Some things are worth waiting for. In June I got a sneak peek at Ocean Mercury at Feadship’s Royal De Vries yard, a few weeks before she was delivered, but no photography was permitted. Much of the loose furnishings weren’t in place, either. But now that the official photos have been released, I can show…
If you’ve been paying attention to the global megayacht market, then you’ve likely noticed that some builders, designers, and even engine manufacturers are no longer satisfied with providing the same styles and performance owners have expected over the past several years. There’s nothing wrong with those models, of course. The companies simply have decided to…
Back in August I told you about some futuristic designs that Ward Setzer was proposing. He created the Vision Line series to challenge the status quo in the megayacht industry, believing that there were plenty of buyers and builders alike who craved something different. Well, he was definitely onto something: Burger Boat Company has selected…
The past few weeks have been active for Heesen Yachts. In mid-October Celestial Hope (top) splashed at the Dutch shipyard, followed a few weeks later by Man of Steel (above). Both megayachts represent important “seconds” for Heesen: Celestial Hope is hull number two in its 4700 semicustom series, while Man of…
Refits can often present challenges, particularly when the vessel being transformed is a commercial craft. Such is the case with R/V Nadir, which is in the process of being redesigned and relaunched in Seattle as the 185-foot Alucia. But the challenges don’t lie simply with the boat’s original purpose. After all, several Coast Guard vessels,…
One of the yachts I looked forward to touring at the Fort Lauderdale boat show was Beothuk, a 102-footer built by Kuipers Woudsend. She’s part of the intrepid Doggersbank Offshore series created by Vripack a few years ago. Among the reasons why I was so interested in her: Her owner, an experienced Canadian yachtsman, intended…
November 17 marked a significant day for Horizon Yachts: the cutting of the first steel plate for its first-ever steel yacht, the Bandido 148 Explorer. The rendering above, from the drawing board of Espinosa, is what she’ll look like when she’s completed in 2010, and the image below shows the plate being cut at Premier…
While boat shows are typically occasions for meeting and greeting new and old clients, Feadship found a new use for the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. It surprised Richard Hull, the owner of Inevitable, with a scale model of the megayacht. That’s Hull in the center of the photo, along with Harry Hankel (left),…
A few weeks ago, Feadship sent a press release heralding the launch of the first full custom yacht to emerge from the Makkum, Holland, yard of Royal De Vries. Ocean Victory, as she’s named, measures 75.75 meters, or 248’6″, and represents one of the largest Feadships to date. The occasion was celebrated with a laser…
Whether they’re willing to admit it or not, every business experiences growing pains. And that’s a good thing; after all, who ever learned anything without being challenged? The 153-foot Ingot is, in my opinion, one of the best examples in the marine world of what can be accomplished when faced with difficulty. Four years ago,…
