The cold-molded, all-mahogany Vicem 65 IPS Classic, just displayed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is a Turkish-built beauty with Downeast lines powered by twin 800-hp Volvo Penta IPS1050 pod drives for superior performance and ease of maneuvering around a dock. It’s the largest Vicem to be fitted with IPS, and it has a cruising speed of 23 knots and a top speed of 26 knots. The optional 1,000-hp Volvo Penta IPS1350 drives add a few knots to the top speed.
The long sheerline, low profile and beautiful tumblehome of the Vicem 65 all mark it as a timeless classic build. The elegant interior, filled with dark wood paneling and old-world woodwork with white accents and upholstery, would be at home in a megayacht. On board, the boat seems larger than its actual size because the 7-foot headroom adds so much space, a difficult design feat considering the boat’s overall close-to-the-water looks. Headroom in the master stateroom rises to 7 feet, 5 inches.
Because of its wooden construction, each Vicem 65 is slightly different from the next; the cold-molded technique allows for lots of customization. This boat has four staterooms (the 65 also comes with three) and three heads. The full-beam master is midships, with a walkaround king-sized bed and an en suite head and shower. The VIP is in the bow, and the other two are arranged between them.
The galley is up in the salon, which has a large L-shaped sofa, two large lounge chairs, and an entertainment center. The helm station to starboard seats two, and the mahogany helm console is simply stunning.
The cold-molded build offers several advantages over fiberglass. It is stronger and lighter, it reduces sound and vibration and pounding underway, and it is cooler in warmer temperatures. The process involves laminating several layers of wood at 45- and 90-degree angles to provide multidirectional strength. (A single plank of wood offers just unidirectional strength.) They are glued over a mold with epoxy resin.
The first layer is fastened to the frames, keel and chine at 45 degrees and saturated with epoxy; the second layer, also at 45 degrees, and the third layer, at 90 degrees, are fastened and bonded with epoxy and stainless steel staples. The fourth layer, at 0 degrees, is fastened with epoxy and stainless strapped staples that are then removed, leaving a smooth hull with no markings. The exterior is finished by multiple steps of epoxy fairing compounds, primers and polyurethane paint for a mirror-like finish.
The cold-molded system keeps the wood dry because the epoxy soaks deep, sealing it off from moisture and oxygen. And the glued joints are firmly bonded for long periods of time. The result is a beautiful hull that’s meant to be stronger, lighter and more comfortable underway than a traditional fiberglass hull. (Open the video, below, to see the boat performing underway.)
Specs.: LOA.: 66’5”; Beam: 17’6”; Draft: 5’5”; Disp.: 65,000 lbs.; Fuel: 1,188 gals.; Water, 260 gals.; Power: 2×800-hp Volvo Penta IPS1050 pod drives.
