building a sailing yacht

DIY Cruising Catamaran: Complete Building Guide

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A brand-new cruising catamaran can set you back a hefty amount of money. However, a DIY cruising catamaran provides a more affordable way to own your own boat. While building a large boat can be an extremely challenging and time-consuming experience, nothing beats the pleasure of bringing your own boat to life. 

To build a DIY cruising catamaran, buy good design plans, determine your budget and find a working space. Next, choose your hull material, buy supplies and start building the mast beam. Build and sheathe the hull, install bulkheads, the interior, and finally, launch the catamaran boat.

In this article, you will find a complete guide to building your own catamaran. You will also find detailed information on why you may want to consider building your catamaran and approximately how much this project would cost. Finally, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of building a catamaran from scratch.

Why You Might Want To Build Your Own Catamaran

Most people might think that purchasing a used boat to repair and fix it up would be cheaper than a DIY cruising catamaran. But while building your own catamaran could be an enormous undertaking, it also comes with many advantages over buying something used. 

Other than the unique opportunity to create beautiful memories and experiences while cruising, sailing, and exploring beautiful coastlines, there are a number of benefits that come along with the DIY approach.  

Knowing Your Boat

Building your own catamaran provides you with intimate knowledge of your boat. You will know every corner, including where to find every bolt, wire, bulkhead, rib, hose, and support as you installed them yourself. This knowledge will enhance your confidence while at sea since you will have entrusted your life to a boat whose history you are aware of and deeply connected to.

Pride of Ownership

The satisfaction you get from crafting something with your own hands is immense. As a result, the knowledge that you built your boat from scratch will fill you with absolute pride and an immense sense of achievement. Furthermore, as an owner-builder, you get to keep and enjoy the boat for as many years as you wish.

Substantial Cost Savings

Building your catamaran will work out cheaper than buying a new or even gently used boat. Though you will likely require some additional labor since doing some things will require an extra pair of hands, if you are particularly good at DIY, you will save a significant amount of money on labor costs as a whole. 

Freedom To Create Your Own Designs

If you decide to buy a catamaran boat, it might not be easy to find one that meets your unique needs. However, instead of choosing from production boats that bear traditional and outdated designs, you can come up with an ultra-modern design or style for your catamaran. You also get to pick your layout, size, and equipment based on your taste and budget.

Great Learning Experience

Building your own boat will help you pick up numerous skills that will come in handy later when sailing your boat. As much as you might still require an expert to help you with specialized skills like carpentry or wiring, your new skills will serve you well. This will also be beneficial when it comes to your boat’s maintenance and fixing things for yourself. 

What To Look For in Catamaran Boat Designs

When deciding on the type of catamaran boat to build, you may want to choose a design that’s simple and easy to build. This is because doing so will allow you to spend a shorter time building the boat. 

You also need to have a set of requirements to guide you in choosing your design or what you might call an ideal cruising catamaran wish list. This is essential because, ultimately, you want to build a boat that offers outstanding qualities such as:

• Delivers good speed
• Affordable to own and operate
• Agile, strong, and easy to maintain
• Has a high resistance to capsizing
• Great for sailing and cruising
• Delivers a comfortable and easy motion underway
• Good handling ability and high performance under sail
• User-friendly embarking and disembarking
• Provides ample living and accommodation space 
• Presents a reasonable resale value

It’s worth noting that, in general, catamaran boats tend to offer a fair resale value mainly because of scarcity and the high price accorded to production models. So, if you build a well-constructed catamaran, you are bound to get a return that’s much higher than the cost of materials upon resale.

It’s also good to consider whether the design you settle on is from an established designer. This is significant because documentation of the building process is just as valuable when it comes to selling the boat.

How Much Would It Cost To Build Your Own Catamaran?

The cost of building your cruising catamaran will depend heavily on the size of the boat you plan to build and the skills you bring to the table. To give you an idea of probable costs, a professionally built 40 foot (12.1 m) long cruising catamaran could go for up to $300,000. 

Though building it yourself will undoubtedly be cheaper, most DIY boatbuilders tend to underestimate the expected costs. Your final costs should cover not only the cost of material and equipment but also the labor and time it would take to come up with the final product. 

If you were to build a 40-foot (12.1-meter) catamaran, your cost of materials would range between 20-30% of the total cost. Therefore, for $300,000 total, the boat’s materials would range between $60,000 and $90,000. The hull tends to range between 15-35% of the total build. Again, this depends on the finish and furniture.

But before you even start working on the DIY project, you will need to figure out where to do the work. If your home has ample space, then you can opt for a backyard building. But if you live in a small apartment, then you might want to consider renting a small garage at first and then move on to a boatyard later. This is one of the significant costs involved in building your multi-haul.  

What You Will Need

To get a clearer picture of how much the entire project would cost, let’s have a look at what else you will need to purchase.

• Good design plans
• Working space
• Ground tackle
• Matting and roving
• Equipment such as the engine, windows, rudders, deck fittings, mast, and rigging

In addition to the above, you also need to install plumbing and electricals. You may also want to consider going electric rather than using diesel. Not only will this drastically reduce your maintenance costs, but you get to use the regenerated power for all of your housing needs while sailing. 

Some catamaran boat designs help you save costs by advocating the use of less expensive corpus materials. Most of the material goes directly into making the boat, which means there is hardly any wastage on vacuum bagging . With this method, there are few molds and temporal building forms and fewer fillers to grind off as waste. All these factors reduce the time and cost it takes to build your catamaran boat.

That said, building a boat of any kind is a huge financial undertaking. As such, you still need to have the financial ability to keep building; otherwise, your project will stall or take much longer than anticipated. Instead of enjoying yourself and making memories cruising to faraway lands, you might end up spending all your time building a seemingly never-ending boat.

To reiterate, this project is more of a labor of love, given that it involves a tremendous amount of manual work. Calculating an hourly rate on the time spent building the boat and adding this cost to that of materials may make it seem a very pricey exercise. However, it is vital to understand that your time matters, and every hour you spend working for “free” should be included. 

With that in mind, you need to ensure that you are fully devoted to the boat construction project and are sure you want to do it before you begin. Stopping halfway because it seems like too much work would be incredibly costly.

How To Build a Catamaran

When it comes to building a cruising catamaran, you have 3 main options:

• You can buy an old boat and refurbish it.
• Purchase a bare hull plus deck molding for a home-boat building.
• Start from scratch and build everything, including the hull, on your own. 

As mentioned above, renovating an existing boat may end up being more costly than starting from scratch. To build a catamaran boat from scratch, follow the below step-by-step guide.

Prepare the Essentials

Before you jump into such a large project, there are several important aspects to consider:

• Buy your plans from an established catamaran designer. You can also get inexpensive, easy-to-build catamaran designs online.
• Get access to a large working space or build a shed . Depending on your climate, you may need to opt for climate control to avoid an excess of moisture in humid areas. 
• Decide on your choice of hull material. This could be fiberglass, aluminum, steel, wood, or ferroconcrete. 
• Start working on a bill of materials estimate. Include everything that you think you need to get a better idea of the initial costs.

Build the Mast Beam

Using wood and epoxy, cut and glue together the pieces of wood that will form the mast beam. Most of the work at this stage can occur in a garage since it involves building small parts. Still, the work could take up to 4 months, so be prepared to put in long hours.

Build the Boat Hull

Now, it’s time to build the boat’s hull. A catamaran comprises two hulls which are connected with a deck. Below is a short video showing how to build a hull mold:

This work requires a larger facility, so you might need to move out of the garage and into a boatyard. If you don’t have access to a larger workshop, consider building a shed where you can work as you do the construction. Make sure there’s enough room to fit the boat and also allow you to work comfortably. To cover the shed, you can use opaque white tarps. 

