Breaking into any industry with a number of well-entrenched players is tough. Adler Yacht believes it can succeed due to two primary things. It’s bringing technology typically reserved for super-size superyachts to entry-level megayachts. And, it’s doing the same with technology used for large commercial craft. Adler Yacht is showing this off on its first yacht, the semi-custom Adler Suprema.
Adler Yacht’s management team has a different mindset than you might expect. Their roots are in aviation, through roles in engineering, sales, and marketing. The minute you visit the Adler Yacht website, you know you’re in for something different, too. The first thing you see, in letters that take up the full screen: “This Is Not a Website About a Yacht.” Much smaller, but no less important, it continues: “It all began when we began to hate traditional yachts—but loved yachting. So we did everything differently and made the Adler.”
The Adler Suprema, a flying-bridge yacht measuring 76 feet, comes from northern Italy, Cantiere Alto Adriatico. She’s different than others of her LOA in two key ways. She’s entirely carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass. This end of the market is dominated by all-fiberglass yachts. Furthermore, Adler Yacht sought a hybrid propulsion system for whisper-quiet operations and increased efficiency. It worked with three German and Austrian firms with experience in the automotive and marine sectors for the solution. They spent four years developing it and two years testing it. It combines twin 1,150-hp Caterpillars and two 100-kW electric engines. Philipp Pototschnik, CEO of Adler, describes how it works:
“The ATE e-Units are custom-designed, high-efficiency, asynchronized electric units that can work either as a motor or as a generator. They are installed on the shaft between the Caterpillar engines and the gearbox, separated by clutches. Thus, we can use the e-Units as very powerful generators for super-fast charging while the propellers are not rotating. It takes less than an hour to fully recharge the hybrid batteries—at only about 23 liters of diesel.” (Editor’s note: That equates just 6 gallons.) “The design also allows the Caterpillar engines to work in twin diesel mode with the e-Units shut off, without loss of efficiency. What we are particularly proud of is that with this system, we can seamless switch between the propulsion sources: electric, twin diesel or hybrid—even under full acceleration.”
The reported results of the hybrid system are impressive. Adler Yacht says the Adler Suprema can operate emission- and vibration-free to 10 knots. She sees a range exceeding 3,500 nautical miles at 8 knots, burning just 3gph. The 76-footer can operate under electric power alone for an hour at 8 knots, too, with recharging taking another hour. And, she cruises at 22 knots and tops out at 28 knots. At the most-efficient cruise speed of 15 knots, the builder says, the Adler Suprema burns 33gph.
To lend high-end styling and interior design, Adler Yacht turned to Nuvolari-Lenard. General arrangement options vary, with three to five staterooms for you and your guests. With the smaller total, you get a full-beam (19’8”) master. You also get two crew berths regardless of configuration. Those of you who like taking the wheel, however, will appreciate iPad controls and monitoring over all systems, even when you’re back on land. The helm is comprised of six touchscreen controls, too.
If you do hire crew, though, you each get privacy between the wheelhouse and the relaxation zone. (Speaking of privacy, glass panels throughout can go opaque at the touch of a button.) Additional big-yacht creature comforts include heated soles on the main deck and in the en suite heads. Handy showers are on both the swim platform and flying bridge. Infrared heating on the aft deck keeps you warm on chilly nights, and cooling cup holders keep your beverages frosty on hot days.
Adler Yacht promises another version of the mini-megayacht is coming soon, boasting more alfresco space.
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