Series stars: Standout semi-custom yards

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.

The Italian builder — born in 1873, so one of Europe’s oldest shipyards — has a varied selection in its semi-custom line-up, ranging from fast to full displacement motor yachts. It recently launched its biggest ever build - the 107 metre FB 277 while delivering the fourth unit of its Mediterraneo 116 series and the 69 metre Spectre to owners John and Jeanette Staluppi.

Looking to shake up the traditional yachting market, Dynamiq came on to the scene offering a new, transparent way for owners to order yachts online, with every detail able to be customised and priced before your eyes. The aluminium yachts between 27 and 45 metres are themselves novel, offering a simpler approach to yachting, with superyacht features in smaller sized boats, to offset costs, and a fast speed with oceangoing range.

This American builder consistently turns out its range of semi-custom superyachts, on time and on budget. Westport range includes four proven models; the 34 metre Westport 112, the 38 metre Westport 125, the 40 metre Westport 130 and the 50 metre Westport 164.

Based in Plymouth since 1965, this British yard manufactures many of its components itself. Princess produces hundreds of yachts a year in a range spanning 22 models, from drive-it-yourself to the semi-custom M Class.

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."

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’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.

Cantiere delle Marche launched its Darwin 102 Galego (pictured) last year and has since signed a contract for its first Darwin 112. The yard also recently revealed a new explorer yacht series called the Flexplorer. The yard has begun construction on the first 39.4 metre Flexplorer, which is due to be delivered to the owner in 2020

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.