Timely Gratification
Louisa Beckett
03/01/2007

When it comes to building a new luxury motor yacht, there are two kinds of owners: those who can’t wait to take delivery of the vessel and get out on the water to enjoy her, and those for whom the design and construction process is half the fun. Yachtsmen who fall in the latter group can stop reading now. For owners who are impatient to get cruising, however, we have a proposition: Why not consider building a semi-custom yacht?

The semi-custom category falls into the gray area between full-production yacht series—where each boat in a model line is virtually identical—and one-off custom projects. The term "semi-custom" means different things to different builders, but basically refers to a yacht with a production hull and superstructure laid up in composite, encompassing an interior that is customizable to some degree. Typically, an owner who goes to contract on a semi-custom yacht before the build process begins can select the color scheme, woods and soft goods. Some shipyards also offer a choice of layouts for the guest accommodations. Beyond that, however, an owner’s influence is limited. Many shipyards will not move bulkheads or even change the engines in their semi-custom models because the yard has invested considerable time and resources into developing the series, then "blueprinted" the results for streamlined efficiency.

"Predictability is what we offer," says Phil Purcell, vice president of sales for Westport Shipyard, one of America’s leading semi-custom builders. "We’ve never missed a delivery date—ever."

Those deliveries come with satisfying speed, in months rather than years. The construction period for the 34-meter Westport 112, for example, is only about 10 months from lay-up to launch. At a retail price of $9.275 million, the 112 costs roughly half the price of a custom yacht of the same length.

Custom Line 97. (Click image to enlarge)

Repeatability is another key trait. There are no surprises with a semi-custom yacht series. The waterline and center of gravity are in the same place with every hull. The performance characteristics, such as top speed and range, are known quantities. "Our owners are looking for reliability," Purcell says. "They love it because they all have a Lear, a Gulfstream or a Falcon jet. When they pull onto the tarmac, they like that predictability."

While some shipyards, such as Westport, build semi-custom composite yachts as large as 50 meters, most of the series range from roughly 18 to 36 meters. This is a rapidly growing segment of the international luxury yacht market. According to ShowBoats International’s annual Global Order Book, orders for motor yachts from 24 to 36 meters, for example, have increased by 60 percent in the last five years. Of the top 20 builders listed in the 2007 Global Order Book, the first four—Azimut-Benetti, the Ferretti Group, Sunseeker and the Rodriguez Group—all achieved their leading positions partly thanks to their semi-custom yacht business.

The rising demand for these turnkey yachts is spurred by their ever-improving quality. Semi-custom builders are constantly refining their composite construction techniques to utilize high-tech methods such as resin infusion and vacuum bagging. They are incorporating furnishings, stonework and soft goods into the yachts’ interiors that are commonly found in today’s high-end luxury homes. They also are consulting with well-known yacht design firms to develop fresh and attractive interior schemes for their new models.When it comes to selecting a semi-custom motor yacht from the many series available, the most important concern an owner has to ponder is what he plans to do with it. These yachts tend to fall into distinct categories defined by their end use. Form follows function in the semi-custom world: Open yachts, designed for high performance, are missile-shaped with minimalist interiors. Flybridge yachts move the helm station up a story into the air, where the owner can feel more connected with the sea, sun and sky. Broad-shouldered motor yachts offer the most generous accommodations, providing luxury cruising comfort for a large party of family and guests.Within each yacht category there are a number of top-quality builders to choose from. What follows is a look at some of the new developments in today’s rapidly expanding international semi-custom yacht industry.

Photograph by Dana Jinkins. (Click image to enlarge)

Open Yachts
These sleek greyhounds are the darlings of the Mediterranean, but their popularity also has increased in ports around the world, where they serve as ambassadors of "Euro-style."Azimut’s S-series open yachts, which range up to 26 meters in length, have helped to set the standard in this class. Exterior stylist Stefano Righini and interior designer Carlo Galeazzi are particularly noted for their use of large window panels in the S-class yachts’ hull sides, bringing water-level views into the owner’s suite—an innovation that has been widely adopted throughout the industry. This hull configuration is a prominent feature of the most recent addition to the line, the Azimut 62S.

