A (yacht) by Philippe Starck

Motor Yacht A 

Built by Blohm + Voss in 2008, the 119m superyacht ‘A’ is considered one of the finest yachts on the water. Designed by Philippe Starck, ‘A’ is a truly unconventional superyacht with her upside down hull and unique exterior aesthetics.

The luxury yacht features a whole range of unique features from her innovative engineering and design to her three swimming pools that create currents to swim against. Motor yacht 'A' also features two unique 11m tenders, the Open and the Limo models, also designed by Starck.

Motor yacht ‘A’s interior is a modern and masterfully designed environment, featuring excellent use of space, wood furnishings and numerous other details such as a glass roof looking up into one of the swimming pools.

Powered by twin 6035hp MAN RK280 Diesel engines, superyacht ‘A’ is and is capable of reaching up to 23 knots with a range of 4250nm. ‘A’ features all of the latest navigation and entertainment equipment, prepared and equipped for whatever owner may need aboard his luxury cruise. She offers unparalleled comfort and handling with advanced stabilizers and bow thrusters.

‘A’ can happily accommodate 14 guests in one owner's suite and six guest suites. She can also accommodate up to 37 crew members onboard.

venus by Philippe Starck

Motor Yacht Venus (Project Aqua) - a Feadship Superyacht

Yacht Description

Launched by the prominent Dutch builder Feadship in 2012, the 78-metre motor yacht Venus (Project Aqua) is a breathtaking all-aluminium full custom vessel, named after the Roman goddess. Self-designed by late Steve Jobs in partnership with Philippe Starck, Venus superyacht boasts sleek and minimalist exterior lines. Her naval architecture is by De Voogt Naval Architects. 

Feadship megayacht Venus is fitted with the large cabin windows, almost floor to ceiling, as well as the main living area, designed to have walls of glass that are forty feet long and ten feet high. Among special features of this impressive vessel belong seven 27-inch iMac computers.

Luxury yacht Venus (Project Aqua) is presumably run by twin MTU 16V 4000 M73 diesel engines. Her beam is of 11,8m (38'71'') and her maximum draft is of 3m (9'84'').

Yacht Accommodation

Yacht Specifications

Type/Year:

a Feadship Superyacht/2012

Refit:

Beam:

11.8m (38'71'')

L.O.A.:

78.2m

Crew:

Guests:

Max Speed:

Cabins:

Engines:

2xMTU 16V 4000 M73 diesel

Cruise Speed:

oculus by kevin schopfer

the seventy-six meter long 'oculus' is the first design by schopfer yachts LLC.

kevin schopfer, a boston, massachusetts-based architect has designed two unusually shaped yachts
named 'oculus' and 'infinitas'. designed to accommodate 12 guests for a long distance cruising yacht,
'oculus' looks like a large-scaled sea creature with the jaw and eyes of a whale and a small fin on the top.
'infinitas' is influenced by the shapes of the figure-eight infinity loops.
both yachts incorporate swimming pools and a sun deck,with a starting price of 95 million US dollars
for 'oculus' and 140 million US dollars for 'infinitas',

http://www.schopferyachts.com

aliz yacht by heather witkop

the aliz yacht concept by american designer heather witkop manages to combine luxury finishes 

with sustainable practices. the concept sea vessel measures 145 feet long and would be built using 

eco-friendly materials like lightweight aluminum and energy efficient systems like water reclamation. 

the boat would hold up to 12 guests with a crew of 9. inside, a hydroponic garden keeps things literally

green, while retractable solar panels provide green energy for use on board. some of the ship’s luxurious 

touches include and pool, hydraulic elevator, outdoor movie screen, waterfall and an optional golf green.

Mazu fiftyeight yacht by Halit Yukay

The sea plays host to people with their passions, needs and dreams - The young Designer Halit Yukay turns those emotions into a reality that can be perceived by all the senses. With her unique Hand-Crafted hull and fully customizable interiors Mazu Yachts exceeds unequalled standard of excellence.

Antagonist Luxury Yacht by Art of Kinetik

The Antagonist luxury yacht by Art of Kinetik is 37-feet of design elegance, stamina and exquisite craftsmanship. While the rich mahogany accents and smooth leather seating show the other boats who’s the  boss on the water, a shiny black exterior and sharp lines give the Antagonist her elegant form. The open board cruiser is fit for eight people to live aboard and enjoy the sun, travel, rest and relaxation in high class style. Fine detailing and a modern aesthtic on the inside and out of the weekend cruiser makes the Antagonist any sea person’s dream.  Don’t miss another Art of Kinetic favorite of ours, the  by the same designers.  [via yatzer]

Wally 118

Wally 118 is arguably the most distinctive and fastest motor yacht in the world.

