If custom yachts are an expression of their owner’s personality, then it comes as no surprise to learn that the owner of SKAT has a technically brilliant mathematical mind. Dominated by planar surfaces, straight lines, and angular corners, the crispness of her exterior styling suggests a geometrical precision that permeates every facet of the yacht. What may be somewhat of a surprise, however, is that the 232-foot SKAT is the owner’s first yacht, and that she was conceived, designed, and constructed precisely in accordance with his specifically delineated requirements.

This is not to suggest SKAT was a do-it-yourself project. On the contrary the owner engaged a team of naval architects, designers, and stylists to develop a design and specification that would satisfy his requirements. Espen Oeino was selected as the naval architect and exterior stylist, charged with the task of transforming the owner’s concepts into a functional, balanced, properly proportioned yacht. Marco Zanini was awarded the equally daunting challenge of developing an interior design that captured the owner’s preference for minimalist décor. Last, but by no means least, Lürssen Yachts of Bremen was contracted in November 1999 to transform the designs and specifications into reality.

Unconventional in appearance, to say the least, SKAT’s most striking feature is the angularity of her exterior surfaces. There are no curves, save for the forward portion of her shear line, which sweeps from the bow to about a quarter of her length aft before melding into her topsides. High atop the deckhouse, her bridge deck is a semi-hexagonal fortress with large glass panels standing proudly beneath a protective brow, slightly resembling the bunkers that were long ago dug into the cliffs of Normandy. That same semi-hexagonal form is echoed in the aft end of the deckhouse, with her saloon, seating, and entertainment spaces rimmed by walls of glass.

Purposeful, her form is clearly driven by function, but with due deference to aesthetics. Angular, and finished in pale gray, SKAT presents an almost military bearing, even to the point of having her Lürssen project number, 9906, painted on the hull in bold battleship-style block lettering. And her distinctive gray color works, not only aesthetically but functionally as well, cutting glare and being much easier on the eyes than the usual stark white color.

The absence of conventional deck overhangs gives a much more open, spacious feel to the side decks; more like strolling down a sunny lane rather than the boxed-in feeling created by the overhangs on most yachts. And for inclement weather, there are alternate passages fore and aft through the yacht’s interior. Accenting her stark exterior, there are gleaming stainless steel handrails positioned not only for the customary role of ensuring passenger safety, but also providing a secure place for crew to stand while cleaning the yacht’s numerous windows. And the handrails are all fabricated from sections of identical length and diameter, joined by small black rubber flanges that complement look of the stainless steel. But more importantly, if a section of handrail is damaged, it can be easily removed at the flanges and replaced from an inventory of spares carried on board.

As on many yachts, large sliding glass panels let guests step outside under the aft bridge deck overhang. And on most yachts this is to the consternation of the captain and chief engineer due the common propensity to leave the glass panels open so guests can enjoy the yacht’s heating or air conditioning systems even while they are outside. But during the design of SKAT, her chief engineer proposed an innovative solution. Recessed overhead, heating lamps provide warmth when it’s chilly outside, while tiny nozzles expel a cool mist around the perimeter of the deck when it’s warm.

The yacht’s interior spaces echo the same design themes as her exterior; flat surfaces, angles rather than curves, and a stark, minimalist décor (if one can imagine using the word minimalist in connection with a 232-foot yacht.) Bulkheads, overheads and decks are finished in muted tones that complement the yacht’s gray exterior, while simple but boldly colored furnishings add visual punch. There is nothing fussy or pretentious. She’s not a gallery for showing off artwork and sculpture, and there are no precious fabrics to be spoiled by a stray glass of wine. SKAT is a yacht to simply come aboard, relax, and enjoy.
As impressive and imaginative as her styling and appearance may be, those aspects are but half the story of this yacht. Every facet her engineering, construction, and systems reflect a strict attention to detail and a singular commitment to purpose. For example, consider the design of her hull, a full-displacement form intended for cruising at 15 knots and capable of a 17-knot top speed.

An extensive program of scale model testing was undertaken at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) to confirm the naval architect’s design calculations and to establish the yacht’s speed, fuel consumption, seakeeping, and maneuverability. At a model scale of 1/10.4, the scale model itself was the size of a runabout, over 22 long. Self-propelled, the model was fitted with shafts, brackets, stabilizer fins, and rudders, along with dynamometers and instruments to measure propeller thrust, torque, and rpm at different speeds. The model was built to accommodate either of two different forebody shapes, a normal yacht stem or a more ship-like bulbous bow. During the course of testing, optimization of the bulbous bow was found to produce a fuel saving of about 15 percent. Similar optimization of the rudder and stabilizers produced an additional 9 percent savings in fuel consumption.
Equal rigor was applied to the design of the machinery and systems, especially in relation to control of noise and vibration. Two big stainless steel-encapsulated exhaust systems dominate the upper regions of the machinery space, reducing main engine exhaust noise to barely audible levels. Both main engines and all three generators are mounted in a sound-absorbing enclosure within the center of the engine room, on an isolation foundation that eliminates the transfer of noise and vibration into the hull. In addition, floors and ceilings throughout the yacht are soft-mounted to eliminate propagation of noise or vibration through the structure.

All main systems are redundant, and in fact the yacht is able to achieve a speed of 13 knots on just one engine. A cooling pump integrated into the gearboxes assures safe operation on one engine by pumping oil through the idle gearbox. The shaft of the idle engine can be disengaged, leaving the idle propeller and shaft to freewheel.

Lesser details received no less attention. Consider, for example, the design requirements for the motorcycle lift, which runs from a lower deck up to the main deck. In its lowered position, the elevator platform had to have a low profile, but it could not be recessed into the deck. In the raised position, the platform had to be flush with the main deck. But to complicate matters, all mechanical parts had to be hidden from view when the platform was in its raised position. The solution was a drive system similar to that used for theater stages, using a chain drive to raise the platform about two-thirds of the way, and a scissors mechanism within the platform for the remainder of the lift.

Equally sophisticated is the design of the system for launch and retrieval of the tenders, through large rectangular hatches in either side of the hull. A system of hydraulic rams pushes the hatch door straight out to the side then rotates it to a horizontal position. A pair of horizontal beams is then extended through the hatch opening, permitting launch and retrieval of the tender. The whole operation occurs with the touch of a single button, in about as much time as it take to read this description of it.

SKAT abounds with impressive and innovative features, from the vacuum system in her bilge to the heli-deck on her bridge. With mathematical precision, her design and construction cover all the angles.