Azimut 62S. "Open" is a bit of a misnomer today, since most yachts in this category have enclosed wheelhouses that permit running in wet weather. (Click images to enlarge)

The Rodriguez Group is another leading builder of swift and stylish opens under its Léopard and Mangusta brand names. The Mangusta line, constructed at the Overmarine Shipyard in Viareggio, Italy, offers what it claims is the largest open yacht in production today. Measuring an impressive 39.5 meters, the Mangusta 130 tops out at 36 knots with twin 16V4000 M90 MTUs mated to KaMeWa 71SII waterjet drives.

Mangusta 108. (Click image to enlarge)

One of the most attractive new open models comes from Ferretti Group division Pershing, an Italian brand whose yachts’ aggressive looks are matched only by their blistering top-end speeds. The latest missile launched from this arsenal is the Pershing 90. Powered by twin 2,400-hp 16V2000 MTU engines paired to Arneson surface-piercing drives, this 27.4-meter yacht flies at speeds of up to 44 knots. Inside her aerodynamic hull, designer Fulvio De Simoni collaborated with Pershing’s design and engineering team to create striking contemporary interior accommodations. An alternate layout featuring a media room is available for the entertainment-mad U.S. market.

Pershing 90. (Click image to enlarge)

Another Ferretti Group shipyard that is better known for its beautiful runabouts is Riva, which launched its new 63 Vertigo last September at the Cannes boat show. A slightly smaller version of Riva’s larger, aptly named 68 Ego, the 19.6-meter Vertigo has a spacious layout for a performance yacht of her size. Lower-deck accommodations for six guests include a master, VIP and twin-berth stateroom, along with a large, inviting lounge area.

Riva 63 Vertigo. (Click image to enlarge)

Rodriquez Yachts, headquartered in Sarzana, Italy, is building a sexy new 36.6-meter open project called the 800 Sport, due to launch in mid-2007. Rodriquez’ designers have moved the dining salon down to the lower deck, opening up the main deck to serve as an elegant entertaining area. Top speed, with twin 2,000-hp engines mated to surface drives, is projected at 45 knots, with a cruise speed of 38 knots.While it may seem that the Italians have cornered the open market, some exciting new entries hail from other parts of the world. Last fall, Lazzara Yachts of Tampa, Florida, unveiled what was probably the most closely guarded secret project in the yachting industry: the Lazzara LSX Quad 75. This radical 23.4-meter open is powered by four Volvo Penta IPS 600 engines, which provide balanced handling and improved fuel efficiency along with sporty performance. The compact engine installation still allows room for four staterooms below, including a full-beam owner’s suite with his-and-hers heads. Warren Yachts of Australia recently launched its S87 Sport Yacht series to instant acclaim; the shipyard is already producing them at a rate of five per year. The 26.4-meter S87 is offered with a generous four-stateroom lower-deck layout or a three-stateroom version where the owner’s suite encompasses nearly the entire front half of the yacht. Slated to debut in 2007 is the 36.6-meter Warren S120, a hybrid motor yacht with open lines and a small flybridge complete with upper helm hidden high in its superstructure.

Warren S120. (Click image to enlarge)

Flybridge Yachts
Combining sporty performance with generous interior accommodations and headroom high enough for a pro basketball player, flybridge motor yachts are probably the most popular type of semi-custom vessel on the water today.

Sunseeker 90. (Click image to enlarge)

Once again, European styling dominates this category. British shipyards, in particular, have taken the flybridge market by storm in recent years. England’s largest recent entry is the Sunseeker 90 yacht. This elegant 28-meter vessel is topped by a large flybridge that’s ideal for entertaining. Well-thought-out space planning enables the three-person crew to gain access to all parts of the yacht without disturbing the guests. The owner can select from a range of power options up to a fire-breathing total 3,600 horsepower and can personalize the yacht’s interior color scheme, fabrics and lacquers. The rest of the yacht is tamper-proof, but the trade-off is enormous. Build time for the Sunseeker 90 is five months from start to finish, and the base price starts at just $6.2 million.

Fairline Squadron 74. (Click images to enlarge)

Fairline, another major semi-custom player from the United Kingdom, relaunched its 22.7-meter flagship flybridge cruiser at the Southampton Boat Show last September. Now labeled the Squadron 74 Custom, this yacht is offered with a wider range of layouts for the full-beam owner’s suite. A private office, separate his-and-hers baths or a single, enlarged bath are all available in » the 2007 model. In addition, desirable equipment that was formerly optional—including air conditioning, an upgrade Bang & Olufsen entertainment system and underwater lights—is now on the standard items list.