Its three gas turbine engines produce 17,000 horsepower, propelling the 118 to more than 60 knots. With its striking vertical bow it cuts through the water with unmatched stability and control so that even at high speeds the experience is pure Wally.

With bright and spacious interiors the 118 is a 
truly unique combination of the thrills of a high-performance sport boat with the comforts of a luxury cruising yacht.

Length overall // 36 m - 118'1"


Length waterline // 30.40 m - 100'0" 


Beam // 9 m - 29'6"


Draught // 1.30 m - 4'3"


Displacement // 95 tons - 190,000 lbs


Fuel tanks // 22,000 ltr 


Fresh water tanks // 1,200 ltr 


Engines // 3 x Vericor TF50 
gas turbines – 16,800 hp


Cruising speed // 60 kn 


Accommodation // 6 guest + 6 crew (option)


Naval architecture // Wally / Intermarine


Styling // Wally with Lazzarini Pickering Architects 


Performance (cruising speed) // 60 kn


Range (cruising speed) // 300 nm

The Lamborghini Yacht by Mauro Lecchi

The Lamborghini Yacht by Mauro Lecchi begs the question– why should Lamborghini owners only have their fun on the pavement?  Mauro Lecchi has developed a new design concept for the Lamborghini brand that could take its marque to the high seas.  The Lamborghini Yacht is an angular, progressively-designed luxury cruiser with seating both fore and aft, a modern cabin with large overhead glass and strong structural shapes stretching along its sides.

In developing his Lamborghini Yacht, Lecchi studied the styling elements of past Lambo models including the famed Lamborghini Reventon.  The common elements in Lamborghini styling are featured in the exterior shape and attitude of this yacht.  The result is a stunning design concept that we could certainly see taking shape on the water today.  Should it be produced, you can bet that the Bond villains, the heiresses and the Russian industry moguls of the world will be amongst the first to get in line for one of these.  mauro lecchi

Strand Craft 166

Another star into the yachting world is Gray bringing with their Strand Craft 166. This yacht is not designed for the masses, it is specifically detailed for an automobile connoisseur, an owner who is addicted to that new leather smell. The 166 has a low stance, enormous length, and curled haunches to give the exterior design a dynamic aesthetic.

Gray’s Strand Craft 166 is fully equipped with a Retractable flybridge, 5 double suites, a lounge, library and Hidden jacuzzi deck. The yacht even comes with its own Supercar tender Created in the same design language as it’s carrier, the tender ensures you can roll out at your favorite port in ultimate style.  With a V8 engine producing 620 horsepower and a top speed of 305 kph, the tender is an small accessory to the yacht, that speaks volumes in the boating world.

On a more technical note, The Strand Craft is Powered by two MTU 20V4000 M93L 2x4300KW (2x5766hp) engines with a Vericor TF50 4177KW (5600hp) booster engine the SC166 is capable of cruising speeds of 30 knots with a top speed of 40 knots…which basically means, it goes pretty fast for a yacht of it’s size!

The lucky owner of the SC 166 can customize as desired, there is even an option to have bullet proof upholstery made from an exclusive Japanese Samurai tread leather. These  custom designed leathers are woven from a bullet-proof textile made of Vectran fibres. Optionally all walls can be covered in Samurai leather to make it a bullet proof yacht.

Aquariva by Marc Newson

In a highly anticipated collaboration, Marc Newson has partnered with Riva and their official designers, Officina Italiana Design, to reinterpret the 'Aquariva' speedboat. 'Aquariva by Marc Newson' will be launched as a limited edition of 22 units in September 2010, available worldwide through Gagosian Gallery.
 "As a kid obsessed with designing and making things, post-war Italian design was a huge source of inspiration. I was amazed by the seamless ability of designers and industry to produce every conceivable type of industrial product, from furniture to automobiles. My own career has undoubtedly been influenced by the Italians' ability to impact so many areas of design," says Marc Newson. "That influence is fully evident in 'Aquariva by Marc Newson', my first nautical design project for the iconic Italian brand.”

