In about four months, the first Wider megayacht, the Wider 150, will be complete.
The project is significant for Wider, established in 2010. As the company name indicates, space utilization is a key concept. The all-aluminum Wider 150 boasts a number of voluminous areas. For example, the beach club rivals the size of some condos. It encompasses 969 square feet (90 square meters), in fact. Opening platforms to each side and aft will make it feel even bigger, too. Swimmers can use the platforms to jump into the ocean. That is, if they decide not to use the 23-foot-long (7-meter-long) pool in the beach club.
The Wider 150 cleverly expands usable space up on the foredeck as well. A structural section rises to reveal a big seating/dining area. Meanwhile, the 807-square-foot (75-square-meter) owner’s suite is an aerie over the sea, with fold-down balconies. And, of course, like any proper megayacht, the Wider 150 has a tender garage—where a Wider 32 can float straight on in.
Equally important, and contributing to the spaciousness, the megayacht runs on diesel-electric propulsion. Rather than incorporate a traditional engine room, Wider split it into two areas. The stern has what the yard calls a “technical room,” housing the lithium-polymer battery bank. A bow compartment has a genset room. Each requires less floor space than traditional diesel-engine setups, yielding more relaxation space for guest staterooms. Battery power alone should be able to propel the Wider 150, making for no-emission modes. It can also run the so-called hotel load at anchor. Higher speeds should result when the batteries are used with up to all four gensets.
Sea trials should confirm Wider’s projected performance figures. Solely on battery power, the Wider 150 should be capable of running at 8 knots for eight hours straight. With all the gensets and batteries, a 20-knot maximum speed is expected, yielding a 1,150-nautical-mile range.
Available for sale via the yard, the yacht won’t remain the biggest Wider for long. Come mid-2016, the first Wider 165 should be ready.
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