| Calixas 105 |  |
Montie Twining, an Austin-bred Texan with a high-tech pedigree,
flashes a broad grin as he steps off a plane in Taiwan wearing a white
ten-gallon hat and cowboy boots. By his side, in Northwest plaid, is Greg
Marshall, the soft-spoken Canadian designer who has been styling seductive
profiles and fine lines since his early years under William Garden’s tutelage.
It was a celebrative arrival. The Calixas 105 was ready for launch after three
years of design collaboration on the heels of a 20-year friendship.
 With twin Caterpillar 3406Es, the 105 has a range exceeding 3,000
nautical miles. (Click image to enlarge)
"Our mission," explains Twining, "was to design and build a
contemporary tri-deck world voyager in as high-tech and eco-friendly a manner
possible, meeting rigorous safety standards and filling a niche in the yacht
market." The result is a refreshing ocean voyager with contemporary lines and
comfortable livability, blended with the detailed refinements of a much larger
yacht.
| Click on the Spec tab at top to see complete list of resources. |
The project hatched the way only friendships allow: out of
boldness, simplicity and honest appraisal. Marshall, known for his Westport 130,
and Horizon and San Juan speedster styling, had free reign to shape the Calixas
105 into a purposeful MCA-classed profile. Her aggressive bow flair, high
freeboard and reverse bridge windows form a determined brow. A sweeping mast and
crow’s nest make this tri-deck a no-monkey-business expedition cruiser. A closer
look reveals seductively fine detailing, curvaceous » lines, artsy
stainless steel accents, a multi-tiered teak deck with the topside space of a
140-footer and social areas often overlooked by vessels with a serious voyaging
manifest.
 Defiantly high-tech, Twining’s sensibilities defined the
character of the project, resulting in a yacht committed to eco-friendly
construction. The team’s mandate for sophisticated composites prompted it to
utilize SCRIMP-infusion technology, saving materials and reducing workplace
emissions for this bulbous-bow full-displacement cruiser while still resulting
in the largest-gross-tonnage yacht ever to come from Taiwan. (Click image to enlarge)
 Walnut paneling with wengé detailing creates a warm, inviting
interior appointed by Lisa Sinclair of Victoria, British Columbia. (Click image to enlarge)
"We initially looked at developing our own yard in Canada,
mainland China or Mexico," says Marshall, "but Premier [Yacht’s] interest in the
project was the yard’s opportunity to bring itself permanently up to the
standard required by Calixas."
 Large windows flood the lower decks with
light. (Click image to enlarge)
Owned by the Horizon Group, which runs three shipyards and five
facilities in Taiwan, the Premiere line builds above 100 feet and has committed
Calixas as its only full-displacement motor yacht. Faced with issues of building
a complex business abroad, Marshall had the creative lead while Twining put his
talents into structuring a high-tech method of remote manufacturing.
Twining’s brainchild of computerizing project management, which
he calls Calixas.net, takes the process to new heights by turning the entire
construction process, from plans to execution, into a live, 24-7 portal,
accessible with complete specs, 3-D modeling of every part and installation
procedure, data, design info and purchasing details. The result is an up-front
investment in the remote build, minimizing miscommunication and resolving
change orders so that accountability forms a permanent digital trail.
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