Custom Line 97. Semi-custom motor yachts can be either contemporary or traditional in style—unlike opens, which are a uniformly modern-looking breed. (Click images to enlarge)

Due out this spring, the new flagship of the Princess fleet of British-built performance yachts is the 95 motor yacht. This 29.3-meter flybridge model is designed to reflect the latest developments in interior luxury yacht styling and noise-suppression technology. MCA large-yacht certification is available to owners who plan to offer her for charter operations. Thanks to the 11-year-old relationship between Princess and Viking Yachts, this luxurious vessel will make a 2009 debut in the United States as the Viking Sport Cruisers 95. There, she will be supported by Viking’s extensive service organization.

Viking Sport Cruisers 95. (Click image to enlarge)

Canadian shipyard Neptunus Yachts, which still proudly recalls its Dutch boatbuilding heritage, produces some of the most innovative flybridge models in North America. Neptunus plans to introduce the new 70 SkyLounge model at the 2007 Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show. Designer Gregory C. Marshall created this 22.6-meter model, featuring a very comfortable, climate-controlled helm and entertainment lounge on the spacious sun deck. With twin 1,550-hp Caterpillar C32s, the Neptunus 70 SkyLounge cruises at 28 knots and tops out at 33.Naturally, the prolific Italian semi-custom yachtbuilders refuse to be outdone in the flybridge yacht category. Azimut, which builds models up to 30 meters, enhanced the lower end of its range recently by introducing the new 14.5-meter Azimut 47 at the Genoa boat show in October. Aicon, on the other hand, extended the upper end of its line by launching a new flagship, the flybridge 85, last year. Crowned by a hardtop with an automatic skylight, the 26-meter Aicon 85 also features a hot tub on its expansive sun deck. Below, she provides generous living areas, including four large staterooms with ensuite heads for an owner’s party of eight. Privacy is ensured by a well-thought-out separation of guest and crew areas. For example, the main-deck galley can be accessed both from the dining area and the wheelhouse. The relatively large crew quarters are tucked into the bow.

Aicon 47 & 85. (Click image to enlarge)

Fall of 2006 marked the launch of a sporty new flybridge cruiser from Ferretti Yachts. The 24-meter F780 is a bit of a departure for Ferretti, which bills itself as the world leader in the design and production of flybridge models. The interior woodwork is in light teak, rather than the traditional cherry. Ferretti’s engineering team cleverly designed the yacht’s fore and aft flybridge stairways to be completely unobtrusive, allowing uninterrupted sightlines from the wheelhouse to the aft deck. Megayacht features such as the Ferretti Group’s Anti-Rolling Gyro (ARG) stabilization system are part of the yacht’s enviable standard equipment list.

Aicon 85. (Click image to enlarge)

The new 75 Venere from fellow Ferretti Group member Riva is a one of the best-looking flybridge yachts to grace the waves. This 23-meter model is the physical embodiment of the old adage, "A place for everything and everything in its place." Of particular note are the separate dining area on the main deck and the owner’s stateroom with its walk-in closet and a large, ensuite bathroom that’s comfortable enough for a couple to share.

Motor Yachts
The motor yacht category encompasses the biggest semi-custom vessels on the market. These yachts are designed for long-range luxury cruising.

More and more luxury yachtbuilders are entering this category from both the custom and production ends of the industry. Large custom shipyards such as Benetti and Palmer Johnson, for example, have added semi-custom composite sidelines to their businesses, while full-production players like Jefferson Yachts and even Sea Ray in the United States have grown their fleets by building semi-custom flagships.

Horizon 130. Interior décors feature upscale materials. Noted custom designers draw many semi-custom motor yachts’ exterior lines. (Click images to enlarge)

Several notable semi-custom motor yacht series for the 2007 model year are being built in Asia, where boatbuilding and woodworking skills passed down from generation to generation go hand and hand with affordable labor rates. Horizon, which is headquartered in Taiwan, has two new models in the works, both of which take advantage of the talents of outside designers. The 21-meter Horizon Vision 68 has an ultra-lightweight hull designed by Gregory C. Marshall. Representing a return to traditional cruising values, this yacht combines retro lines with a huge interior volume made possible by its 6.2-meter beam.

