Vripack & Newcastle Shipyards Combine in "Chuggaboom" Project

First thoughts when you look at this expedition yacht is "Wow", the shear size of this yacht and typical expedition style just shouts take me around the world and let me explore. Vripack and Newcastle Shipyards have combined in this project named Chuggaboom, with Vripack taking on the exterior design and the naval architecture, and the American shipyard Newcastle who are well known for their expedition yachts, taking on the construction and are progressing smoothly with the build.

Chuggaboom will be 177ft (54m) long,and have a beam of 37ft (11.50m) and a cruising speed of 12kts. Her external design and expedition style has a close resemblance to other expedition yachts in her size range such as the 184ft (56m) Pangaea, the 196ft (59m) Ulysses and the 209ft (64m) Turmoil. All of these boats have the same bold character for adventure.

Bart Bouwhuis Director of Design from Vripack said:

"This globetrotting family yacht is a true dedication to the original philosophy of our research vessel design. She is outrageously spacious and has been designed for a very experienced yachting family with the typical no-nonsense attitude we love. Even we have difficulty holding her down on our drawing tables, as the adventure that goes together with her design makes the drawings come alive"

Her bold character for adventure is softened by the luxurious interior designed by Andrew Winch. One of the yachts special features is the dedicated motorbike storage and workshop where the shop is directly connected to the forward deck enabling the bikes to be rolled on to a tender giving easy transport to the mainland for island exploration.

"Harbour Island" 180ft launched by Newcastle Shipyard

Last week Newcastle Shipyards launched their newest and largest yacht to date. Harbour Island 180ft yacht, she is hull number one in the new 5500 series hence the length 55m. She is reported to be the the largest volume 180ft MegaYacht that is currently available for charter at a rate $425,000 per week. Her first charter season will be the winter Caribbean season where she will head after she makes her debut at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in October.

Looking at her exterior design by Murray & Associates, shows a resemblance in certain aspects to the Trinity 164ft series and also to the Oceanco "Lady Christina" 204ft which is currently up for sale with a price reduction of $5,000,000 to $39,500,000. Harbour Islands bow windows look like the bow and windows on a Trinity 164ft and the rest of the body has similar lines and style to "Lady Christina".

This mixture works well and Newcastle Shipyards have produced a very stylish yacht that is sure to be a big hit in the charter market this season.
There are six state rooms two of which are master suites which a located, one forward on the main deck and the other on the upper deck. The other four state rooms are on the lower level deck. She also boasts an infinity pool on the sun deck which is the upper most deck. Due to all of her toys and tenders being stored in the aft garage, this leaves plenty of room on the decks for guest to enjoy the full space of the decks.
The garage is lined with teak and can be transformed into a beach club (all the rage on new MegaYachts now) when the tenders and toys are removed. The yard hasn't released and photos of the interior but it has been designed by Claudette Bonville Associates and its sure to be of the up most quality.