Come summer of 2012, an American couple will be enjoying their maiden cruise aboard hull number two of the NISI Yachts 2400 series.
Built by Tricon Marine, the NISI line of yachts and megayachts mixes modern and classic looks and emphasizes the casual, cool lifestyle of living on the water. Indeed, I toured hull number one (pictured) at the Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami in February, and I was struck by how NISI Yachts “gets” the yachting lifestyle. No disrespect toward builders or owners who want their yachts to look like floating formal homes, of course. But there is something incredibly appealing about a yacht that has a chic, beach-y feel.
Take a look at the main deck image below, and you’ll know what I mean. Furthermore, the yacht, measuring 78 feet (23.6 meters), is the only one to date less than 100 feet LOA that meets both MCA safety requirements and RINA Charter Class specifications. If you’re familiar with the under-100-foot end of the market, then you realize few builders obtain classification from the major societies. (Some “build to” class, but don’t formally obtain classification, as it’s not required.) Fewer strive for MCA requirements, again because it’s not required. NISI Yachts anticipated owners might want to charter their yachts, so it worked with each organization to ensure compliance.
Whether the couple who commissioned hull number two will charter or not, they were attracted to the bright, open floor plan. They signed the contract just a few weeks after the yacht show, with a few customized requests. For example, the hull will be two feet longer. The flying bridge will also be longer as a result. A Jacuzzi tub will sit on the main aft deck, too.
Something that won’t change, of course, is the hull design by Setzer Design Group. The plumb bow parts waves, and the semi-displacement hull form permits good performance. The owners opted for the standard engine package, twin 2,200-hp Caterpillar C-18s coupled to ZF pods. Normally this should permit a 28-knot top end, but the owners wanted closer to 30 knots. Composite and Kevlar construction, with further use of carbon fiber, should help keep weight down, bolstering performance.
Because of the semi-custom nature of hull number two, the megayacht has earned a new name, NISI 2400GT.
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