Dream boats: outrageously designed yacht concepts of 2018

For luxury yachts, money is no object. Oftentimes, the constraints of design reality aren’t an issue either. Want your superyacht shaped like a giant canoe? No problem. Want 260 sq m of glass on board? Consider it done. Here, we wave ten of the most outlandish, progressive and future-seeking contemporary yacht designs, for your cruising pleasure.

From designs by Achille Salvagni to Rosetti, hop aboard the superyachts that really float our boat...

Tuhura by Oceanco

Named after the Maori word for ‘discovery’, Tuhura is a substantial concept design with a radically different approach to hull design. Commissioned by Oceanco, the 115m proposal resembles a colossal canoe, with curvaceous light coloured hull paired with a dark gloss superstructure and a wraparound single-level deck. The canoe-style design approach was allegedly inspired by traditional Maori vessels, and the entire boat pays homage to that culture’s long, long history of ocean exploration.

...The sleek exterior was created by superyacht specialists Lobanov Design, while Achille Salvagni Designs have overseen the proposed interior. Throughout the generous open-plan spaces Salvagni has used natural materials like tatami and teak floors, pairing them with bronze and gunmetal to create a warm, decidedly unsynthetic look. www.lobanovdesign.com / www.achillesalvagni.com / www.oceancoyacht.com

Project Bolide by Tankoa

Designed by Tankoa in collaboration with the Italian studio Exclusiva Design, Progetto Bolide is an experimental approach to materials. In particular, the Italian shipyard used the design study to explore new ways of working with glass – there’s some 260 sq m of the stuff onboard, ranging from the curved glass balustrades that encircle the decks, through to the great swathes of windows that run along the side of the boat, giving it a dramatic structural profile. www.exclusivadesign.com / www.tankoa.it

47m FOR.TH

Arcadia’s 47m concept FOR.TH has a brutish, militaristic look, helped by the fashionably bluff bow. The Italian shipyard’s proposal is part of a push towards building ever larger boats, using their tried and tested steel hulled designs. The FOR.TH is distinguished by an extensive use of glass and the faceted, geometric forms of the superstructure. This very architectural approach incorporates lots of external terraces for dining and bathing, with sliding interior windows creating a ‘sky-lounge’ for even more outdoor space. www.arcadiayachts.it

Manifesto by Vitruvius

Philippe Briand’s range of expedition yacht concept is designed to be flexible. Depending on where the boat is deployed – the warm waters of the Med or somewhere slightly icier – the boats can be specified with an on-deck pool and plenty of sun-bathing space, or else a working rear deck with room for a couple of tenders.

...In full scientific trim, there’s space for a double-deck garage, or a helipad atop a lightweight research vessel. www.philippebriand.com / www.vitruviusyachts.com

Project Maximus by Heesen

As its name suggests, Clifford Denn Design’s Project Maximus, designed by the Dutch shipyard Heesen, is a sizeable piece of kit. Denn is best known for ocean liner design (including Cunard’s Queen Mary 2) and although Maximus doesn’t come close to these, at 83m it would still take up substantial space in any marina. Project Maximus is designed for warm water cruising, with copious deck space given over to guests. At the rear, an especially lavish triple-level pool, complete with waterfall-style dividers. The boat’s lines sweep back from the vertical bow, with sheltered and secluded decks. The interior is no less spacious and includes five main guest suites as well as a grand salon. www.heesenyachts.com / www.clifforddenn.com

85M Expedition Supply Vessel Concept by Rosetti

Tommaso Spadolini’s creation for Rosetti, developed in close collaboration with Rolls-Royce Marine, envisages a future where a superyacht is a kind of Range Rover of the seas, able to deliver the usual dose of luxury while capable of long-range voyages in all weathers and climates. At 85m, the Spadolini-designed vessel blends Rosetti’s long experience of designing commercial boats with the naval architect’s portfolio of some 200 superyachts. As is normal for the expedition sector, there’s an option with a helipad and dedicated helicopter hangar, although this can be replaced with storage for a sailing yacht and a grand saloon. The bulk of the accommodation is housed in the tall forward superstructure, with space for a small pool on the open foredeck. www.rosettisuperyachts.it / www.spadolini.it

Project Avanti by Winch Design

Andrew Winch’s studio is a mainstay of the modern superyacht industry, with divisions that deal with architecture and aviation as well as superyachts for a number of leading shipyards. Winch also creates concepts such as the new Project Avanti, a boat that’s all about making a grand exit, quayside. The ‘beach club’ steps down to the water and the concept suggests a flexible lower deck with space for a spa and sauna. Elements like an onboard infinity pool and a small fleet of of tenders are paired with a broad interior layout for plenty of space, including a private sky lounge adjacent to the owner’s stateroom and lots of nooks and crannies so that a party of 12 guests can each find their own private spot. www.winchdesign.com / www.heesenyachts.com

Noble Path, 80m yacht concept, by Philippe Briand

A fleet of new concepts has sailed out of Philippe Briand’s London studio. The trio is helmed by the 80m Noble Path, a concept design for a private superyacht that integrates hull and superstructure. An Arabic-inspired lattice wraps around the boat, reducing the profile of the boat to just a few simple lines, creating five private decks that also offer up views from within. Briand proposes using a mineral-resin mix called Krion to form the sculptural shapes and suggests it is a superyacht for the next decade. The Briand 163’ has a towering 62.5m mast, a height that meets the Panamax limits defined by the maximum permitted vessel size to travel through the Panama Canal. An elegant aluminium sailing boat, it has five principle cabins and space for both a 7 m ‘limousine’ tender and diving tender and is designed for endurance voyages without scrimping on space or luxury. Briand also has a 66m expedition yacht in his new portfolio, embracing the trends for superyachts to be more than mere dockside accoutrements and floating villas. philippebriand.com