Mark T. Masciarotte
06/01/2005
The mid-October day began like many in the Pacific Northwest
with a cool, still layer of fog blanketing the tidy seaport town of Anacortes,
Washington. At a crowded commercial pier, surrounded by ancient tugs and fish
boats, Magic, her new, white paintwork and polished stainless steel
resplendent in the gathering sunshine, looked as alien as a rocket ship would in
this bygone-era setting.
A recurring burgundy and gold palate unifies much of
Magic’s interior–from the silk drapery in the
owner’s study (top), through the Corragio silk bedspread in the
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Built for owners Merlin and Carolyn Hanson, Magic
represents a decided departure from the yachts that have become Northern
Marine’s signature: heavy-displacement, trawler-style vessels with distinctly
Pacific Northwestern lines. At 130 feet, she is also the largest boat built to
date by the company since its founding in 1995. Her contemporary styling and
efficient displacement hullform are the work of designer Ward Setzer, who also
designed the next large motor yacht to launch at the shipyard, 152-foot Lia
Fail.
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Setzer explained that the brief for Magic was somewhat complicated. The Hansons wanted relatively high speeds achieved with fuel- efficient engines and a displacement hull that could easily be used in the shallow waters surrounding the Bahamas. "Mr. Hanson didn’t want a metal boat, but he wanted a strong one. This boat has a lot of structure and is as stiff as any metal boat," said Setzer. "In addition, she carries quite a bit of chain. Of course, none of this weight makes it easy to make speed." (See TechTalk)
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Explaining his affinity for fiberglass, Hanson said, "We’ve owned a Trojan International and a Bertram Fifty-four. Then, we bought a Hatteras Sixty-five sportfish and had such good luck with her that we bought a one-hundred-five-footer. We had a wonderful time building her, owned her for five years, then started thinking about building a new boat.
"Our 105 didn’t have a formal dining room, and the fact that she didn’t have a master stateroom on deck was a biggie. Plus, the fun of designing and building a new boat was an important consideration. Besides, Carolyn told me that all of our other boats have been ‘he-boats,’ and the time had come for a ‘she-boat,’" Hanson said.
Setzer and Scott Cole of Ardeo Design in Bainbridge Island, Washington, collaborated on the boat’s general arrangement and the interior architectural detail. The layout provides generous spaces for the owner’s suite and guest staterooms, as well as large interior and exterior public areas. Executed in satin-finished raised-panel mahogany with classic details, such as fluted columns and complex pediments and moldings, the interior typifies the timeless, traditional motif found aboard the great yachts of the 1930s. The work by Setzer and Cole is highlighted by a very personal interior décor designed by Carolyn Hanson, working with her husband and a handpicked team of stylists.
The main deck offers a large, covered aft deck lounge that leads to the main salon by way of a curved glass bulkhead with double sliding doors. The dining salon is separate, served by a large, well-appointed galley. The owner’s suite, forward, comprises a full-beam stateroom and two heads with a Jacuzzi and shower, as well as a substantial walk-in locker/dressing room and a laundry room. A beautifully arranged office connects the suite to the spacious entrance lobby.
The lower deck, reached via a curved staircase from the main-deck foyer, is equipped with four large guest staterooms that open off an elongated lobby with a marble sole. The two after staterooms are fitted with king-size berths. The two forward staterooms are each unique; one with a queen berth and the other with a double and a twin. All have ensuite baths. In addition, there is a guest laundry room and, beneath the stairs, a large, walk-in locker for luggage.
The stairway landing on the bridge deck forms another lobby, this one equipped with a dayhead and a service area that includes a dumbwaiter to the galley. The expansive wheelhouse has built-in seating for guests around an oval table so they can enjoy the view forward through the panoramic windows. A paneled hallway leads aft to the comfortable bridge deck lounge.
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The vessel’s exterior offers a variety of inviting social spaces. Two that stand out are the covered deck area abaft the bridge deck lounge, and the open sun deck, which is fitted with a bar and grill area and a large spa tub beneath the mast.
The Hansons take pride in ensuring that their crew is comfortable, and proof can be seen in the galley, which has the same high level of joinery and detail as the luxury accommodation. Indeed, there is no quality compromised in the crew spaces, just the curtailing of some finishing flourishes. The mahogany bulkheads and doors, for example, are built with flat panel details instead of the raised panels seen in the rest of the boat.
Capt. Dave Ober acted as the owner’s representative during construction. Having been with the Hansons for more than 10 years, he knew well what they liked and how they used their boat. While Ober was quite pleased by the quality of the systems and the level of finish, he was particularly happy with Magic’s performance.
"With half load, we made a maximum speed of eighteen knots during the trials," he noted. "That’s remarkable for a boat this size with a pair of 12V 2000s."
Setzer, too, was proud of the results. "We tested the hull at BC Research," he said. "The predictions looked really good at the time, but the sea trials were great. She ran like a sewing machine and exceeded all predictions by at least a knot and a half. She’s also very quiet and she handles well in all [points of sail]."
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Protected from the blazing sun, the covered aft
deck lounge is the perfect place for the Hansons and their guests to relax as
Magic
hops through the Out Islands of the Bahamas. The
Sunbrella-covered cushions and teak decking will hold up well in island
environs. (Click image to enlarge)Merlin Hanson noted that because he and his wife stay aboard during passages, these traits are important. "The macho stuff with high speed isn’t very sensible. The seas will beat you to death, or you need a tanker for fuel. We designed the boat for a reasonable cruise speed and were careful not to overpower her.
"Most guys send the crew and captain, then fly in to join the boat. We have the [pleasure] of riding and enjoying the yacht. We’re riders, not flyers."
| Yacht Name: | Magic |
| Yacht Year: | 2004 |
| Yacht Type: | Motor Yacht |
| Builder: | Northern Marine |
| Draft: | 6' 8" (2.03m) |
| LOA (Actual length): | 130' (39.62m) |
| LWL (Length of water line): | 118' (35.97m) |
| Displacement: | 210 tons |
| Cruise Speed: | 15 kts |
| Beam: | 27' 6" (8.38m) |
| Architecture: | Setzer Design Group |
| Hull Material: | Fiberglass |
| Superstructure Material: | Fiberglass |
| Fuel Capacity: | 10,000g (37,854.12L) |
| Water Capacity: | 2,000g (7,570.82L) |
| Classification: | ABS |
| Engines: | 2x MTU 12V 2000 |
| Generators: | 2x Onan, 65kW |
| Air conditioning: | Aqua Air |
| Watermarker: | Watermakers, Inc., 2,000 gpd |
| Bow thruster: | Trac |
| Paint: | Sterling |
| Deck Windlass: | 2x Maxwell 3500 |
| Tenders: | Novurania |
| Black Water Treatment: | Headhunter Tidal Wave |
| Toilet: | Headhunter Royal Flush |
| Radar: | 2x Furuno |
| Wind Instruments: | B&G |
| Sat TV receiver: | SeaTel |
