Messing about in boats since 1975. Online Since 1997.
Home | Intro | Our Design Process | Stock Design Info | Motor Yacht Designs | Sailing Yacht Designs | Prototype Designs Plans List | Articles | Our CAD Design Stream | Maxsurf | News..! | SITE MAP..! | Site Search | Design Team | Contact Us Please see the AVAILABLE BOAT PLANS web page
My specialty is custom yacht design, from concept to launch. Strength, safety, comfort, performance, style, grace... the essential attributes of a yacht. Whether built in wood, steel, aluminum or composite, those qualities shape my design strategy. My mission is to combine an owner's wishes with graceful aesthetics, human-friendly design, competent analysis, maximum performance, robust structure, and classic form. I offer a high degree of creativity in pursuit of solutions to client requests. I view this as the essence of good design. See the article for more information. See the for a complete index to over 250 web pages that include yacht designs and articles about boats and boating. By using computer aided modeling a yacht design can be created with optimum aesthetics, structure, performance, stability and seakeeping. Using the same digital model, the structural parts of the vessel can be defined for CNC cutting. CNC cutting delivers a more accurate and higher quality structure at a more favorable cost than would be possible using manual lofting and cutting methods. See the article for a detailed outline of my design development process.
|
Please see the AVAILABLE BOAT PLANS web page. Home | Intro | Our Design Process | Stock Design Info | Motor Yacht Designs | Sailing Yacht Designs | Prototype Designs Plans List | Articles | Our CAD Design Stream | Maxsurf | News..! | SITE MAP..! | Site Search | Design Team | Contact Us
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.
When designing your own yacht, you have a few options, from commissioning a custom new build yacht construction project through to refitting an existing yacht. When deciding which route to take, it’s helpful to know some of the pros and cons of each approach.
Option 1: The deluxe, no-holds-barred, fully custom yacht.
Experienced yacht owners and charterers often dream of one thing: the day they design their own yacht from scratch. A fully custom new build project is the pinnacle of the yacht ownership experience, as it allows you control over every aspect of your yacht’s design, from technical details like hull form and noise-dulling technology, right through to you designing that split-level master stateroom with private terrace or beach club with spa. Designing a fully custom yacht ensures that your yacht is the realization of every yachting dream, tailored perfectly to how you use your yacht. However when designing your own yacht, this luxurious bespoke option comes at a price, and the build time tends to be longer than with semi-custom models.
Option 2: The freedom and efficiency of a semi-custom yacht.
If you want to design your own yacht, and want to give your input in the design, but want to take advantage of efficiencies in build time and budget, you can opt for a semi-custom design, whereby the yacht’s hull form and design is part of an existing series of yachts. Building on a proven platform, the yacht owner gets to design the yacht’s décor, and depending on the builder, amend parts of the interior layout. The degree of freedom to change elements of the yacht will vary depending on which yacht builder you go with. A semi-custom yacht can have very different décor than other yachts in the same series, but the exterior design (and sometimes interior layout) is clearly part of a series, which will not appeal so much to yacht owners who crave a unique look to their yacht design.
Option 3: Buying ‘off the plan’ with a production yacht
This is the quickest and most cost effective way to buy a new yacht, as production yacht builders buy materials in bulk and put their yachts together quickly due to repetition of process. You can often purchase a yacht that is already under construction, meaning that time to delivery is slashed and you can take possession of your yacht much sooner than if you buy a custom yacht. This option has a lot less room for owner input on design, although some décor choices are normally left open.
Option 4: Refit an existing yacht
If you’re not in the mood to wait for several years for a brand new yacht to be delivered, refitting an existing yacht is an excellent option that can dramatically change the look of your yacht, while also providing the opportunity to update the engineering and onboard systems. A quality refit with a great design can deliver a ‘like-new’ yacht, and will normally significantly add to the resale value and charter potential of your yacht. However, major yard periods run the risk of going over time and over budget, so planning your yard period well is imperative.
Deciding between fully custom, semi-custom, production yacht and refit depends on how you use your yacht and how much input you want on the design process. If you would like to design your own yacht and want to discuss these different options in more detail, please contact our yacht construction team directly by sending us a message by using the form on the right, or give us a call by using the phone numbers listed in the footer of this page.
The global authority in superyachting
There’s a new wave of design trends shaping the fleet this year. Ahead of the Superyacht Design Festival, BOAT rounds up some of the stand-out features to look out for in 2022.
The future of yacht design will be a hot topic at the upcoming Superyacht Design Festival, with leading designers taking to the stage to discuss everything from flying yachts to immersive artwork. In order to predict some of the trends we might expect to see in 2022, BOAT takes a moment to reflect on the hottest design elements of the past year .
Exterior decks will always be prime real estate for superyacht pools. Whether they’re within toe-dipping distance of a sunpad spread or stretching out invitingly as you step onto the main deck, a swimming pool in a sun-soaked spot is hard to beat.
