WATCH: Burger 180 Motor Yacht Superstructure Joins Hull

April 7 marked an important milestone in the construction of a project largely kept quiet until now, a Burger 180 Motor Yacht. It’s one of several steps to go before completion in late 2024.

The 180-footer (55-meter), for an owners’ party of 12, has several significant features. For instance, the general arrangement allows for handicapped access throughout the four decks, in part due to an elevator. Additionally, the four guest staterooms below decks not only can accommodate 10 guests, but also convert to two suites. Even crewmembers have better-than-average cabins. Specifically, the chief officer, chief engineer, chief stewardess, and chef each have private accommodations, as does of course the captain. All of these are part of a design brief in which the owners prioritized worldwide cruising in comfort.

The Burger 180 Motor Yacht continues with special features on the technical side, too. Burger’s in-house team and Greg Marshall’s studio have created a tailored launch and retrieval system for the tender. The 37-footer (11.3-meter), which stows in a garage just off the swim platform, employs a hydraulic system similar to the stinger system used for moving railroad cars in maintenance areas when they’re separate from their main power supply. Further notable, the superyacht is the first to employ Naiad’s Total Ride Control system, a stabilization system employing trim tabs aft and a T-shaped foil at the bow. Together, the appendages dampen pitch and roll. (On a side note, the Total Ride Control roots are in systems that Naiad developed for the U.S. Navy more than four decades ago.) Finally, the Burger 180 Motor Yacht has nine parallel-installed, 40-kW Kohler gensets to prevent inadequate load and power supply.

Wherever the owners and guests eventually cruise, they have several leisure spaces for enjoyment. Among the particular requests: a centerline bar and large pool on the sundeck. The pool also can split via a partition into a pool and hot tub when wanted. Still on the sundeck, the crew can set up gym equipment for alfresco workouts and stow it out of sight when relaxation is the order of the day.

With a main-deck master, a bridge deck for drinks and dining, and an observation settee forward of the pilothouse, the Burger 180 Motor Yacht is thus far the largest private project in the 160-year-old builder’s history. The American shipyard is celebrating that significant anniversary this year, making it the second-oldest U.S. yacht builder and fifth among the oldest yacht yards in the world.

A second 180 is under construction, too, on spec. She’s available for sale, allowing for significant customization, with handicapped accessibility still a priority if desired. The above-mentioned Naiad system is available as an option as well. Delivery can take place in 2026.

Burger Boat Company burgerboat.com

Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architects gregmarshalldesign.com