Their collaboration produced the Flying Dutchman 12, also known as the FD-12. Ta Yang Yacht Building in Taiwan constructed the boats, with help from other yards. Production ran from 1973 to 1985, but only 23 hulls were completed.
Design and Construction
Hollman and Eickholt’s design is a monohull with a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder. Rather than solid fiberglass, the hull uses a fiberglass sandwich cored with Viny foam. Longitudinal stringers and transverse floor timbers reinforce the shell, while the bulkheads are fiberglassed to the hull for structural continuity.
The hull-to-deck joint consists of an inward-turning flange. It is through-bolted, filled with sealant, coated with fiberglass, and finished with a teak caprail.
The FD-12 displaces 35,175 pounds and carries 14,350 pounds of lead ballast. Its ballast-to-displacement ratio is about 40.8 percent, while its comfort ratio is near 35.5. Those figures place it firmly among serious offshore cruisers rather than light-displacement weekenders.
Rig and Handling
The FD-12 carries a masthead cutter rig with a keel-stepped mast, double spreaders, and stainless steel wire rigging. Sail area runs about 1,200 square feet, giving a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of roughly 15.9—enough to keep the boat moving without demanding a large crew. Downwind, it can fly either a spinnaker or an asymmetrical cruising chute.
Its displacement-length ratio is about 212, and its capsize screening figure is near 1.7. Both figures speak to a vessel built for bluewater work.
Writing in June 2000, Practical Sailor called the FD-12 an impressive performer despite its repulsive stern. The magazine judged it a serious world cruiser with a custom interior.
Accommodations
No two FD-12 interiors are alike because each was customized to its owner’s tastes and needs. The general arrangement, however, provides three cabins finished in teak woodwork.
Forward, the owner’s stateroom has an ensuite head and shower. The main saloon includes a U-shaped dinette with a settee opposite. Aft, two single berths share a second head and shower.
The galley is to port of the companionway, with the navigation station to starboard. This practical arrangement separates the wet and dry workspaces and suits extended voyaging.
Known Issues and Ownership
Some owners report leaks around deck fittings or windows. Corrosion on stainless steel parts is another recurring complaint.
Owners also note that spare parts and service can be difficult to find. With only 23 hulls completed, the FD-12 has little aftermarket support. The limited production run creates a bespoke support problem for an already highly customized yacht.
The teak caprail and interior, cored hull, and flush deck all reward attentive maintenance. Because the layouts differ from boat to boat, any survey must assess the particular FD-12 rather than rely on a class standard.
The Verdict
The Flying Dutchman 12 is a rare, thoughtfully engineered bluewater cutter, born from a designer-builder partnership with a clear voyaging brief. Its cored hull, custom teak interior, and balanced performance figures mark it as a serious cruiser. The small fleet, however, brings genuine ownership considerations, including reported leaks, corrosion, and difficulty sourcing parts and service.
Pros
- Collaborative Hollman-Eickholt design with proven offshore intent
- Cored, reinforced hull with securely bonded bulkheads and a flanged deck joint
- Custom three-cabin teak interior suited to long-range living
- Strong sail-area-to-displacement and capsize-screening figures
Cons
- Only 23 were built, complicating access to spares and service
- Owner reports of leaks around deck fittings and windows
- Reported corrosion on stainless steel components