Sheathe the Hull

Get all the materials you require for this stage in the construction, such as lots of resin, fiberglass, and foam for use in the hull cores. You’ll also require matting and glass roving to sheath the hull . 

Sheathing helps to make the hull impervious to water and other marine borers. But first, you need to prepare the hull using a rotary sander. To make it as smooth as possible, use light, sweeping strokes. This is a very dusty task so be prepared to wear a facemask and safety goggles. 

Install the Bulkheads

Next is installing the plywood bulkheads . You might need to call in friends to help turn the hulls or use a crane. In this step, you will need to laminate the hull sides on the molded hull panels and bond them above the bulkheads. Ensure the bulkheads are snug and sealed in place.

Construct the Interior Structure

Over the next couple of months, the boat work will involve joining the hulls together with the beams that you had made back in the garage. Then, install the cuddy cabin, decks , and the cockpit . Soon the boat will start to take the shape of a catamaran.

Next, proceed to construct the major structural components such as stairs, hatches, mini-keels, and the interior. Then comes the work of fairing the boat, which is quite labor-intensive. 

Finally, it’s time to apply primer on the catamaran boat and start the paintwork. Before painting the boat, you will need to do additional sanding to finish off the two layers of primer as well as fill all the pinholes. Since it’s a large boat, the catamaran has lots of surface area; thus, the sanding could get extremely exhausting—mentally and physically—at this point.

The painting can take a while, too. The hulls are the easiest to paint, but the topsides, non-skid, as well as masking and prepping could seem never-ending. 

The final stretch involves working on the center bridge deck cabin and other final touches like installing the engines, electricals, and plumbing. This is also the time to fix the rudders, rigging, mast, windows, and deck fittings.

Launch Your Cruising Catamaran

After many months or years of hard work, your cruising catamaran is finally ready to test the waters. After lowering the boat into the water, check carefully in case there are leaks. If none, you can set up the sails and take your catamaran out for your first cruise. 

Below is a short video that takes you through the entire boat-building process:

If you don’t have deep pockets, don’t despair. It’s also possible to build an inexpensive catamaran boat, as shown in this post from the coastal passage .

The Pros of Building a Catamaran

Though it will be a costly endeavor, there are so many things to look forward to should you decide to build your own catamaran:

• It can be lots of fun.
• You get to have a new boat.
• It’s an excellent hobby for DIY enthusiasts.
• The effort is rewarding.
• It offers a great learning experience.
• You get the exact kind of boat you want.
• You can alter building plans and tailor the boat to suit your specific needs.
• It might be cheaper than buying a new boat.

The Cons of Building a Catamaran

Though there are a number of positive aspects to a DIY build, it is just as important to keep in mind that it won’t always be easy:

• Maintenance costs can be quite high.
• It’s both mentally and physically exhausting.
• It might require some technical know-how.
• It can take many months or even years to complete.
• It requires a lot of commitment to finish the DIY project.
• It might be challenging as well as expensive to get insurance.  
• You will spend almost all your free time building the boat. 

DIY Cruising Catamaran Tips and Tricks

If you are new to boat building, it would be a good idea to build a small boat first. This would give you a good indication as to whether you’d enjoy tackling a more extensive project like building a catamaran. Again, if you are the handy type, fixing your own electronics could also save you a significant amount of money. 

Here are more tips and tricks to get the most out of your DIY cruising catamaran:

• Lower your costs. Bring down your costs even further by sourcing for parts and supplies at marine surplus outlets, Craigslist, eBay, or wholesale suppliers. 
• Enhance your resale value. Most home-built boats are not easy to sell since they tend to be too customized. To enhance your resale value, it’s advisable to work with a standard design from a well-established naval architect.
• Follow the design instructions. Make sure to follow the designer’s instructions regarding the type of materials and tools to use during the build to avoid making costly mistakes.
• Maintain your original budget. Avoid any additional customizations once you have started building the boat. Using good plans and sticking to them ensures that your budget doesn’t spiral out of control.

Final Thoughts

Building a catamaran is about more than saving money. It’s fun, exciting, fulfilling, and can be a great learning experience. While it might take many months of back-breaking work, comparative shopping and sourcing for materials will help you save a lot of money. Still, at the end of it all, you’ll have a beautiful catamaran boat, all ready for your first cruising adventure.

However, if you have neither the time nor the energy to build your own catamaran from scratch, refurbishing an existing hull might prove faster and easier. It also works out much cheaper than buying a new boat.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

One thought on “ DIY Cruising Catamaran: Complete Building Guide ”

Hello, I am a French Quebecer who is original, imaginative, creative and who finds that all boats and catamarans have a huge flaw and a very big lack of logic. I would have a brand new concept…. I am sending this message to any catamaran creator – designer to make those who have the opportunity and the intelligence to want to know about my innovative idea which will finally upset the market much richer. An idea that will totally change the concept of sailing, navigation and save so much worry!! All I would ask for is a small percentage of each sale of the new product. To be able to make me produce one when I have enough!! It is certain that like that, you just want to tell me: come on Mr. Lessard give us your idea but do not take your word to help me in return! But, if you are the kind of man to have only one word and maybe have a proof of your good faith if the realization of the project would make it… I will be very happy!! Giving it to everyone wouldn’t bother me either…. all I would like is to be able to find flax fiber (too expensive carbon) to be able to try to make my catamaran myself. Because not rich! Have a nice day and looking forward to having a message!!

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Yacht Plans & Blueprints

Download over 500 Boat Plans. Click on the link below.

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Table of Contents

Overview of Yacht Plans & Blueprints

Yacht plans and blueprints are essential tools for anyone looking to build their own yacht . These detailed documents provide a roadmap for the construction process, outlining the necessary steps and specifications required to bring a yacht to life. Without a plan, building a yacht can be a daunting and overwhelming task. Yacht plans and blueprints provide the necessary guidance and structure to ensure a successful build.

Key Takeaways

• Yacht plans and blueprints are essential for yacht design and construction.
• There are different types of yacht plans and blueprints available, and it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.
• Reading and interpreting yacht plans and blueprints requires some knowledge and skill.
• Customizing yacht plans and blueprints can help you create a yacht that meets your specific requirements.
• Quality yacht plans and blueprints can be found online, but cost considerations should also be taken into account.

Understanding the Importance of Yacht Plans & Blueprints

Safety considerations are of utmost importance when it comes to yacht construction. Yacht plans and blueprints take into account various safety factors, such as stability, buoyancy, and structural integrity. By following these plans, builders can ensure that their yacht meets all necessary safety standards. Accuracy in measurements and specifications is another crucial aspect of yacht plans and blueprints. These documents provide precise measurements for each component of the yacht, ensuring that everything fits together seamlessly. This accuracy is essential for the overall functionality and performance of the yacht. Cost-effectiveness is yet another advantage of using yacht plans and blueprints. By having a detailed plan in place, builders can avoid costly mistakes and rework. The plans outline the necessary materials and quantities required for each stage of construction, allowing builders to budget effectively and minimize waste.

