British design studio Lateral Naval Architects has unveiled a new technical platform designed to "break conventions" and "unlock new design freedom" in the 2,000GT superyacht segment. Known as Outlier, the platform stands as the third generation of the studio's Ultra-Efficient Hull series.
According to Lateral, most 2,000GT superyachts range between 75 to 78 metres in length and are equipped with a top speed of 17 knots and a 5,500 nautical-mile-range. This often requires double-height engine rooms which disrupt the flow of the lower deck, produce several design constraints – including with the size of tenders and beach club layouts – and decrease the onboard comfort experienced within forward living areas.
Designed to challenge this "baseline", Outlier seeks to enhance comfort for owners while simultaneously allowing for more creative possibilities for designers. The platform delivers a 16 per cent increase in length within 85-metre loadline thresholds, a 20 per cent reduction in power demand and 17 per cent lower fuel consumption.
Outlier also requires 20 per cent less technical space (due to smaller main machinery) and instead employs a forward engine room thanks to advanced "electric energy architecture" which adopts Lateral's battery-powered Electric Hybrid system and allows for an uninterrupted lower deck layout. Owners can also benefit from living spaces that have been moved amidships, an area less affected by noise and vibrations.
Another benefit from the technical platform and its increased hull length is a 40 per cent increase in exterior space compared the current standard. Despite its current 2,000GT format, the studio emphasised that Outlier can also be scaled to support smaller formats, including 1,500GT and 950GT thresholds.
"Outlier is more than a platform, it’s an invitation to rethink a yacht from the inside out," said Lateral's senior naval architect, Ollie Cooper. "It enables designers and owners to imagine spaces differently and explore new possibilities."
To showcase Outlier, Lateral partnered with British design studio Foster + Partners to create Outlier I: an 88.5-metre, 2,000GT superyacht concept with the features of an over 5,000GT vessel.
As a result of the platform, highlights on board include "better spatial connectivity", to enhance interactions between guests and crew while offering greater comfort and privacy in the accommodation, as well as spacious, triple-height interior spaces adorned in glass and unobstructed exterior decks.
Outlier I allows for owner-driven customisation and is flexible for a wide range of uses. Key specs include a 12.9-metre beam and a 3.5-metre draft, with the Electric Hybrid propulsion from Lateral allowing for a "Boost Mode" speed of 17.5 knots, a "Guest Sustained" speed of 15.5 knots and a 5,500 nautical-mile-range at 11.5 knots.
Outlier was first presented at the Monaco Yacht Show last week in what was a busy time for the studio, with further details also revealed about the on-spec 50.6-metre build, Spitfire.
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