Friday, March 29

Reliant’s Latest: A Super-Modern Megayacht Tender that’s also a Proper Yacht

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Reliant Yachts started a year ago with a traditional Downeast boat. The Reliant Commuter 40 had it all: A gorgeous tumblehome, wide teak decks, low profile and long sheer line. Then Reliant, the brainchild of industry veterans David MacFarlane and Jim Ewing, built a carbon-fiber, 40-knot Reliant X40, a super-modern design that would be more at home in the French Riviera than in Maine. Now they’re expanding on that X platform, with what they call a limousine tender that will be completed early next year.

There’s no doubt that MacFarlane and Ewing know what they’re doing. MacFarlane is the former president and CEO of Alden, Cal, Ranger and Rampage. Ewing is the former executive VP of Alden and president of Trumpy. In designing the newest Reliant, Ewing said, “We want to create a tender that shares the beauty and functionality of the classic Venetian water taxi, but in a completely modern way. The contemporary megayacht tender has to be a proper yacht unto itself, able to deal with diverse sea conditions, so hull design and stability are key.”

The design challenges for a megayacht tender start with fitting it into the larger yacht’s garage, with tight clearances, load restrictions and crane pickups. “We have to make incremental adjustments everywhere to accommodate the garage plan,” Ewing said, “but without losing functionality or compromising the lines.”

In the new Reliant, engines will be aft to reduce noise in the main cabin. The deep-V hull will be built with carbon fiber to keep the weight down while maintaining structural integrity. Top speeds will be about 30 knots.

Inside, natural light and visibility are key; the Reliant will have a large, powered overhead hatch and wraparound glass cabin sides. Guests can enter the boat forward or aft, and there’s a private seating area in the aft cockpit. Amenities include a genset, AC, wet bar with fridge, leather seating, and state-of-the-art entertainment center. Then there’s the ultimate amenity: A Seakeeper gyrostabilizer. “We want this tender to be every bit as comfortable as it is beautiful,” Ewing said.

For more: http://reliantyachts.com

 

 

 

 

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