Dutch yacht builder Zeelander Yachts has delivered the latest Zeelander 8 from its family-owned shipyard in Groot-Ammers. The yacht is scheduled to make its public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
According to the builder, the new vessel is the most powerful Zeelander 8 completed so far. Powered by four Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines delivering a combined 4,000 hp, the yacht reached 40 knots during sea trials. At the same time, Zeelander says noise levels in the saloon remain at around 65 dBA at full speed. At an economical speed of 7 knots, the yacht has a claimed range of up to 2,700 nautical miles, while at a cruising speed of 32 knots the range is approximately 630 nautical miles.
The latest yacht was built for an owner upgrading from a Zeelander 7. Having previously operated the smaller model without a permanent crew, the owner opted for a similarly straightforward concept with greater interior volume. The main deck has therefore been arranged around a large dining area, while the galley is integrated into the social space and opens onto the aft deck via Zeelander’s characteristic curved sliding window.
Among the most distinctive interior features is the extensive use of so-called swamp oak, timber recovered from riverbeds after decades under water. The dark wood is complemented by bespoke leather finishes and trim in Porsche Agate.
The yacht is equipped with a Williams 435 jet tender, Seabobs and flyboards, all stored in a side tender garage. Gyro stabilisation, joystick docking and Volvo Penta’s IPS propulsion system are intended to simplify handling for owner-operators, although additional accommodation allows crew to be carried when required.
“This owner had already spent weeks aboard a Zeelander 7 and knew exactly what he wanted from the larger yacht,” said Sietse Koopmans, founder and chairman of Zeelander Yachts. “The result is one of the finest Zeelander 8s we have built.”
The Zeelander 8 is built in limited numbers at the yard’s Dutch production facility.
