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The wise-guy answer to the question,
"How do you save
fuel on a motor yacht?" is: You pull back the throttle. While that method works
without fail, there are those who believe that through better design there’s
room still to reduce the amount of fuel yachts burn. In this day of
ever-increasing fuel costs and limited availability and suspect quality of
fuel supplies in some of the world’s more remote cruising grounds, saving a
gallon here and there can directly affect the success of any cruising
experience.
ShowBoats International asked two respected yacht designers
to discuss their efforts to design the hulls, appendages and other systems of
long-range motor yachts to be more efficient and burn less fuel. Their views may
not be the final word on the subject, but they surely are part of an expanding
dialogue.
 The bulbous bow is a
crucial component in saving fuel and improving stability in a
seaway. Photograph by Bray Yacht Design. (Click image to enlarge)
Patrick Bray has been designing yachts for 32 years, 14 of
which he has spent on research and development of a super-fuel-efficient
hullform, including developing new associated technology.
Ron Holland, perhaps best known as a sailing yacht
designer, has introduced techniques related to his racing yacht success to
achieve lower drag with his displacement-type motor yacht designs. With his
Marco Polo design just launched in China, a key to his approach to saving
fuel involves the use of a large-diameter, single-propeller configuration.
Naval architect, Bray Yacht Design and Research Ltd.
The continually rising cost of fuel has impacted yachtsmen everywhere.
In researching fuel-efficient hulls over the past 14 years, I’ve achieved
significant improvements that apply specifically to long-range motor yachts.
I’ve looked at the principles of a good, basic hull design, and then I evaluated
methods to increase efficiency by utilizing enhanced appendages such as the
bulbous bow and midships blisters. The reduction in resistance gives greater
fuel economy and lower environmental impact. Improved comfort is a substantial
side benefit.
 Holland’s strategy is on display at
the launch of the first of his Marco Polo series
yachts. (Click image to enlarge)
My intent with these exercises was to achieve a hullform that
was efficient over a wide range of displacement and semi-displacement speeds;
one that was capable of serious ocean passages with a comfortable motion and had
good stability characteristics and very good fuel economy. I first studied
various hullforms and their relative efficiencies and seaworthiness. This led me
to use a lobster-boat type of hull because of its low resistance over a wide
speed range.
From that point, I added features to further enhance
performance: a finer bow for low resistance and low bow wave; high, wide spray
knockers at the bow to add significant volume when pitching into a seaway; low
transom immersion to reduce drag at low speeds; and wide spray chines at the
stern above the waterline to give trim control at higher speeds.
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