Expedition-style megayachts remain as popular as ever, as witnessed by this explorer concept created by Hydro Tec, based on a client’s brief for an eminently comfortable, wide-roaming cruiser.
At 186’3” (56.8 meters), with a beam of 34’5” (10.5 meters) and a full-load draft of 10’8” (3.3 meters), the Hydro Tec explorer is also, of course, based on the experience of the design firm’s founder, Sergio Cutolo. Cutolo and Hydro Tec are the naval-architecture experts behind a number of both traditional and expedition-style megayachts. The latter include Cantiere delle Marche’s Darwin Class, the HT116 Explorer by Kingship, and the Global Explorer from Columbus Yachts.
For this megayacht project, Cutolo incorporates customary elements like good range and displacement speeds. He estimates that twin MTU 12V 4000 M63s will permit a 16-knot top end and 15-knot cruise, with a 3,000-nautical-mile range at the latter speed. With the megayacht at a slightly slower 13 knots, Cutolo expects a 5,500-nautical-mile range. Those of you interested in alternative power should note that Hydro Tec will spec out hybrid propulsion or diesel-electric power, too.
Because of the explorer emphasis, the 156-foot megayacht has the capacity for a number of tenders and toys, plus a helipad. Hydro Tec actually designed the megayacht around the tender stowage, which makes sense. Tenders are as important to a yacht as pretty paintings, and if the stowage solutions for them are among the last considerations, you risk limitations that could—and should—be otherwise avoided. Hydro Tec doesn’t specify the LOA of the primary tender for this project, but does say it’s larger than the norm. The design firm also calls for additional tenders to be stowed aft on the main deck, rather than in a transom garage. That allows the garage to be a beach club, something many owners and guests enjoy—but Cutolo also says that due to the extra space overall, the beach club could have a dedicated space for a Triton personal submarine. That would be quite the sight, since megayachts much larger than 156 feet are the ones toting subs.
Equally noteworthy, the original design brief called for creating a platform for permanent living. Therefore, accompanying the five guest staterooms (one a VIP) is a full-deck owner’s suite. It’s one level up from the main deck, with a private alfresco area overlooking the bow. In a nod to the commercial-boat roots of expedition megayachts, the ports of this master suite mimic the raked ports of the pilothouse above.
Hydro Tec has a variety of general arrangements from which interested parties can choose, such as a hot tub on the uppermost deck. Another layout option has a hallway connecting the guest staterooms to the beach club/garage, passing through the engine room. The idea is to keep guests inside as long as possible if the megayacht will make much of her voyaging in extreme temperatures. Something surely a smart owner won’t change, though: abundant living and working space for crew. Their eight cabins, with 14 berths, are on a deck above the bottom-most level, which contains all the long-term refrigerator, freezer, and stowage rooms.
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