Support Yacht Charley 2, Largest Power Catamaran Constructed in Australia: Photo Gallery

Three years of construction has led to the delivery of the support yacht Charley 2, for a more-than satisfied customer. The owner takes repeat business to a new level. “It’s very special and humbling to have been entrusted by this client with four custom builds over a 20-year period,” says Mark Stothard, Echo Marine Group’s director. While Charley 2 isn’t the largest, she does set a new record. She’s the biggest catamaran motoryacht to see construction and completion on Australian soil.

This cool—and big—cat is the successor to the 151-foot (46-meter) shadow vessel Charley, also an Echo Marine Group build. Both builds took place under its Echo Yachts division. There are differences, though, besides the new delivery being 185 feet (56 meters) LOA. For instance, Charley employed resin-infusion composite construction, while the support yacht Charley 2 is aluminum. Additionally, in combination with a more efficient hull form by One2Three Naval Architects, the new delivery has 40 percent lower horsepower needs compared to her predecessor. Interestingly, the twin 1,600-hp Caterpillars still allow a maximum speed of 18 knots, just 2 knots lower than Charley.

It’s further noteworthy due to the support yacht Charley 2 having 50 percent more internal volume. Eighteen people in the owner’s party have accommodations, as do 19 crew. (On a side note, since a dog will join the adventures, a special “lawn” is on deck, too.) Supporting wreck-finding and diving adventures, the megayacht also has an extended wheelhouse deck, plus a cabin for rangers/pilots/guides. Other inside highlights are extra walk-in refrigerated and freezer rooms, and a forward tunnel stowage room that contains access up to each hull’s foredeck.

Alfresco entertaining spaces are significantly bigger, too, as is watertoy capacity. Specifically, Charley 2 totes four tenders, a landing craft, and three all-electric PWCs, besides dive gear. (A decompression chamber is onboard for safety.) The tenders include a 39-foot (12-meter) custom catamaran and a 22-foot (6.8-meter) custom Naiad RIB. Abundant specialty gear for handling these toys is aboard as well, like knuckle-boom cranes, a launch and retrieval platform for the custom catamaran. When not in use, the cat and the platform sit at the yacht’s stern. They have full walkaround access for cleaning and maintenance ease as well.

While exploring wrecks was a big priority for the owner, so was being more energy efficient. This explains solar panels across her superstructure roof to supply some hotel load electricity. In fact, they should provide one-third of the electrical needs during the day. Finally, a heat-recovery system drawing from the HVAC unit provides hot water to guests and crew.

Currently, the support yacht Charley 2 is en route to her homeport of Singapore.

Echo Yachts echomarinegroup.com

One2Three Naval Architects one2three.com.au