Types of Yacht Plans & Blueprints Available

There are three main types of yacht plans and blueprints available: stock plans, semi-custom plans, and custom plans. Stock plans are pre-designed plans that are readily available for purchase. These plans are created by professional yacht designers and offer a range of designs to choose from. Stock plans are a cost-effective option for those looking to build a yacht without the need for extensive customization. Semi-custom plans offer a middle ground between stock plans and custom plans. These plans allow for some level of customization, such as modifying the interior layout or adding specific features. Semi-custom plans provide a balance between affordability and personalization. Custom plans are tailored to the specific needs and preferences of the builder. These plans are created in collaboration with a yacht designer, taking into account the builder’s vision and requirements. Custom plans offer the highest level of personalization but can be more expensive and time-consuming to develop.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Yacht Plans & Blueprints

When choosing yacht plans and blueprints, several factors need to be considered. The size and type of yacht are important considerations, as different designs and plans are suitable for different purposes. Whether you’re looking to build a small sailing yacht or a large motor yacht, selecting the right plan is crucial. The skill level of the builder is another factor to consider. Some plans may require advanced woodworking or metalworking skills, while others are more beginner-friendly. It’s important to choose a plan that aligns with your skill level to ensure a successful build. Budget is also a significant factor when selecting yacht plans and blueprints. Stock plans are generally more affordable, while custom plans can be more expensive due to the additional design work involved. It’s essential to establish a budget and find a plan that fits within your financial constraints.

How to Read and Interpret Yacht Plans & Blueprints

Reading and interpreting yacht plans and blueprints can seem daunting at first, but with some basic knowledge, it becomes much more manageable. Understanding symbols and abbreviations is crucial, as these are used throughout the plans to represent various components and materials. Familiarizing yourself with these symbols will help you navigate the plans effectively. Reading measurements and dimensions is another essential skill when working with yacht plans and blueprints. These measurements provide precise information about the size and placement of each component. It’s important to understand how these measurements are represented on the plans to ensure accurate construction. Interpreting sections and elevations is another aspect of reading yacht plans and blueprints. These drawings provide a detailed view of the yacht from different angles, allowing builders to visualize how everything fits together. Understanding these drawings will help you understand the overall structure and layout of the yacht.

The Role of Yacht Plans & Blueprints in Yacht Design

Yacht plans and blueprints play a crucial role in the yacht design process. They serve as a communication tool between the designer and the builder, ensuring that the builder understands the designer’s vision and requirements. Plans provide a visual representation of the yacht, allowing both parties to collaborate effectively. The importance of plans in the design process cannot be overstated. They provide a roadmap for the construction process, ensuring that all necessary steps are followed and that the final product meets the desired specifications. Plans also allow for adjustments and modifications to be made before construction begins, saving time and resources. Collaboration between the designer and builder is key when working with yacht plans and blueprints. The builder’s input and feedback are essential in ensuring that the plans meet their needs and preferences. This collaboration ensures that the final product is a true reflection of both the designer’s vision and the builder’s requirements.

Customizing Yacht Plans & Blueprints to Suit Your Needs

While stock plans offer a range of designs to choose from, sometimes builders may want to make modifications to suit their specific needs. Making modifications to existing plans is a common practice and allows builders to personalize their yacht without starting from scratch. Working with a designer to create a custom plan is another option for those looking for a truly unique yacht. Custom plans offer complete personalization, allowing builders to incorporate specific features or design elements that are not available in stock plans. This option requires collaboration with a yacht designer to bring your vision to life.

The Benefits of Using Yacht Plans & Blueprints for DIY Projects

Using yacht plans and blueprints for DIY projects offers several benefits. One of the most significant advantages is cost savings. By building your own yacht, you can save a significant amount of money compared to purchasing a pre-built yacht. Yacht plans and blueprints provide the necessary guidance to ensure a successful build, even for those with limited experience. Personalization is another benefit of using plans and blueprints for DIY projects. By building your own yacht, you have the freedom to customize every aspect of the design to suit your preferences. This level of personalization is not possible with pre-built yachts. The satisfaction of building your own yacht is also a significant benefit. The sense of accomplishment that comes from seeing your creation come to life is unparalleled. Building a yacht is a challenging but rewarding endeavor that allows you to create something truly unique.

Where to Find Quality Yacht Plans & Blueprints

Finding quality yacht plans and blueprints is essential for a successful build. There are several resources available for builders looking for plans. Online resources offer a wide range of options, including stock plans and custom designs. Many yacht design firms also offer plans for sale, providing professional designs and expertise. Boat shows and events are another great place to find quality yacht plans and blueprints. These events often feature displays from various designers and builders, allowing you to see different designs firsthand and speak directly with professionals in the industry.

Cost Considerations for Yacht Plans & Blueprints

The cost of yacht plans and blueprints can vary depending on several factors. Custom plans tend to be more expensive due to the additional design work involved. Stock plans are generally more affordable, but prices can vary depending on the complexity and size of the design. Budget-friendly options are available for those looking to minimize costs. Some designers offer discounted or budget-friendly plans that still provide high-quality designs at a more affordable price point. It’s important to research different options and compare prices to find a plan that fits within your budget.

Conclusion – Yacht Plans & Blueprints

In conclusion, yacht plans and blueprints are essential tools for anyone looking to build their own yacht. These detailed documents provide the necessary guidance and structure to ensure a successful build. Yacht plans and blueprints offer numerous benefits, including safety considerations, accuracy in measurements and specifications, and cost-effectiveness. When choosing yacht plans and blueprints, factors such as the size and type of yacht, skill level of the builder, and budget need to be considered. It’s important to understand how to read and interpret yacht plans and blueprints to ensure accurate construction. Yacht plans and blueprints play a crucial role in the yacht design process, facilitating collaboration between the designer and builder. Customizing yacht plans and blueprints allows builders to personalize their yacht to suit their specific needs. Using plans and blueprints for DIY projects offers cost savings, personalization, and the satisfaction of building your own yacht. Quality yacht plans and blueprints can be found online, through yacht design firms, or at boat shows and events. Cost considerations should also be taken into account when selecting plans, with budget-friendly options available. In conclusion, yacht plans and blueprints are invaluable resources for anyone embarking on a yacht-building project. They provide the necessary guidance, safety considerations, and personalization options to ensure a successful build. By utilizing these plans, builders can bring their vision to life while saving costs and experiencing the satisfaction of building their own yacht.

FAQs – Yacht Plans & Blueprints

What are yacht plans and blueprints.

Yacht plans and blueprints are detailed drawings and diagrams that provide a comprehensive guide for building a yacht. They include information on the yacht’s design, dimensions, materials, and construction techniques.

Who uses yacht plans and blueprints?

Yacht plans and blueprints are used by boat builders, yacht designers, and individuals who want to build their own yacht. They are also used by naval architects and engineers who are involved in the design and construction of yachts.

What information is included in yacht plans and blueprints?

Yacht plans and blueprints typically include information on the yacht’s hull design, deck layout, rigging, propulsion system, electrical system, plumbing system, and interior layout. They also include detailed drawings of each component and instructions on how to assemble them.

Where can I find yacht plans and blueprints?

Yacht plans and blueprints can be found online, in books, and through yacht design firms. Some yacht design firms offer custom plans and blueprints based on the client’s specific needs and preferences.

Do I need any special skills to use yacht plans and blueprints?

Building a yacht using plans and blueprints requires a certain level of skill and experience in boat building . It is recommended that individuals who want to build their own yacht have some prior experience in woodworking, fiberglassing, and other boat building techniques.

How long does it take to build a yacht using plans and blueprints?

The time it takes to build a yacht using plans and blueprints depends on the size and complexity of the yacht, as well as the builder’s skill level and available resources. It can take anywhere from several months to several years to complete a yacht build.

Written by DIY Boat Building Plans

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Yes, You Can Build Your Own Boat!

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Want a new boat, but at an “old days” price? Rather than buying an old junker with the intention of fixing it up (when you can find the time), consider building your own boat. James Wharram, a British multihull pioneer and designer of plywood Polynesian-style catamarans ranging from 14 to 55 feet, is now offering the Mana 24 as a complete kit for $13,500.

