When you think about expedition yachts both large and small, things like the Doggersbank designs and even megayachts like Turmoil (now Putty VI) may come to mind. These examples are the creations of Vripack, which has arguably penned more of these intrepid cruisers than any other design studio.
Vripack’s staff continues to explore the possibilities of the design, since it remains popular and allows for greater volume than more traditionally arranged yachts. Its latest is the 110 Vripack Explorer seen here, a concept design that has the engineering to back it up.
Conceived with an experienced cruising family in mind, the yacht measures 33.74 meters, or about 110’7”. Her profile belies the fact that she’s comprised of five decks, quite generous for her LOA. The beam is generous, too: 8 meters, or about 26 feet. To allow for cruising whether in shallower islands or deep ports, the 110 Vripack Explorer has a 2.25-meter (seven-foot) draft.
Equally noteworthy, Vripack designed the yacht around the bridge deck, prioritizing the cruising intention. The captain’s cabin is naturally aft of the helm. There’s also the skylounge up here, followed by a generous aft deck with alfresco dining. Speaking of generous, nearly floor-to-ceiling, panoramic windows line the full-beam owner’s stateroom forward on the main deck.
Also generous is the variety of seating/lounging areas on the sundeck, or what Vripack terms the explorer deck. Shown above, it permits the owner and guests to observe the captain at the extra helm station, or spread out on sunpads. Also note the stairway entrance by the mast. Running through the center of the yacht, the stairs lead down to the two VIP staterooms and one double cabin on the lower deck.
While choice of systems will be left to the buyer, Vripack does envision backups aplenty, plus units that can stand up to a variety of climates. It also recommends twin Caterpillar engines with a horsepower range between 450 and 700. Furthermore, to ease the job of the crew (housed in four cabins), good access and low maintenance will be emphasized.
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