But recently we’ve seen designers look for more inventive ways to give their clients poolfront fun in a different setting. The beach club seems to be the spot of choice.
The 73 metre Yalla was one of the yachts to start this trend, with a roomy rectangle of swimming pool only visible when her transom is opened up. Delivered in 2014 by Italian yard CRN , the yacht’s Droulers -designed interior was miles ahead of the game.
Fast forward to the 2021 Monaco Yacht Show, where we saw two yachts sporting a similar beach club arrangement. These were 80 metre Bilgin flagship Tatiana and AK Yachts ’ pride and joy, the 85 metre Victorious .
Both of these yachts buck the trend for pools being the stand-alone showpiece on board, and instead integrate the swimming pool as part of a social hub. Victorious ’ pool is flanked by a sofa and a drop-down TV screen, while Tatiana's is bordered by a glass bar and unfolding swim platforms that practically invite a party.
These two yachts feature design from Jonny Horsfield at H2 . “It’s a reaction to the fact that a lot of these clients are really focusing on their lifestyles now,” says Horsfield. “The layouts of yachts aren’t as predictable as they used to be, because people are being more specific about they how use their yachts."
“The danger with beach clubs is that they become a bit of a dead space. I think people like the idea of swimming inside,” adds Horsfield. “Obviously you can get a deeper pool, and it’s also more private.”
The trend continues in Benetti’s 108 metre Luminosity , where the pool takes centre stage in the 250 square metre beach club. Zaniz Studio created the yacht’s light-filled interior, and the interior pool is a key focal point on board.
If the popularity of interior pools over the past year is anything to go by, we can expect to see more pools cropping up in unexpected onboard places.
Curving shapes and soft lines are invariably on-trend in both interior and exterior design, but 2021 saw certain designers take things up a notch. We can expect to see those themes continue into 2022. “I do see that clients tend to prefer lines that are closer to nature,” comments Karel Nguyen, yacht designer at Azure Yacht Design & Naval Architecture .
One of Azure’s latest project is the 75 metre Admiral flagship Kensho . The yacht is a wealth of gently curving lines and shapes, with the most notable example being her elegant deck arrangement, which is best observed from above. “The idea is that in the lines, you see the layers of the earth,” explains Nguyen. “It looks like it’s really shaped by the forces of nature.”
Meanwhile, Benetti’s 36.8 metre Koju features curves on the interior. The yacht was delivered in 2021 as the first unit of the Italian yard’s Motopanfilo series and was immediately acclaimed for her retro, yet fresh-feeling design. By using curving beams on the overheads, Italian studio Lazzarini Pickering Architetti has added depth and dimension to the space.
The foredeck is a superb place to position a dip pool, particularly on smaller models if the aft deck is reserved for dining. Models like the 26 metre Sirena 88, the brand new 26 metre Azimut Grande 26 Metri, or the larger, but sportier 43 metre Overmarine Mangusta Oceano 43 all take advantage of their foredecks for the use of petite pools. The 50 metre K2 , the latest Sport 50 MT from Columbus , also makes use of the foredeck for a dip pool. The key benefit is uninterrupted vistas, but this position also holds appeal for owners in search of increased privacy and smoother access from their cabin.
Recently we’ve seen a few larger superyachts have been getting in on the trend, too. The new Cloud 9 , a 61 metre Sanlorenzo delivered in 2021, volunteers a generous dip pool in a prime spot on the foredeck.
Feadship ’s 94 metre Viva , delivered in 2021, has a similar arrangement. Azure is also responsible for Viva’s design. “I think a large number of people have been inspired by this feature,” says Nguyen. “But it’s very personal as well. You have to think about how you’re going to use your foredeck. We have a client right now who likes sunset sailing, so they want to sit on the foredeck and make use of it. I think it’s a really cool place to have a Jacuzzi.”
Yacht layouts are constantly evolving in line with market demands. In 2022 we might expect to see more of a focus on the stern area, following clients’ desires to reconnect with nature and spend more time closer to the water. Sanlorenzo’s 34 metre SX112 , first unveiled in 2020, is a prime example of a reimagined stern that prioritises waterfront living over an enclosed beach club or tender garage.
Benetti’s Oasis deck, a feature that was first unveiled on the 40 metre Oasis 40M , takes the trend a step further. Conceived by exterior designers RWD and interior designers bonetti/kozerski architecture , this wide-open deck space features unfolding bulwarks, sofa seating and a low-slung rectangular dip pool.
In 2020, Admiral’s 55 metre metre Geco took to the seas sporting another take on a stern ‘lounge.’ The design evolved from a simple set of steps and a swim platform into a spacious protected seating area complete with bulwarks, submersible stairs and a teak deck that wraps over the edge of the platform to meet the sea.
