It may seem strange to say a 262-foot (79.9-meter) megayacht can have wasted space. But the reality is, some rooms typically found aboard megayachts go mostly unused. Sander Sinot, founder of Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design, has thought a lot about this, due to client feedback. So, too, has Henk de Vries, CEO of Feadship, for the same reason. Why not, then, design a megayacht that removes the redundant and makes more practical use of the rooms owners do enjoy? And, why not toss aside the typical wedding-cake-like stacked decks? They’ve done it with Zen—which can be built, too, thanks to completed engineering.
Rather than design this megayacht from the outside in, Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design started the other way around. First up: internal volume, a.k.a. gross tonnage, as dictated by what rooms owners really use. Zen reflects the fact that buyers don’t really use both a main saloon and an upper-deck one. Just one common lounge is aboard. Furthermore, from dining to lounging to sleeping, all activities are concentrated on just two decks.
The areas reserved for those activities flow fore to aft, too, not bottom to top. This keeps Zen from having the above-mentioned wedding-cake look. It doesn’t surrender space, though. Overall, beam is 42 feet (12.8 meters). Furthermore, Zen has a nearly 43-foot-long (13-meter-long) lounge on the bridge deck aft, as seen below. It becomes an alfresco space due to sliding glass on three sides. Even the amidships dining area has sliding glass to each side, plus a skylight. Naturally balconies are present, too.
So what goes on the main deck? Zen positions the master suite fully forward, and full beam. There’s also a spa, with balconies, and a gym. Lest we forget alfresco areas, Zen has a nearly full-beam relaxation area, as usual, fully aft. It doubles as a cinema if so desired. Eight to 10 guests get floor-to-ceiling glass in their staterooms, which all can be VIPs if so desired, too. Feadship and Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design will configure them the customary way upon request. The design studio will also incorporate custom furnishings and decor items. It does, however, recommend materials like teak and sandstone, in keeping with the “zen” concept.
Even the most laid-back individuals like a little action every now and then. Zen provides LEDs in the beach club to create a party atmosphere or soothing ambiance, depending on your mood. The beach club also has fold-down platforms to each side to expand space.
Neither Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design nor Feadship forgot about crew comfort or performance. Twenty-one to 25 hands get cabins. Feadship brought in De Voogt Naval Architects for overall engineering. The wheelhouse offers two steering stations for maneuvering convenience. Slanted glass keeps glare down, too. The captain can engage either traditional diesel or diesel-electric propulsion while here. Twin MTU diesels serve the former role, while twin Caterpillars fill the latter. With just the MTUs, Zen should see an 18-knot top speed. On the electric motors alone, Zen should see 10 knots.
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