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Contributing Editor, BoatUS Magazine

A marine surveyor and holder of RYA Yachtmaster Ocean certification, BoatUS Magazine contributing editor Mark Corke is one of our DIY gurus, creating easy-to-follow how-to articles and videos. Mark has built five boats himself (both power and sail), has been an experienced editor at several top boating magazines (including former associate editor of BoatUS Magazine), worked for the BBC, written four DIY books, skippered two round-the-world yachts, and holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest there-and-back crossing of the English Channel — in a kayak! He and his wife have a Grand Banks 32.

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Six facts about the build of Sailing Yacht A

One of the largest superyachts in the world , the 142.81 metre Sailing Yacht A has pushed the boundaries of yacht building. We reveal some of the most amazing facts about how this boat came to be.

The construction of Sailing Yacht A

This incredible superyacht was commissioned by Andrey Melnichenko. As owner of Motor Yacht A , we knew Sailing Yacht A would be anything but conventional. Melnichenko is one owner who delights in challenging the status quo and moving the game on, introducing new techniques and technologies in his yacht projects. Sailing Yacht A ticks both boxes: at 142.81 metres LOA, the “sail-assisted motor yacht” is one of the largest superyachts in the world.

Working once again with Philippe Starck on the design, Melnichenko assembled his own team to take the project from concept to completion. He chose Dirk Kloosterman, a veteran project manager of superyacht builds, to lead it. Kloosterman was involved in the build of Larry Ellison’s Rising Sun before taking on Motor Yacht A for Melnichenko.

Sailing Yacht A  is his biggest undertaking. Kloosterman’s first challenge was to find a shipyard with the capabilities to build such a vessel. Few major deep-water shipyards wanted to take on the risk of such a radical project, but Nobiskrug’s purchase of part of the HDW yard in Kiel, Germany, presented an opportunity.

“This was an excellent facility, with its large docks and the draught needed for the project,” Kloosterman says. “In March 2011, we signed the deal for pre-engineering to start. It was made clear to the yard that the team wanted large input and control over the build so the standard tender-and-bid process, with the yard supplying subcontractors, was scrapped. Cost control for an eight-deck motor yacht, with the added dimension of sailing, was going to prove challenging.”

Sailing Yacht A's imposing scale

Sailing Yacht A is a sharp, three-masted motor yacht with sailing potential, constructed mostly in steel incorporating composite and carbon fibre to keep weight down. In profile from her high bow, the sheerline climbs aft, before dropping down to an almost retroussé stern. The line is seamless, without interruption or sight of any deck equipment, anchors, balconies or openings of any kind, but they are all there, cleverly hidden away. Astonishingly, there are 24 shell doors in the hull.

The windows, which are all oval, look small from a distance, but all have a magnifying effect, making them seem huge from the inside. A special one-way film covers the exterior of the glass for privacy and helps to blend them into the custom metallic paint finish by Alexseal.

Her scale is extraordinary: 142.81 metres LOA, with a maximum beam of 24.88 metres and a draught of eight metres. She has eight decks, connected by multiple elevators and free-floating spiral staircases, garages for four tenders and a submarine, as well as a touch-and-go helipad on the bow. Every part of her interior has been designed to be flowing and organic.

Inside, up to 54 crew will run a professional galley large enough to serve a hotel and a powerplant and hotel services, stretching uninterrupted across two decks. In contrast to the volume of the everyday living accommodation is arguably the most incredible feature on board, occupying the smallest space: an underwater viewing pod moulded into the keel, offering a view of the props.

To make sure it all worked, hydrodynamic research facility HSVA in Hamburg performed towing tests for the hull, and the Wolfson Unit at the University of Southampton carried out wind tunnel tests to determine aerodynamic loads. This phase of the project revealed the optimal combination of sailing characteristics, seakeeping behaviour and performance under power. MARIN, in the Netherlands, conducted final tests of the model with keel and rudders.

With simulated aerodynamic loads applied, results concluded that the yacht’s heeling angle when under full sail would be a maximum of 12 degrees at 20 knots true wind-speed upwind and 35 knots downwind.

The rig and sail plan of Sailing Yacht A

Three colossal unstayed masts – the largest carbon masts in the world – define Sailing Yacht A . The mainmast towers 100 metres above the waterline – taller than Big Ben. An enclosed electric gimballed crow’s nest is incorporated, to whoosh a crew member 60 metres up the mast for what will surely be one of the most amazing views on the water. Dykstra Naval Architects , the Dutch naval architect that designed the rig for Maltese Falcon , was the obvious choice to develop an easy-to-use and safe sailing system.

Being “sail assisted”, the ratio between sail area and the yacht’s displacement is somewhat lower than would be found on a pure sailing yacht. Dykstra optimised the sailplan with full roach sails and freestanding aerodynamically efficient masts that can be rotated a total of 70 degrees to increase lift-drag characteristics.

Curiously, the masts are curved. “When we started to design this rig,” explains Mark Leslie-Miller from Dykstra, “the distinct feature of the freeboard sloping up towards the stern was already defined. For styling reasons, we wanted the foot of the sails [thus the booms] to align with the sheerline.” Sails this big would need to furl rather than flake when not in use. Furling booms, however, have to be at 90 degrees to the mast in order to work. Rather than tip the entire mast forward to preserve the right angle, Dykstra designed in the curve to keep the design aligned.

Magma Structures in Portsmouth, UK, developed the unique freestanding spars in carbon fibre, the only material that could cope with the stresses involved; masts this size cannot, in fact, be built using metals, according to Magma’s Damon Roberts, and they posed quite a challenge for the team. “Since the rig concept is unprecedented on this scale, there were no easy answers or standard solutions for any of the challenges that the rig design posed,” he says.

The sail and booms on Sailing Yacht A

With the masts designed to carry the whole load, they were able to calculate the maximum bending-force load on the lower bearing by using the predicted upper wind speed limit. “Allowable material stresses and safety factors then clearly led to the structural requirements for the design,” Roberts adds. The bending load at deck on the main mast, for instance, is about two-and-a-half times that of a Dreamliner aircraft wing and about two times that on Maltese Falcon , which has the highest-loaded freestanding masts to date. To put it another way, the masts can withstand 90 knots of wind with full sail up (equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane), or two double-decker buses hung from the tip of each.

Magma built the masts using high-strength carbon/epoxy prepreg laminate. Each mast was produced in four large sections: top and bottom, port and starboard. In the lower sections, 370 layers of carbon were laid up in open moulds. For the curing, Magma designed and manufactured oven software to monitor and control the cook cycle over a three-day period. Embedded in the masts is a network of fibre-optic sensors to give real-time comprehensive load data for safety, historical data, condition monitoring and sail performance optimisation.

The total sail area of 3,747 square metres is equal to the size of half a football pitch, and is 67 per cent larger than Maltese Falcon’s 2,370 square metres. Unlike the many small sails that deploy from Falcon’s mainmast, Sailing Yacht A’s fully battened mainsail, at 1,464 square metres, is a single piece and furls on a carbon-fibre mandrel inside a U-shaped boom at the press of a button; no crew are required. The total length of fibre used in the sail is 754 miles, or long enough if pulled straight, to stretch from the shipyard in Kiel to Monaco.

The sails, by Doyle Sailmakers of the US, are a combination of carbon and Technora fibres and covered with taffeta to protect them from UV. The trick was determining compression loads on the battens and then engineering a soft inboard end capable of furling reliably but, at the same time, handling the forward thrust of the battens without tearing. Future Fibres, in Valencia, constructed the carbon-fibre booms, which measure 25 metres (foresail), 27.5 metres (mainsail) and 23.6 metres (mizzen).