On shore, a vintage revival means bold colours, loud patterns and all-out maximalism. At sea, the trend manifests itself more subtly, but the retro revival is still there in the lines of certain boats.
The most obvious example is the 37 metre Motopanfilo, which is one of Benetti’s newest and oldest series. It takes its design cues from the yard’s classic Italian motor yachts of the 1960s. The style was historically such a hit that Benetti decided to breathe fresh back into it, and the new series was born at the tail end of 2020. A few key changes were made to appeal to the tastes of the contemporary yacht owner, but she retains the overarching essence of a vintage boat.
The Moonen 110 is another model which leans into the retro aesthetic. Described as a “gentleman’s yacht,” the 34 metre yacht boasts a low profile, geometric shapes, and foredeck steps that all carry echoes of classic models like the Moonen 84 and 97.
“Classic design might be on its way back to some extent, but not as we know it. I think lines are becoming ‘cleaner’ with less ‘multi angle’ windows,” says Rene van der Velden, the designer behind the Moonen 110. “The new 110 became a mix of the old and the new, with classic overall proportions and modern detailing.”
Glass was, and continues to be, one of the biggest design trends in yachting right now. We’ve seen it wrapped around Oceanco’s 90 metre Dar , stretched up high in the atrium of 80 metre Excellence and used to make geometric cut-out shapes on 80 metre Artefact .
As glass technology continues to evolve, so too do the various applications that designers can play with. One trend we might expect to see more of could be long lines of glazing with an absence of mullions. This design creates a sleek, almost futuristic profile from the outside and offers unparalleled views from the interior that let the yacht’s surroundings remain front and centre. “It’s all about the experience from the inside out,” confirms Nguyen. “What do you see when you’re on board, the overall view.”
Feadship’s 77 metre Pi , which debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019, is penned by Jarkko Jamsen of Aivan . Glass is so instrumental to the design of the yacht that it plays a structural role as well as an aesthetic one, with glass making up around 97 per cent of the material in the superstructure on the owner’s cabin.
A similar design can be seen on Moon Sand . A more recent delivery from the drawing boards of Bannenberg & Rowell , Moon Sand features a long, linear profile with long lines of black glazing defining her silhouette.
All of these trends and more will be discussed during the upcoming Superyacht Design Festival, which will take place from June 22-24, 2022 in Milan, Italy.
Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday
By signing up for BOAT newsletters, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy .
Most popular, from our partners, sponsored listings.
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The world's top designers descended on Cortina d'Ampezzo for the Superyacht Design Festival in February. Here we capture their views - and the spectacular Italian scenery. Martin Francis, Francis Design To work with Philippe Starck! Sam Sorgiovanni, Sorgiovanni Designs The wildest request (no pun intended) was for a live terrarium on ...
Yacht Design. Keep up-to-date with the latest design trends with our design news, get the inside story on how the most iconic luxury superyachts were designed and find out more about the world's best superyacht designers. Pearls of wisdom. Cristiano Gatto on how to the play the game in yacht design.
Name: Red Yacht Design Founding year: 2017 Notable styles: With its involvement of 26-metre Edge, Red Yacht Design took cues from explorers or sports utility boats but "made it sporty and appealing to young people". She boasts a distinctive "Porsche Guards red" hull and the studio took a holistic approach to the the design with nature ...
Every yacht we create is the result of maximizing design and materials, so the boat excels. Then, the reward for me is seeing the way my clients enjoy using my designs.Doug Zurn, Founder and Principal, Zurn Yacht Design
Yacht design is constantly evolving as yacht designers push the boundaries of traditional design and new technologies come to the fore. The world's most iconic yachts boast striking design features that set them apart from other vessels, from innovative naval architecture to design features that focus on enhancing a yacht's green credentials.
Ten yacht designs that aim to make waves in the luxury boat industry. A 165-metre-long submarine, a tetrahedron-shaped hydrofoil and a vessel by Zaha Hadid feature in this roundup of yacht designs ...
We are one of the world's leading companies of yacht designers and naval architects. OC specialise in custom sailing designs and naval architecture of racing boats and performance cruising, expedition and explorer yachts. Our studio has designed sailboats ranging from a 6.5m Mini Transat to a 76m superyacht, are specialists in the use of high-tech composite materials as well as experienced in ...
H2 Yacht Design is a British yacht design firm founded by London-based naval architects and yacht designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett and his team. The company designs and engineers luxury yachts for some of the world's most prestigious shipyards and yacht builders. H2 Yacht Design is known for its modern and innovative yacht designs that ...
156-meter innovative custom-built superyacht. Interior by Winch Design and exterior by Espen Øino International. Construction by Lürssen, master German shipbuilder since 1875. At 15,917 tons, the world's largest yacht, complete with a 15-meter swimming pool. Delivered in 2016.
