Superyacht builders can be broadly categorized into International, European and Local. Yachts are bigger than boats with a displacement of fewer than 4.5 knots. Yachts are generally more expensive than personal watercraft. Many custom yacht builders build customized superyachts for clients.
Specs
In terms of displacement, the biggest superyacht is the 130-ft yacht. The prototype of this superyacht was built in 1970. It was christened VELUX and was initially meant for use by the US Navy. The US Navy turned down this superyacht because it was not very practical. The resulting model was a scaled-down version of the original. Since then, other superyacht designs have been improved with better features and functionality.
Motor yachts are designed to accommodate a crew of eight, with the option of growing up to thirteen crew members. The size of most motor yachts is between nine and fifteen metres in displacement. Some are smaller than nine metres. The largest superyacht, the superclass, can house a crew of up to sixteen people. The largest motor yacht is presently the Monaco -class.
Facilities
Yachts may be fitted with facilities such as showers, air conditioning, dining and living rooms. Some may also provide space for a swimming pool and spa. Some superyachts may have further entertaining features like a casino, a cinema or a swimming pool. Sports cars and VIP cars may also be provided by some car services providers.
As a result of the increasing popularity of superyachts, more new builders are offering these services. Also, more yachts are becoming modular and can be custom-built to meet the specific requirements of the client. Superyacht builders are aware of the various technologies that are used in modern-day yachts. Modern-day technology enables these builders to create a state of the art designs and incorporate them within their yachts.
Many modern-day yachts have additional facilities such as a gym and a sauna. These can be added to the vessel to provide the required facilities to ensure that the crew has a well-trained and relaxed working environment. The crew can enjoy themselves while at sea and the Superyacht can accommodate a larger crew. More crew members mean that the potential resale value of a superyacht is enhanced.
Superyachts also usually have water toys onboard. These water toys can be used for activities such as swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing, surfing and sailing. The size and number of water toys that onboard depend on the size of the vessel and the number of crew on board. If a yacht has a larger than expected crew, then it might be wise to upgrade the water toys so that the yacht can accommodate more than the expected number.
Categories
Superyachts generally accommodate more than two hundred people and can have facilities such as pools, bars, restaurants, spas, lounge areas, deck rooms, dining rooms and showers. Depending on the age and preference of the guests, yachts can range in size from a few metres long to many kilometres in length. If the required features are not present, the yacht can be smaller or larger than required. Typically, yachts can have a capacity of up to 4000 litres and a maximum load limit of 400 tonnes.
Yachts can be further categorised into sports yachts, pleasure vessels and sail ships. Sports yachts are designed to be used for sailing, fishing, water skiing and windsurfing. Pleasure vessels are for pleasure and can include water ski and sailboats. Sail ships are large enough to be steered by one or two people whereas smaller pleasure vessels are capable of carrying as few as two people.
Superyacht builders usually tailor-fit yachts with facilities such as bars, swimming pools, spas, lounge areas and sun decks. The overall accommodation can vary from a single berth to many berths in length. The accommodation can be further divided between the crewed, nacelle and unattached guests. Superyacht owners will typically choose the design and technical specifications that best suits their needs. These requirements can relate to the type of water, speed of movement and type of use of the vessel.
Superyacht construction techniques are constantly evolving with advances in materials, technology and design. Yachts are also used by corporate bodies, entertainment agencies, leisure and fishing associations and celebrities. They are available in a variety of sizes, usually ranging from four to over 100 metres in length. Common types include power catamarans, trimarans, gulets, trimarans, power sailboats, ski boats, cutters, gun vault ships and barge ships. Superyachts may be either conventional oil catamarans or power propelled.