Glass technology on Sailing Yacht A

Germany’s GL Yachtverglasung (GLY) developed the yacht’s glass, including the longest piece of curved glass ever made: a 1.8-tonne, 15 metre bulwark forward on the bridge deck. “The designer wanted to make the look as clean as possible and preferably without railings. The only way to make invisible railings was to make them out of glass,” explains Kloosterman.

Two other huge glass bulwarks are found on deck seven, at 11 metres in length, and forward of the owner’s deck, at 14 metres long. GLY also supplied three elliptical-shaped pieces for the underwater observation pod that is moulded into the keel. By using special GLY-MarineCobond interlayers during lamination, the company reduced the glass thickness and weight by as much as 50 per cent compared to typical windows.

Meeting Lloyd’s requirements that the underwater windows had to be tested at 10 times the working pressure took a bit of ingenuity. GLY built a steel tank and bolted on the observation pod windows then moved this assembly to Bodensee on the southern border of Germany and sunk it to the bottom of a 120 metre-deep hole to create the adequate pressures. The nearly foot-thick windows passed the test.

Sailing Yacht A's propulsion

One of the most important design factors was keeping the weight down as much as possible, so the choice of propulsion was key. The goal was to achieve a cruising speed of 16 knots and a 21-knot top speed and be able to sail silently. The solution was unlike any ever installed on a yacht: a customised diesel-electric system. Building on a basic concept from river cruisers, EMS in Hamburg developed this system and then MTU, together with Vacon and DEIF, took it further.

“We use variable-speed generators,” explains Kloosterman. “This means that we can get more power out of a generator because we can run up to 2,050rpm (giving 2,800kW) and the advantage is that instead of requiring five generators we only need four. This means a large saving in weight but also in costs of purchase, installation, operation and maintenance.

The generators can also spin down to 1,050rpm when load is less; the Superimposed System Controller (SSC) constantly calculates the optimal speed and determines the best combination of generators on line. For example, the SSC may ascertain that at a particular electrical load it is more fuel efficient to run two generators at 1,200rpm than run one generator at 2,050rpm. Running two at a lower speed can have many advantages such as reduced noise/vibration, reduced overall fuel consumption and reduced engine wear.” Maintenance intervals will almost certainly increase, says Kloosterman, from 15,000 hours to as much as 30,000 hours.

The pair of propellers can be driven by the twin MTU 20V 4000 ML73 main diesel engines or by electric motors or by a combination of both through clutches and gearboxes. The same electric motors can also be used as economical shaft generators when the main engines are driving the yacht.

“There are a variety of separate propulsion modes to suit the requirements of cruising and sailing; the propulsion system is very flexible, and I believe this is the future of yacht propulsion,” Kloosterman says.

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Welcome to 

Bristol , s hipwrights.

It's been 10 long months since the last episode of Building Evelyn. But there's a new one that picks up where Lou and Ken left off. We're updating the website. Check out the new Gallery photos and video. And  we're scheduled  to post a new video on the first Friday of every month. 

Watch Episode 18: Fitting, glueing and fastening planks. 

Our Mission

Bristol Shipwrights' mission is to preserve and demonstrate traditional woodworking and boat building skills and techniques. More than that, we're working to develop new ways to use the latest tools and materials to help us and you build stronger, more affordable and enduring boats and construction projects of all kinds. The best way we know to do that is to video and share with you our current and future projects. Evelyn is our first project and only the beginning. But we hope you'll join us for each and every video and voyage.  

Meet Evelyn

Rethinking a cruising schooner from the 1920s 

43” o.a x 33” w.l. x 12’ beam x 6’ 5” draft

Able offshore — handy — roomy, full keel schooner, ready for delivery, alden design no. 270.

Join Bristol Shipwrights as we document and video the challenges of building  a  43' Alden 270 schooner.  Whether you're a professional or backyard boatbuilder, a woodworker, or a dreamer, we're confident you'll learn something new about boats and woodwork from our screw ups and successes. 

See the progress we're making on Evelyn

In EP17,  pretty much the whole crew worked seamlessly to glue up  Evelyn's heavy deck beams. All beams were made from the strip planking off-cuts.

The simplest way  to make a pattern for a plank requires a stop at the lumberyard and the office supply store.  See how in  EP16 of Building Evelyn.

How to Build a Boat

Classic boat plans from a 1937 issue of Popular Mechanics , updated for the 21st century.

It was a long time since anyone in my family had built a boat. The last was my Uncle Paul. He was a shipbuilder who learned his trade beginning at age 14 in Hamburg, Germany. Every morning, the boy rowed from the family's dock out across the shipping lanes of the Elbe River, which flows into the North Sea.

The trip to the shipyard where he was apprenticed took an hour and a half, longer in winter, when there was fog and floating ice on the water. After three years, Paul received a journeyman's certificate and a berth aboard a gigantic four-masted windjammer named Passat—"trade wind" in English. That was in the 1920s, before the fascists confiscated his family's own small shipyard and the Berendsohns left for America.

A few months ago, I decided to try my hand at the ancestral trade. I've built everything from houses to a blacksmith's forge , but there's no more evocative project than a boat, at least to me. Since before Austronesians first gazed across the Pacific, wooden vessels have stood for craftsmanship and the drive to explore. I sifted through PM's archives looking for a classic design and eventually settled on a 10-foot dinghy from our May 1937 issue . It looked elegant, yet simple enough to build on a pair of sawhorses.

It's been many years since my Uncle Paul was around to lend advice, so I ran the drawings past Timo White, a boatbuilder at Tuckerton Seaport, a small maritime museum on the New Jersey coast. It turned out that Timo was in the midst of restoring a surfboard built from plans in the July 1937 issue of PM. (It was a big year for seafaring projects, I guess.)

He confirmed that the dinghy was a good candidate for a first-time builder and agreed to lend a hand if needed.

Shipyard in the Driveway

On a wintry early spring morning I set out for Willard Brothers Woodcutters, a sawmill and lumber dealer in Trenton, N.J. You can spend hours there, roaming stacks of delicious-looking walnut, cherry and oak, some of the boards as wide as your arm is long. I bought red oak for the Sea Scout's frames (that was the name of the craft in the plans, and I chose to keep it) and a 2-inch-thick slab of white oak for the wedge-shaped stem at the bow.

Back home, I started making a racket feeding planks through a table saw. My skills were creaky--I've spent too much time in recent years fixing stuff and not enough building--but over a few days my old confidence returned. The Sea Scout began to take form.

Most boats begin with the frames, the ribs that provide structure to the hull. I roughed them into shape, along with the stem and the gracefully shaped stern wall, or transom, which I cut from ¾-inch plywood. Then I braced it all to a building board--which is nothing more than a 2 x 10 with a chalk line marked down the center.

⚠️ To simplify the project, I omitted the mast and centerboard. Instead, I built the Sea Scout, named after the craft in the original article, to be rowed or powered by an outboard motor. She works well in either configuration. You can find the original plans and materials list here.

The boat's skeleton was in place, but each member still needed to be precisely beveled before I could secure the curved planks of the hull. The next step was to clamp thin strips of wood, called battens, to the frame to stand in for the planks, so I could measure and mark all those angles. Then, I took the parts off the board and finished shaping them.

Often, the weather confined me to the garage, but when the sun emerged I worked in the driveway. If you want to get to know the neighbors, start building a boat. Linda from next door asked whether the craft would be sailed, rowed or powered by an outboard motor. Others wondered where I would go with it, how I'd get it there and what I would name it. A truck driver from Tulnoy Lumber, dropping off some marine plywood, approached respectfully. "This is beautiful," he said, with an old-fashioned New York accent as broad as the hand he ran over the frames.