These tools help in predicting the boat's performance characteristics and optimizing its geometry. Design methodology also encompasses market research to understand current trends and customer preferences. This information is critical for creating a sailboat that appeals to potential buyers. 2) Hull Design. The hull is the heart of any sailboat.
Bannenberg & Rowell Design's striking new superyacht Spitfire is based on a proven patrol boat hull built by Ares Shipyard in Antalya, Turkey.
Design Unlimited is a versatile yacht design studio with an established reputation for excellence in both interior design and exterior styling. The multi-award winning team, led by founder Mark Tucker, excels in new challenges and welcomes the opportunity to work alongside owners looking to realise their own distinctive visions.
As nominations continue for the Design & Innovation Awards, BOAT speaks to the experts about what they consider to be the principles of good yacht design and the favourite projects they've worked on. Designing a luxury yacht is no mean feat and, whether the designer is tasked with a boundary-pushing exterior or an interior that can stand the test of time, designers must unleash their ...
Bill Prince Yacht Design Inc. offers a complete range of design services, from the first conversation about your yacht right through launch day. BPYD has the ability to conceptualize a vessel with an eye towards a wide variety of classification rules (MCA,CE, ABYC and others) from the earliest concept drawings. This is the result of years of ...
Boat design and boatbuilding projects, plans, concepts, reviews, and resources. Sailboat, multihull, powerboat, and yacht manufacturers and custom builders. Directory of yacht designers and naval architects, gallery of design work, and active boat design and boat building discussion forums.
See the Custom Design article for more information. See the Site Map for a complete index to over 250 web pages that include yacht designs and articles about boats and boating. Advanced 3D Modeling and Analysis. By using computer aided modeling a yacht design can be created with optimum aesthetics, structure, performance, stability and seakeeping.
Since 1962, Jay has been earning his way in the narrow and difficult field of custom yacht design. He's designed boats for many uses - tug boats, fishing boats, cruising sailboats, liveaboards, and freighter yachts. ... The Benford Design Group is dedicated to meeting the needs of those who desire the pleasing life afloat. Our experience ...
The Value of the SuperYacht Amaryllis. Reflecting the intricate design, luxury amenities, and superior performance, the Amaryllis yacht is valued at approximately $120 million. The annual running costs are estimated around $12 million. However, the price of a yacht can significantly vary based on numerous factors, including size, age, luxury ...
Designers are involved from the early stages of the design process, even on production boats. Volume builders such as Beneteau and Sea Ray have now commissioned French and Italian design companies. As a result, the average boater expects superior levels of luxury interiors. From a design standpoint, boats are more challenging to design than ...
Design Your Own Yacht. When designing your own yacht, you have a few options, from commissioning a custom new build yacht construction project through to refitting an existing yacht. When deciding which route to take, it's helpful to know some of the pros and cons of each approach. Option 1: The deluxe, no-holds-barred, fully custom yacht.
But Perry is not only a leading yacht designer--he is also an accomplished wordsmith whose blunt, insightful, irreverent, and always entertaining boat reviews have captivated readers of Sailing magazine for 24 years. This book is vintage Perry, a no-holds-barred tour of the world of yacht design through the benchmark boats of his 30-year career.
Following the recent launch of Ocean Alexander's new 28L model, BOAT's Hannah Rankine sits down with designer Evan K. Marshall to explore the latest innovations featured on this entry-level superyacht. Taiwanese yacht builder Ocean Alexander has unveiled its latest model in its Legend series, the 28L. Designed both inside and out by the renowned Evan K. Marshall, a long-time design ...
As Kismet, moored at Sète, France. Whisper, formerly known as Kismet, is a 95.2-metre (312 ft 4 in)-long superyacht which was built by Lürssen in 2014. It was managed by the Moran Yacht & Ship chartering business, and was owned by Pakistani-American billionaire Shahid Khan. [1] [2] [3] In September 2023, the vessel was sold to Eric Schmidt and renamed Whisper.
The yacht can accommodate 22 guests and is supported by a dedicated crew of 54. Contrary to rumors, the Flying Fox yacht is not owned by Jeff Bezos. Its estimated value exceeds $300 million, reflecting its exceptional design and craftsmanship.
There's a new wave of design trends shaping the fleet this year. Ahead of the Superyacht Design Festival, BOAT rounds up some of the stand-out features to look out for in 2022.. The future of yacht design will be a hot topic at the upcoming Superyacht Design Festival, with leading designers taking to the stage to discuss everything from flying yachts to immersive artwork.
"I'm just a little truffle pig when it comes to treasures" says interior designer Banjo Beale as he describes how he loves to find unwanted gems among piles of discarded bric-a-brac.
Glen-L Marine Designs, Moscow, Idaho. 6,963 likes · 10 talking about this · 8 were here. Glen-L has over 300 boat plans for boats you can build.