Family-run shipyards hold special appeal with some megayacht buyers. Royal Huisman’s admirers certainly respect how current operations are under the fourth generation of Huismans. Of course, there’s more to a yacht builder than family bonds. There’s reliability, and a desire to continuously achieve.
Royal Huisman was established in 1884 by Jan Jans Huisman. Wooden fishing boats were the focus. While pleasureboats eventually were built, wood remained the material of choice until the 1950s. That’s when Royal Huisman, which earned the prestigious “Royal” designation in 1984, began building steel yachts. (In The Netherlands, a company receives the designation from the monarch based on certain qualifications. These include operating consecutively in one business sector for 100 years.) Just as yacht buyers “grow” into bigger boats, Royal Huisman has as well. Today, it builds 98- to 295-foot (30- to 90-meter), all-custom megayachts. It also builds them in metal or carbon composite, and as sailing yachts or motoryachts.
Sailing yachts have made Royal Huisman the go-to builder for a number of owners. Deliveries like Juliet, Saudade, Hyperion, Unfurled, Athena, Ethereal, Hanuman, and more are among its most notable. Several compete in regattas, while others are content crisscrossing oceans on their own bottoms. While the number of motoryachts from Royal Huisman can be counted on one hand, they’re no less impressive. Arcadia (above) is arguably the most famous. She was commissioned by a yachtsman in pursuit of long-range, efficient, no-fuss cruising. Royal Huisman’s skills with lightweight aluminum and composites aided in attracting his attention. Among her achievements: transiting the often-inhospitable Northwest Passage.
Whether power or sail, a yacht built by Royal Huisman is almost entirely an in-house project. Its sister company, Rondal, manufactures masts, hatches, winches, doors, and more. Royal Huisman further has a furniture department (below). Owners can walk through mockups of rooms, complete with floors and upholstery, for approval before final assembly takes place.
Owners—Royal Huisman deliveries or not—can also tap the Huisfit department for repairs and refits. Huisfit has serviced a number of yachts since being actively promoted starting in 2011. Currently under the care of Huisfit is Samurai, formerly known as Mari Cha IV. She’s a conversion project, turning an offshore racer into a comfortable cruiser who can still carve up the oceans.
Recently delivered and current projects are keeping buyers’ eyes on Royal Huisman. In the former category, Wisp, a “gentleman’s cruiser,” should be a good brand ambassador at next month’s Monaco Yacht Show. Also during the boat show, Royal Huisman will reveal full details of a new-build 190-foot (58-meter) high-performance sloop that her owner wants to be “edgy” and “a beast” on the water. A little later this year, the builder should be able to reveal more about two additional sailing yachts, too. One is in the 131-foot (40-meter) range, designed by Dykstra Naval Architects. The other is an all-carbon-fiber, highly confidential design by Sparkman & Stephens; no LOA or other information is available.
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