Newson's design for the Aquariva vessel is unique in its conception, as well as the materials chosen. A wood-like, textile-based laminate (phenolic composite) was used for the deck area and instrument panel. This material was developed in the first half of the 20th century, and was a precursor to fibreglass. While having an ostensibly organic feel and aesthetic, it is significantly more durable than wood. To give the exterior a more high tech look, Newson utilized anodized aluminium, a material not generally associated with boats; this lightweight material is used in lieu of stainless steel and chrome brass, yet remains contextual among Riva’s glamour and classical design.

New Boats vs Pre-owned Boats

New Boats vs Pre-owned Boats

Each year the majority of boats sold around the world are pre-owned boats. It is assumed that the sales dollars of used boats are 4 times more than those of new boat sales. The boat owner that buys a new boat, on average would love to keep their boat for approx 3-4 years before selling it. Usually there are always a lot of good used boats in the market, only if we have knowledge to seek them out and to evaluate them.

While selecting a pre-owned boat, one should always be familiar with the various boat brands and their respective reputations for quality, market share and length of time in business. For example, if you know, that boat is manufactured by a tried and proven boat builder who has a reputation for quality, you will have fewer worries than if the manufacturer has only been in existence for a year or two! Naturally, better made boats are going to hold their price somewhat better than lesser known boats. We should be aware with a lot of technical terms related to boat that is of the various engines. For example inboard, outboard, straight inboard, stern drive as well as their other respective drive units. If there is a certain drive or engine that is known for problems, it would probably be good to avoid. If you are the least bit unsure of this, it will pay to do your research or make contact with a knowledgeable friend in the boating industry.

If you think about it, there are certain advantages to buying a new boat versus a pre-owned boat. New boats and their engines always come with a manufacturer’s warranty so that you can be certain of your maintenance and repair costs for some period of time. On a new boat getting finance is much easier and the length of the financing period is usually longer on a new boat. Down payments are smaller or non-existent on many new boats. Of course, having that brand new feel and smell and knowing that you are the only family to use it also has considerable appeal. But hold on a sec! That appeal can be expensive, however! Boats depreciate more than 20% in their first year, on average. Many times, if you can find a year old boat in good condition, it may likely be just like a new one and at a much better price. Also, you may find a dealer with prior year models in inventory that can be bought at a discount and still have the new boat warranty, etc. It really pays to shop and to keep your options open.

Your search for a used boat should begin at the dealership of the brand of boat in which you are interested to check out their inventory or new and used boats. From there, it will pay to check out newspaper ads and the local edition of any boating magazine as well as their online version. One nice feature of any online search tool is the ability to specify a brand, year, and price category and then narrow the search to boats in you part of the country.

While shopping for a pre-owned boat there are lots of things which have to be considered. Mechanically, you need to ensure that the boat has been maintained and not abused, evaluate the number of hours on the engine if it has an hour meter. The average boat is only run about 80 hours per year of service. An engine with more than 300-350 hours can be expected to require some repair expense in the next year or two. It would pay to have the engine looked at by a qualified technician to get a professional opinion on the engine and it may be worthwhile to pay for a compression check and hookup to a diagnostic computer. Most of today’s engines employ an Electronic Control Module (ECM) computer which keeps track of many metrics on an engine. For example, by hooking up a diagnostic tool to the ECM, a technician can learn the actual engine hours, RPM’s that it has been run at, any electrical, fuel, or mechanical problems that the engine is having. All of this is quite good to know and can usually be had for a very affordable rate. That may be a fee well spent.

It is always a good idea to test drive any boat you are considering before you purchase it, whether it is new or used. All boats tend to look seaworthy when sitting on a boat rack or trailer, and you can only really tell about the adequacy for the engine’s power by driving under a load.

It’s very important for the buyer to observe the upholstery and canvas for rips, tears, and worn areas. If the boat is more than a couple of years old and has a wooden floor under carpet, be sure to check for soft spots that may indicate rotting. It should resist the probe of an ice pick, no there are chances for a problem to occur. The fiberglass gel coat surface should be free from ‘dock rash’. A few minor scrapes may be acceptable, but if they are deep enough to go through the colored gel coat, they may require some expensive fiberglass repair. Be sure to inspect the boat thoroughly.

With a little homework, the decision about whether to buy a new or a pre-owned boat will be easier and, in any event, you will be more confident in making your purchase! Have a great voyage!