villiers Liso 39ft aluminum design for a potential client. He is very keen to complete his Fuller 46 design which he intends to build and use himself. Karl has a potential client who has asked him to re-work his Fuller 60 design with a view to making it a production yacht for the American market place.

2011 - The 35ft Junk rigged schooner design is finished and a video can be viewed on Utube, giving a brief outline of the design. Plans and cut files can be purchased and talk to Karl if you are interested in having this yacht constructed.

Throughout the years of his involvement in the marine industry Karl has worked part time on a number of concept designs and would welcome any inquiry regarding the possibilities of working up any design ideas into a working design. Karl works with competent naval architects where required and mast designers such as Eric Sponberg, to make sure every requirement a client might have, can be fulfilled to the highest standard. Karl uses the very versatile Rhinoceros CAD software combined with Rhinomarine to give hydrostatic results and Flamingo to give rendered drawings that give the client 'realistic' looking models to use in assessing a design. Having been involved and interested in the preservation and protection of the natural world, Karl has an interest in designing and building yachts that minimize environmental impact during construction and for the many years they will be used.

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