Series stars: Standout semi-custom yards

Palumbo Group

Founded in 1967, Palumbo Group has made huge inroads into the superyacht world in recent years, with both custom and semi-custom projects. Production has ramped up since the 2016 acquisition of ISA Yachts with new-build projects taking shape in Ancona (pictured above). The yard also has an extensive network of refit and maintenance facilities stretching from Tenerife to Malta.

Nautor’s Swan

Photo: Kurt Arrigo

Performance sailing yachts put this Finnish builder on the map, but it’s no slouch in the ever popular racer-cruiser sailing superyacht segment. The third and fourth units in the Swan 78 range are well underway while the second Swan 98 was recently sold. On top of this, the yard recently unveiled the Maxi Swan 120 model and is currently expanding its boat building facility signalling the yard has no plans to slow down.

Numarine

Vacuum infusion technology is this Turkish builder’s specialism, used to construct high performance motor yachts from 19 to 32 metre. The yard has already launched two models in the 32XP range, with another approaching an imminent launch. Meanwhile, in October, the yard announced it had sold a further three hulls of its 26XP superyacht series following “hugely successful” autumn boat shows.

Gulf Craft

Value for money is the business model for this UAE builder, which aims to create high quality superyachts at a more reasonable price: its Majesty range is the perfect example. Last year, Gulf Craft presented a Majesty 100 and Majesty 125 at the European boat shows, while its 53.34 metre flagship Majesty 175 yacht is due to launch later this year. 

Monte Carlo Yachts

Design studio Nuvolari Lenard brings big boat ideas to the Monte Carlo Yachts range. The boats make excellent use of space, from the clever interior layout to sizeable sundecks and welcoming bow seating areas. Each yacht in the MCY range, from 20 to 32 metre, is built at the Monfalcone yard. This includes yachts customised to the tastes and lifestyles of their owners, from Asia to America.

Ocean Alexander

Building since 1977, Ocean Alexander has incorporated its early Taiwan roots into US manufacturing. Its range now spans 10 yachts, including the first yacht in its Revolution series, the OA 90R. The yard has described the 27 metre, three decked yacht designed by Evan K Marshall as “a yacht unlike anything we’ve ever built."

Dominator

Founded in 1999, this Austrian headquartered company specialises in yachts measuring between 19.75 metres and 40 metres, which are "bespoke through and through" and feature Italian styling and design. The company first entered the superyacht scene in September 2008 with the launch of its first 29 metre luxury yacht and has since captured attention with the introduction of its Illumen 28 metre model. Last year it launched two units in the series, Cadet V and Zalanka. Despite sharing the same semi-displacement hull form and design combination (Alberto Mancini for the exteriors and Luca Catino for the interiors), the two projects remained individual, with Zalanka featuring five cabins and Cadet V carrying four.

Otam

Otam’s seven-strong range of semi-custom Milliennium yachts in open and hardtop versions includes the 45, 50, 58 Open, 58 HT, 65, 80 and 100 models. The Italian builder recently revealed that its latest fast planing yacht, the 26 metre Otam 85GTS, has reached the halfway point in construction.

Azimut

Consistently a top scorer in the Global Order Book for the number and total length of yachts in build, Azimut-Benetti knows how to deliver popular semi-custom and production yachts. The new flagship is the Azimut Grande 35 Metri (pictured), a wide-body raised pilothouse yacht that gives owners the option of adding a third level as an additional sundeck.

Pershing

The Italian high performance yacht builder makes open and coupé fibreglass and aluminium yachts that are as sexy as they are swift. Its offerings have been inching up in recent years and will soon include the new 43 metre flagship, the Pershing 140 – hull No 1 (pictured) is in the final stages of production at Ancona for an early 2019 launch.

Read more

Sponsored listings