If you find yourself amazed after even a glimpse at Project 406, a 171-foot (52-meter) sportfisherman, no one will blame you. This is no ordinary fishing boat. Bart M. Bouwhuis, co-creative director of Vripack, says the owner presented “an exceptional brief.” That brief was so exceptional, in fact, that Bouwhuis declares, “Project 406 is a sportfisher on steroids.”
Although Vripack and Royal Huisman revealed the contract last December, the full profile wasn’t available for release until now. Besides having an LOA that grants her the title of the world’s largest sportfishing yacht, Project 406 towers six decks high. Her size and scale were important to the owner for two primary reasons. Firstly, this passionate angler wants to chase the ocean’s biggest game fish. In other words, think marlin, tuna, and more. Secondly, and equally as important, the owner wants a luxurious experience when the fishing day is done. Therefore, when they’ve handed over their rods in the cockpit, they can retire to the skylounge to tell tales of the fish that didn’t get away.
To ensure good performance, Project 406 is an entirely aluminum build. Given its extensive experience with spirited sailing superyachts, Royal Huisman welcomed this engineering challenge, too. Jan Timmerman, the shipyard’s CEO, points to Project Phi, which coincidentally launches soon at its facilities, as another example of a motoryacht pushing the team to a higher level. “It is good to know that our reputation as the home of the world’s finest sailing yachts is now expanding to embrace the world’s most distinctive motoryachts,” he says.
The owner’s team prefers to continue keeping most details quiet at this point. However, it will permit further revelations as construction progresses.
Royal Huisman royalhuisman.com
Vripack vripack.com
Leave a Reply