Anatomy of a Boat

Working the Plank

I don't know how Uncle Paul felt about it, but boatbuilding can be acutely frustrating. The bane of my weekends proved to be a small bronze screw. A No. 6 Frearson flat-head, to be exact. Like most modern DIYers, I'd been spoiled by drywall screws and other aggressive fasteners that practically plow into the lumber. Even using a specialized, tapered drill bit and a waxlike lubricant with the unlikely name of Akempucky, I managed to wreck screws by the dozen. The head on one would strip a moment before the screw was fully seated, while another would shear off on the last eighth of a turn, leaving me with a shiny Frearson-head penny.

Timo had tried to downplay the arcana I'd face--"It's more like house carpentry than fine-furniture building," he had said--but I still found myself floundering on occasion. One challenge was that the 1937 article was more an overview than a detailed set of plans. And, though it pains me to find fault with my forebears at Popular Mechanics, the sketch contained suspicious discrepancies. Timo helped me recalibrate some of the dimensions midway through the project—and I had to trim several pieces after they were assembled.

The biggest hurdle came when it was time to plank the hull. The classic way is to bend strips of solid wood to the frames. I'd chosen marine-grade fir plywood instead to save time, but now I was barely able to force the hull's 14-inch sheets into place. There was no way the half-inch plywood I'd planned for the bottom was going to work.

Timo advised me to switch to a special, wafer-thin marine-grade plywood and plank the bottom in two layers. He came swooping in one Thursday morning to show me the technique. He stepped out of his truck with a broad smile, and a block plane in each hand, and my mood lifted. He politely took a sighting down the chine logs where we'd attach the bottom, and spent a few minutes planing them to the last measure of precision. Then we got to work with staples, glue and screws--and in a couple of hours the project went from a plywood flower bed to a small craft with sensuous compound curves.

It was satisfying, but my mistakes still showed in details like the placement of screws and the shape of the stem. "You know what they say," Timo told me. "Putty and paint makes a boat what it ain't." I got out my paintbrushes.

Maiden Voyage

We launched the boat at Tuckerton Seaport on a cool, overcast day that felt more like September than June. Down at the dock, Timo produced a can of Amstel Light in lieu of champagne. "Go ahead," he said, "pour it over the bow." I popped it open and emptied the beer over the paint. "I christen thee Sea Scout," I said. Then we slid the little craft off the dock and into the water.

You might think a feeling of triumph came over me. Not so. The Sea Scout looked very small, almost helpless, as she sat bobbing at the end of the painter, the little rope that Timo had threaded across the bow. I felt humbled. A phrase from the Book of Psalms flashed in my mind: "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business on great waters."

I wasn't aiming for any great waters myself. I eased off the dock and into the boat. Timo handed me the oars. Awkwardly, I drew the handles back, just above my hips. The craft slid forward gracefully, almost like she was on ice. As Timo watched, I braced the left oar down in the water and swept the surface with the right. The Sea Scout pivoted neatly, unexpectedly elegant and spry.

If the oars were a kick, you can imagine the thrill I felt when I mounted the 2.5-hp Mercury Marine outboard on the transom. It's a clean-running four-stroke engine, compact yet almost zippy on a boat this small. I gave the engine full throttle and cut some nice straight lines and a pleasingly tight curve complete with a crisp little wake.

With the afternoon gone, my first voyage was complete. In the end, I decided to donate the boat and engine to Tuckerton Seaport. Frankly, I needed the space in my garage and driveway: The Sea Scout was a good first foray into wooden boatbuilding, but I knew I could do better—and I'm already sifting through plans.

The Sea Scout, a Decade Later

Ask anybody who’s ever built a boat, and they’ll tell you one thing about it: you’re not the same after you’ve built one. And that goes for me, too. The little boat, which I built back in 2009, shaped me as much—or perhaps more—than I shaped it.

The Sea Scout project brought a flood of mail from our readers, some of whom had built the boat or knew someone who did. One woman still had the boat that her father built. She sent a picture of it and recalled the many pleasant hours she spent with her dad as her father taught her how to sail in it. She kindly offered to donate the boat to us, thinking that perhaps we could put it in our lobby. I wish I could have taken her up on the offer.

When you build a boat, you take your place in the long line of craftspeople—professional and amateurs alike—who have plied that trade and learned about the unique burden of building a craft upon whom someone’s safety and enjoyment will depend. Building a boat is humbling, you remember every mistake you made building the thing as it bobs up and down, and waves wash over its bow or crash into it from the side.

You feel it shudder, but it doesn’t give way as you look over the side at the murky depths. And afterward, you look at every boat with a more knowing eye, a greater respect...and you wonder if you could build it.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.

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How to Build a Boat

Whether you’re looking at an aluminum fishing boat , a cabin cruiser , or anything in between, you’re looking at a modern boat that took countless hours of designing, craftsmanship, and manufacturing to produce . And while you certainly can’t create that sort of advanced watercraft in your own back yard, that doesn’t mean you can’t build your own boat.

Small, simple craft like the row boat you might use to paddle out to your “real” boat, canoes, and toy boats built for a wet joyride or two can all be fun DIY projects that enhance your own personal experiences on the water. 

Popular DIY Build a Boat Options

Some great examples of DIY boats include:

Plywood Sheet Boats

Duct tape & cardboard boats.

Before we get into each, let’s point out that not all of these are what you’d call “seaworthy.” Some will only be appropriate for use in small bodies of protected waters, where you can stand up if your boat sinks (yes, life jackets are still required!)

Others will work fine in ponds with no waves or current, but can’t be expected to have the stability nor wave-handling abilities of even the smallest dinghy that’s been manufactured to modern safety standards. In many of these cases the idea here isn’t to build a boat to go cruising or fishing —it’s to build your own boat for fun.

Explore Professional Boat Builder Models & Brands

One of the simplest and least expensive methods of building a boat that you can use repeatedly in small, protected bodies of water, is to slap together plywood sheets into a box with a section angled up for the bow. Will it comfortable in any sort of waves? Not likely. But it is a quick and easy project that you can tackle with a budget of just a couple hundred dollars, and it results in a mini-boat that will last.

The process is quite simple:

• Sketch out the dimensions you want;
• Cut plywood sheets for the bottom, sides, transom, and bow;
• Cut trim (such as 1”-by-2” wood strips) to line all the joints;
• Secure the sides and bottom by driving screws through them and into the trim; 
• Seal all the joints with an adhesive/sealant; 
• Finally, give the boat a coat of paint to protect the plywood and extend its lifespan.

If you want to build a plywood sheet boat, it’s a good idea to look at some basic plans first (plenty are available on the internet). And always remember that this sort of craft isn’t meant for use on open water, nor without lifejackets being worn at all times. When you go for your first sea trial you’ll likely find it rather unstable and difficult to row in a straight line—but you’ll be rowing your very own boat, that you built with your own two hands.

Building a kit boat can result in a much more seaworthy craft than most of these other DIY backyard projects, however, it also costs quite a bit more money. In most cases, you’ll be paying for the plans, pre-cut materials, and shipping. Accessories like oars or sails generally will need to be purchased after the project is complete. Depending on the size and type of kit boat you build your budget can range from a couple thousand dollars to $10,000 or even more.

Different kit boat companies offer different building styles, ranging from:

• Strip planking over frames to stitch-and-glue construction (where the sheets of wood are connected by sewing wire through pre-drilled holes).
• In some cases, the wood framework of the boat will need to be encapsulated in epoxy resin and/or fiberglass once its assembled.
• Some kits have interlocking pieces and parts that snap together like puzzle parts, while others will need to be glued together or mechanically fastened.

