Also known as Hull 36, Silver Lining started the first official day of summer off right. She launched at dawn at Christensen Shipyards.
The 164-footer (50-meter) is actually the first of two launches for the yard this week. Next up is the slightly shorter Chasseur. Both are for repeat clients of Christensen Shipyards.
Silver Lining is the first megayacht to slip into the water under the current ownership, which took over last year. Also noteworthy, she is the first to employ a new launching system. Christensen Shipyards is down the street from the Columbia River. The new ownership wanted to improve its yacht transfer and launch procedures. The shipyard therefore designed and created the “Luken Launcher,” in the words of yard president Jim Gilbert. “Luken” is Henry Luken, the yard’s chairman, who came up with the system’s concept.
In brief, the launch system has a steel cradle fitted with two fiberglass flotation boxes. Filled with air at first, these boxes are meant to keep a yacht stable as she launches aft. They provide extra lift in low tide, for example. As launch proceeds, the yacht and cradle start to float. Water replaces the air in the boxes, making the setup somewhat like a drydock. The yacht then can float out alone.
Silver Lining is preparing for sea trials in the coming weeks, prior to delivery in July. Inside, she has high-gloss black walnut. The decor is traditional in nature. Among her interior spaces is a skylounge, spanning the full beam. For comparison, Chasseur has a bleached sycamore interior, accented with rosewood. She’s also MCA compliant. (Silver Lining was not built to MCA standards.)
Look for Silver Lining (and Chasseur) at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this fall.
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