Normally, a megayacht fitted with three engines might make you think she consumes excessive fuel. However, in the case of the Amer 94, the opposite is true. Fitted with the Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system, the third launch in the series promises 30-percent lower fuel burn compared to traditionally equipped megayachts. Equally beneficial, the system promises an even higher reduction of disconcerting sounds.
While the first Amer 94 debuted in 2015, the series was in the design stages for a full year prior. The in-house designers at Gruppo Permare, the parent company behind Amer Yachts, began designing the hull specifically to feature the IPS 1200 units. While IPS had been around many years, it wasn’t originally suitable for megayachts. The IPS 1200 changed that. Interestingly, the Amer 94 became the first European-built yacht larger than 90 feet (about 27.4 meters) to employ them.
Because of their compact size, triple IPS engines are Amer Yachts’ standard for the Amer 94 series. They propel the megayacht to swift speeds. The builder says this third hull hit a top end of 29.3 knots. In terms of fuel efficiency, it adds that the yacht burns 132 gph (500 lph) at that speed. The yard further says fuel burn is a super-low 11 gph (41 lph) at 9.2 knots, a speed at which the yacht can run continuously. All of these figures are the same as those of the previous Amer 94 deliveries, Baccarat (delivered in 2015) and Visionaria (2016).
As for sound attenuation, Volvo Penta itself says the propulsion system reduces perceivable sounds by 50 percent. These are sounds within the interior of the yacht. It stands to reason that sounds out on deck are lower, too. However, since each yacht’s cruising conditions are different, the engine company does not specify a reduction level.
Regardless, the compact nature of the IPS propulsion system lends benefits to the interior, too. It allows for five staterooms, including the master, to sit below decks, without feeling cramped. (No information is available on the interior decor.) Visionaria has this same configuration, attractive for clients considering offering their yachts for charter. Since Amer Yachts builds the Amer 94 on a semi-custom basis, future buyers may wish for four staterooms instead.
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