Each of these different methods require different levels of skill, time, and expense, so before buying a kit boat you should thoroughly research just what’s involved with the construction method that’s to be used.

That said, the time and expense involved with building a kit boat is worth it to many people because the end result can be a rather substantial, long-lasting watercraft.

Can you merely cap off some PVC tubes to act as pontoons, strap on a deck or seat, and call it a boat? Sure you can. And while the end result is not likely to be a boat you’d ever want to launch in anything larger than a farm-pond, it will withstand the test of time.

PVC boats are also incredibly easy to build since the pieces and parts are all readily available at well-stocked hardware stores, can be glued together, and are fairly inexpensive. Depending on how ambitious you get you could spend a few hundred dollars on materials, even more if you built a plywood deck or added seating.

The most important thing to keep in mind when building a PVC boat is how much floatation you’ll get out of different sized pipes.

• As an example, 10-inch diameter pipe will float about 300 pounds per 10-foot section.
• So a pair of pipes can support around 600 pounds in total before becoming immersed.
• But you have to account for the weight of the PVC and any decking material you might use, and to make sure you stay above the waterline it’s a good idea to only plan for half the total weight capacity to be used. S
• So a boat you make with a pair of those pipes will be appropriate for a single adult of up to 200 or 250 pounds, give or take—depending on how willing you are to get wet.

There are some plans for PVC boats available for free on the internet, so a little bit of Googling can go a long way in making sure you end up with the type of boat you’re expecting.

We’re lumping duct tape boats and cardboard boats together, because quite often they’re one and the same. Often the boat’s structure will be cardboard and duct tape is used to (more or less) protect the cardboard from getting saturated. This is the most common construction method used for many of the cardboard boat races and contests held across the nation.

In some other cases, people build a basic framework out of thin PVC pipes, chicken-wire, or wood stripping, and then create multi-layer hull “plating” with the tape.

Although you can probably scrounge up plenty of cardboard without spending a dime, the expense of building a duct tape boat can be bigger than one might guess.

• You’ll need several rolls of tape (the thicker you layer it on, the better) so a budget of $50 or more is not out of line.
• Of course, neither cardboard nor duct tape are the best boatbuilding materials in the world. Often these are single-use boats that can be expected to sink in short order.
• So this is another case where you shouldn’t so much as step aboard without having your life jacket  on, and the use of these boats should be close to the shoreline in protected waters.

Any way you look at it, however, building a duct tape or cardboard boat gets right at the heart of why you’d want to take on a DIY boatbuilding project in the first place: because it’s fun!

Read Next: 10 Easy, Affordable Boat DIY Improvement Projects

You May Also Like:

• How to Buy a Boat
• Boat Hull Types, Shapes & Designs
• Why Should I Buy a Certified Boat?
• How to Launch a Boat
• Find the Right Boat for Your Lifestyle

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All about the $40m bayesian yacht that capsized, leaving 6 dead and 1 still missing.

The massive superyacht Bayesian that sank off the coast of Italy on Monday won numerous awards for its sleek interior design — and was sold to its original owner for nearly $40 million.

The luxury sailing ship was carrying 22 people when it capsized and sank during a fierce storm early Monday.

The bodies of five of six missing passengers, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch , 69, have been recovered. His daughter, 18-year-old Hannah, is the only one of six known killed in the tragedy yet to be found, a source close to the rescue operation told Reuters.

The ship’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, has also been confirmed dead.

Divers continued searching the wreckage of the 184-foot-long, British-flagged vessel, previously called Salute, on Wednesday after discovering four of the bodies.

When it was built in 2008, the Bayesian had the tallest aluminum mast in the world, standing at 237 feet, earning it the award for best exterior styling at the World Superyacht Awards in 2009, the Telegraph reported.

The sprawling superyacht’s interior, decorated with sleek, minimalist furnishings created by Remi Tessier, has also won numerous awards.

The ship, which accommodated 12 guests, had a master bedroom and three double and two twin bedrooms.

It also featured beige sofas, dark wood furnishings, and a teak deck equipped with a large canvas awning to keep guests cool, according to the outlet.

Some of the ship’s styling, including thin brown pillars and miniature terra cotta sculptures, was inspired by Japanese culture.

What to know after a tornado sank the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily:

• A superyacht capsized off the coast of Sicily after a tornado hit the area early Monday, killing seven passengers.
• British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was identified as one of the bodies pulled from the wreckage. His teenage daughter, Hannah, was the final one to be recovered.
• Lynch — known as “Britain’s Bill Gates” — had invited guests from Clifford Chance, a legal firm that represented him, and Invoke Capital, his own company, on the voyage,  according to the Telegraph . 
• Security camera footage shot from 650 feet from where the  Bayesian sank Monday  shows it disappearing.
• A rare and unexpected “black swan” weather event may have led to the  Bayesian’s speedy demise , maritime experts say.

The extravagant ship won best interior at the International Superyacht Society Awards in 2008 and was also voted one of the best large sailing yachts at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards, according to the outlet.

The yacht’s original owner, John Groenewoud, a Dutch real estate developer, reportedly bought the ship for £30 million ($39 million) when it was built. In 2014, he sold the ship with an asking price of £27 million ($35 million).

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The Bayesian is currently owned by Revtom, a company that listed Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, as its legal owner.

It was named after the Bayesian statistical model that helps financial investors calculate risk — the subject of Lynch’s PhD that later helped him build his empire.

The vessel, operated by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons, had twin 965hp MTU engines, which gave it a range of 3,600 nautical miles at 13 to 15 knots (14 to 17 mph).

RSB Rigging carried out rig service works on the ship with Astilleros de Mallorca, a shipyard facility in Palma, in November 2016.

The Bayesian returned in September 2020 for scheduled service works, including having its mast removed and reinstalled.

Steve Branagh, managing director of RSB Rigging, told the Telegraph: “At this time, our deepest sympathies go out to the friends and families of all those affected by this dreadful tragedy.”

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LEGO City Explorer Diving Boat 60377 Ocean Building Toy, Includes a Coral Reef Setting, Mini-Submarine, 3 Minifigures and Manta Ray, Shark, Crab, 2 Fish and 2 Turtle Figures

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• Toy ocean exploration boat building set – Kids can dive deep into imaginative adventures with this LEGO City Explorer Diving Boat (60377), packed with features for a fun play experience
• What’s in the box? – Everything kids need to build a toy inflatable boat, minisub and coral reef setting, plus 3 explorer minifigures and manta ray, hammerhead shark, crab, 2 fish and 2 baby turtle figures
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• Kids can follow the instructions or create their own version of LEGO Masters by making their own creation

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Endless imaginative adventures await with this 5+ LEGO City Explorer Diving Boat (60377) building toy playset. The inflatable toy boat comes with lots of realistic features, including a working crane. The set also features a mini-submarine toy, coral reef setting and a treasure chest. There are 3 explorer minifigures and manta ray, hammerhead shark, crab, 2 fish and 2 baby turtle figures as well as lots of story-inspiring accessories. Let the LEGO Builder app guide kids on an intuitive building adventure. LEGO City playsets come with cool vehicles, realistic structures and fun characters for hours of imaginative play and can be combined with other sets from the LEGO City range. Be insprired by LEGO Masters and create your own reality building compeition. Contains 182 pieces.

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Ocean-exploration playset

Set the scene for exciting diving adventures with this LEGO City Explorer Diving Boat set, including 3 explorer minifigures.

Kids learn as they build and play

This LEGO City building set is designed to help kids develop imaginative and creative skills through hands-on play.