The Premier 130 is Horizon’s new flagship, featuring exterior design by JC Espinosa. This 39.6-meter tri-deck motor yacht is closer in spirit to a custom project. The shipyard offers a wide variety of layouts, including an on-deck master suite and a formal dining area.Ocean Alexander also builds seaworthy and attractive motor yachts in Taiwan. The newly launched 74-foot motor yacht fills » an essential niche in the line, which ranges to just under 30 meters. This flexible, 23.4-meter model is available in a variety of different configurations, including skylounge and open flybridge versions. Optional interior layouts include a country kitchen, two different owner’s suite floor plans and four layouts for the main salon.

Ocean Alexander 74. (Click image to enlarge)

Another American company that relies on Taiwanese craftsmanship, Jefferson Yachts recently introduced its striking 82 Starship Pilothouse model, designed by naval architect Tommaso Spadolini. Measuring in at 25 meters, this yacht looks salty from bow to stern. Gleaming teak, a hallmark of fine Asian construction, graces her comfortable interior. An owner’s party of eight is easily accommodated in the massive amidships owner’s suite, forward VIP suite and mirror-image twin staterooms.

Jefferson 82 Starship. (Click image to enlarge)

Paragon Motor Yachts, a recent start-up, built an ISO 9001-certified facility in Taiwan to construct its semi-custom offerings. Paragon’s president, Scott Robinson, founded the company in 2000 in order to translate his 25 years of experience as a captain into state-of-the-art GRP motor yachts. With "luxury, quietness and safety" as their watchwords, he and his team have launched three 92-foot, planing-hull cockpit motor yachts and are currently building a 94-foot version.

Located in Hong Kong, Cheoy Lee Shipyards recently displayed several new semi-custom series at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, including its 95-foot Sport motor yacht. This 29.4-meter raised pilothouse model, designed by Mike Burvenich, features an observation lounge and two owner’s staterooms—one on the main deck and a second one below, which can be used for sleeping comfort in rough seas. Powered by twin C32 Caterpillar engines, the Cheoy Lee 95 has a top-end speed of more than 25 knots.

In Europe, few large luxury yachtbuilders can match Benetti’s success when it comes to juggling a luxury custom megayacht business with a thriving semi-custom yacht trade. Responding to market demand for a smaller composite model, the Italian builder recently added the new 24-meter Legend series to its Tradition, Classic and Vision lines. Exterior designer Stefano Righini and interior stylist François Zuretti, who teamed up to create Benetti’s other semi-custom series, have hit another home run with the Legend. Her 83-foot full-displacement hull provides a stable, comfortable ride along with a wealth of accommodations for a yacht of this size. In order to let the owner personalize the yacht to the fullest extent possible, Zuretti designed two entirely different interior schemes for the Legend: classic and contemporary.

Benetti Legend 24m. (Click image to enlarge)

Despite its somewhat misleading name, Ferretti Group member Custom Line builds semi-custom composite motor yachts up to 34 meters. The Italian shipyard recently unveiled a masterful new model, the Custom Line 97, designed by Studio Zuccon International Project in collaboration with its own in-house engineering division. This 29.7-meter yacht is a study in contemporary space planning, encompassing accommodations for an owner’s party of up to 10 guests. Two lower-deck layouts are available: a four-stateroom plan with two double guest cabins and two twins, each with an ensuite, marble-lined bathroom, or a three-stateroom version with a full-beam VIP suite. A roomy master suite is located on the main deck.

Palmer Johnson 135. (Click image to enlarge)

U.S. shipyard Palmer Johnson also made use of Italian design expertise when it entered the semi-custom motor yacht category. Capitalizing on its long-standing relationship with Nuvolari-Lenard in Venice, Palmer Johnson invited these dynamic designers to join in creating the 36.5-meter PJ 120 Sport Yacht series, which is now up to Hull No. 6. That line proved so successful that Palmer Johnson has followed it up with the new 135-foot series, which will debut at the Miami Yacht & Brokerage Show. The PJ 135 shares her smaller sibling’s bright hull colors and vibrant, contemporary interiors. The builder has already sold two hulls in this new line, in advance of the public launch.

Major new luxury yachts designed by some of the world’s most talented naval architects and delivered in mere months from start to finish….For an owner who is eager to get out on the water and start enjoying his new toy, there doesn’t seem to be a downside.