LEGO City Explorer Diving Boat

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Mike Lynch and daughter among missing after yacht sinks: What we know about disaster - and 'alarming' potential cause

The British-flagged luxury vessel named Bayesian was carrying 22 people when it got into difficulty off the coast of Sicily. Seven bodies have now been recovered from the wreckage.

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Friday 23 August 2024 12:24, UK

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Seven bodies have been found after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel named Bayesian when it got into difficulty in the early hours of Monday, with 15 people rescued.

Here's what we know about the sinking of the luxury vessel so far.

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

What might have caused the sinking?

The British-flagged luxury vessel, named Bayesian, capsized at around 4.30am local time on Monday morning off Palermo, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic.

It sank in as little as 60 seconds with 22 people on board, 12 passengers and a crew of 10, according to the Italian coastguard.

Waterspouts, essentially tornados that form over water, were seen as powerful winds battered the area overnight, local media said.

The yacht may have sunk faster with all the doors open due to the hot weather, Sailing Today magazine editor Sam Jefferson has said.

"I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that," he said.

Official pictures show air conditioning units in several of the rooms, however, which could counter the suggestion open windows caused the vessel to sink faster.

The huge mast is also likely to have played a role, he added.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts typically occur during thunderstorms and can develop very rapidly, within minutes.

Their spin generally reaches wind speeds between 75-200mph, but can reach as high as 300mph.

They can travel at about 10-20mph typically but can reach greater speeds, making them difficult to avoid - especially in something as slow-moving as a yacht.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, called the reports of a tornado or waterspout "rare" and "quite alarming".

"The vessel was at anchor in a recognised anchorage," Mr Schanck said.

"Depending on wind direction and the state of the sea, this informs the captain whether it is a safe area to anchor or not. There was nothing that was too concerning, for my eye. All in all, the captain used the information they had to make a safe call."

Who owns the yacht?

The yacht belonged to the family of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch. He was confirmed to have died after rescuers found his body on Thursday. Mr Lynch was on holiday with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who is still missing, and his wife Angela Bacares, who was rescued.

Mr Lynch, 59, was known as the " British Bill Gates " and has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges, which were related to the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP). The yacht trip is believed to have been a celebration of the end of Mr Lynch's legal troubles.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American tech giant.

Mr Lynch was extradited to the US to face trial in May last year and spent 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco as he awaited trial on 17 charges of conspiracy and wire fraud brought by the US Department of Justice - which were later reduced to 15 charges. He always denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted.

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht sinking

Who was on board when the boat sank?

The passengers were largely British and American, with crew members were from New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada.

Charlotte Golunski was among the Britons rescued. Her LinkedIn profile says she is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm Invoke Capital and has worked there since 2012.

Speaking after the ordeal, Ms Golunski told Italian media that she lost her daughter Sofia for "two seconds" amid the "fury" of the sea but was able to retrieve her. She said she held the infant above the waves until the lifeboat was ready.

"Many people screamed. Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us were able to get on board," she told ANSA.

The girl's father James Emsley also survived, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

Also on board were Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley, his wife Judy Bloomer, a top US lawyer Chris Morvillo, who worked on Mr Lynch's criminal case, and his wife Neda Morvillo. Divers confirmed on Thursday that their bodies had been recovered.

The yacht's captain James Cutfield survived, along with South African crew members Leah Randall and Katja Chicken.

Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef who was working on the boat, was the first to be found dead, the Italian Coastguard confirmed to Sky News.

During rescue efforts, divers saw "corpses through the portholes" of the wreck as they recovered the body of a man at a depth of 50m (164ft), according to Salvo Cocina, the head of the Civil Protection of Sicily.

What do we know about the vessel?

The Bayesian is owned by a company controlled by Mr Lynch's wife.

It was known for its unusual 72.3m (246ft) single mast - one of the world's tallest made of aluminium - and shared its name with the statistical method Mr Lynch's Autonomy software was based on.

It was built by Italian company Perini Navi in 2008 and last refitted in 2020.

It was listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week, according to online charter sites.

The luxury vessel , which was managed by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons, could accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

It won a string of awards for its design, according to online specialist yacht sites.

Mr Schanck, of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, said the vessel would have been equipped with "high standard" life-saving appliances and radio communications.

He added the yacht would have met all international standards and UK Maritime Coastguard Agency regulations before its voyage.

It was previously named Salute, or "health" in Italian, when it flew under a Dutch flag. Its minimalist interior featured light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions on charter sites.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

What were its last movements?

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on 14 August and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor", according to vessel tracking site VesselFinder.

The Bayesian previously travelled to other parts of Sicily before its last sighting off the coast of the port of Porticello.

On Sunday, the boat was seen off the coast of Cefalu before it travelled towards Porticello, MarineTraffic data shows.

In the days before, the yacht travelled around four of the Aeolian islands, just north of Sicily.

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Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation into the sinking.

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Another Icon-of-the-Seas-Style Megaship? Make That 3 More.

Royal Caribbean and other companies are aggressively building over-the-top ships. “Today’s cruisezillas make the Titanic look like a small fishing boat,” noted one sustainability specialist.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

The Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, drew as much criticism as excitement when Royal Caribbean launched it earlier this year, but the ship has been a hit among cruise goers. Now the cruise line is adding to its fleet of megaships.

The company already has two Icon Class ships on order — Star of the Seas, which will be launched in 2025, and a third ship that has not yet been named but will be delivered in 2026. It now has plans to order a fourth ship, set for a 2027 launch, with options for a fifth and sixth. The new ships build on the market response to Icon of the Seas, said Jason Liberty, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group, announcing the agreement to build the new ships.

“Since its debut, Icon has exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance,” Mr. Liberty said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 250,800-ton ship, which can carry nearly 8,000 people, has eight “neighborhoods” packed with amenities that include a 55-foot waterfall, six water slides and more than 40 restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

Royal Caribbean’s announcement comes as the cruise industry reports record demand, attracting new customers with attractively priced packages that often include food, beverages and activities. In 2023, cruise travel exceeded 2019’s 29.7 million passengers by some two million, with 31.7 million passengers. This year, that number is expected to reach 34.7 million, according to Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s trade group.

Responding to the demand, Royal Caribbean launched four new ships this year and has seven more on order. Other major cruise lines, like Carnival, Norwegian and MSC, are also launching next-generation vessels through 2027. The trend has drawn criticism from environmental groups, who warn that the number and scale of the ships undermine the industry’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

The world’s largest cruise ships are now twice as big as they were in 2000, according to a report by Transport and Environment , a Brussels-based advocacy group for clean transport and energy. If vessels continue to grow at their current rate, the biggest ships in 2025 will be eight times larger than the Titanic, with a capacity to carry nearly 11,000 passengers, the report found.

“Today’s cruisezillas make the Titanic look like a small fishing boat. How much bigger can these giants get?” said Inesa Ulichina, the sustainable shipping officer at Transport and Environment. “The cruise business is the fastest growing tourism sector and its emissions are quickly getting out of control.”

Based on the current fleets of its member lines, CLIA said, there is a strong balance of cruise ship sizes. Many cruise lines argue that their larger vessels are being built more efficiently in line with their sustainability goals, with features to make them compatible with cleaner fuel sources like methanol.

The Icon of the Seas has several features designed to minimize the ship’s carbon footprint, including a waste management system that converts onboard waste into energy and an advanced purification system that is designed to treat all wastewater onboard.

“Achieving net zero is not something any one company can do alone,” Mr. Liberty said, speaking last month at a Decarbonization Summit hosted by Royal Caribbean Group and the not-for-profit Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping. “It requires collective problem solving, creative thinking, and a willingness to have tough conversations.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Ceylan Yeğinsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu

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