Eighth Wonder
Designed by Dubois Naval Architects, Como is the eighth motoryacht built by Alloy Yachts.
Como is a 41m (134ft) luxury motoryacht built for a very experienced yachtsman who has commissioned a number of vessels with Alloy Yachts. She was launched in November 2006 and continued the Alloy tradition of completing measured mile trials on the day of launching.
The hull is finished in dark blue with a metallic silver superstructure. The smooth exterior lines are enhanced by the uninterrupted sweep of black glass windows along the main deck and the beautifully finished stainless steel louvres that wrap around the aft side coamings and the forward superstructure.
The permanent hard-top composite bimini on the flybridge adds a futuristic flourish, while the matching curved stairways from the aft boarding platform up to the main deck provide a dramatic entrance.
The interior design is by Redman Whiteley Dixon. The overall impression is of a contemporary space with light pouring in from all sides, enhanced by the spectacular white marble floors. The timber joinery is modern with strong angular lines, while cream silk carpets in selected areas provide a soft contrast to the white marble floors. French impressionist artworks feature throughout the vessel.
Subtle texture is added in timber finishes ranging from satin to gloss varnish with some feature pieces finished in black piano lacquer. Mahogany and ebony timbers feature throughout. A styling theme that recurs throughout the vessel is a delicate stainless steel inlay on tables, furniture pieces and on the floors.
The main deck comprises the aft cockpit with a curved settee following the line of the transom and facing forward, with a coffee table and cane weave occasional chairs making a pleasant gathering place in the sun. Forward and under the protection of the overhang from the flybridge deck is a dining table for 10 guests. Automatic steel and glass ranchslider doors open to admit guests into the main saloon, which features a modern bar on the port side, with a formal lounge and dining area forward. Standing, or seated, guests are able to enjoy panoramic views through the continuous side windows. At the same time, the tinted window treatments assure privacy.
Two companionways lead forward from the main saloon. The starboard companionway opens into an entry lobby from the main side deck via a Alloy-built pantograph door. A day head is situated in the lobby.
Continuing forward on the starboard side leads to the owners’ suite, which spans the full width of the superstructure. It features a centerline forward-facing bed, with access to a dressing room tucked behind the aft bulkhead on the port side.
Also on the port side is a discreet office area with a deep grey leather desk and chair and a sofa.
The flooring is covered in cream silk carpets, with white and mahogany ceiling panels overhead. Opposite the foot of the bed are twin his and hers bathrooms with a large shower situated in between the two, with access from either side. The bathrooms continue the theme of white marble floors, with pale acquamarine back painted glass on the shower and cabinets. From the main saloon, the portside companionway leads to the service areas of the vessel. Guests are able to help themselves to coffee and hot drinks from a drinks station in the companionway. As it leads forward, a half flight of stairs rises to the wheelhouse, while another stairway leads down to the lower deck and directly into the galley.
The galley features custom fridges with brushed stainless steel doors and a large underfloor deep freeze. The flooring is synthetic with a mahogany grain finish, while the benchtop, walls and cupboard doors are finished in oatmeal corian.
A fully-equipped laundry is on the starboard side, with a well-appointed crew mess forward of the galley. Crew accommodations are well appointed with a captain’s double cabin. Two crew cabins with single bunks are situated forward. All the crew cabins have ensuite bathrooms.
The wheelhouse is finished in mahogany and leather, with a handsome steel and teak wheel fronting an impressive electronics array. On-watch crew have good visibility through the heavily raked windscreen, with access onto the sidedecks via a pantograph door on the port side.
Access to the flybridge is via a stairway from the wheelhouse, or direct from the aft cockpit up a stairway. The flybridge offers a mixture of covered areas and open sun decks with a helmstation forward and a bar and sunloungers aft. Under the protection of the stylish composite bimini is a dining table and BBQ. The décor here is polished stainless steel and bright white lacquer surfaces with taupe upholstery on the settees, loungers and bar stools.
The guest cabins radiate from a lobby on the lower deck. The lobby continues the white marble theme, with matching black lacquer chests on either side. There are four guest cabins, two doubles and two with twin berths. The starboard twin cabin also has an additional Pullman berth. All of the guest cabins include ensuite bathrooms, finished in white marble with acquamarine backpainted glass shower units and backlit storage cabinets.
The owners’ stateroom and all the guest cabins have individual climate control, mood lighting and access to the ship’s extensive entertainment systems.
There are three principal access points to the equipment and machinery areas. With the vessel moored stern-to on a dock, access is either across the stern swim platform, which has two curving staircases up to the main aft-deck, or across a three section telescopic passerelle, custom-built by Alloy Yachts. The passerelle retracts into the stern lazarette.
There is also a 10-step Marquipt set of sea stairs that attach to the port-side. A door set into the transom provides access to a large lazarette, where the main tender, a 6m rigid inflatable with diesel sterndrive, is stowed along with assorted leisure equipment. The tender is launched and retrieved by an overhead gantry crane through a watertight side door opening on the port side.
The lazarette is teak-decked throughout and is fully equipped for use as a gymnasium when the tender is removed. Main access to the engine room is through the lazarette. The vessel is powered by twin Caterpillar C30 1550hp diesel engines with a cruise speed of 16 knots and a sprint speed of 17.5 knots. The machinery installation is impeccable with plenty of space and light. The engine room treadplate is polished aluminium with the patterns perfectly matched at all the joins, emphasizing the precision and care that has gone into the entire engineering of the vessel.
The owner is an international yachtsman and a major purpose of the boat is to serve as a floating home and tender for his racing yacht. He worked closely with Dubois Naval Architects on styling and performance-related refinements to previous motoryacht also built at Alloy Yachts. The length was extended by 1.2m and the rake of the bow and stern increased. This was to improve the aesthetics of the vessel and lower the visual profile. It also created a longer waterline, for improved performance. In addition, the power was increased by 300hp.
Internally, the additional space allowed for the saloon and the owners suite to be extended. The engineroom was also enlarged and the weight distribution was shifted slightly aft.
The extensive use of marble throughout the vessel creates a modern look that is appropriate for the warmer climates where the owner will operate. With a view to performance, the weight factor was mitigated by mounting a thin marble layer on aluminium honeycomb. Care was also taken with acoustics and the sound levels throughout the vessel are lower than industry standards, despite the extensive hard surfaces.
“I am extremely impressed with the workmanship at Alloy Yachts,” he said. “The boat is very, very good.
I would say that the interior finish is close to or equal to the best of the European yards and the level of engineering is superior.” Designer Ed Dubois commented “Como represents another fine example of Alloy Yacht’s boat building and engineering expertise and we are delighted with the result. She is a ‘go anywhere’ vessel and has an accommodation layout which reflects the owner’s very extensive experience.”
Specifications
- Boat Name: Como
- Year Launched: 2006
- Designer: Ed Dubois
- Interior Designer: Redman Whiteley Dixon
- Builder: Alloy Yachts
- LOA: 41.14m
- Beam: 8.5m
- Draft: 1.9m
- Displacement: 214 tonnes
- Max Speed: 17.5 knots
- Cruise Speed: 16 knots
- Range @ LRC: 4000nm @ 10 knots
- Construction: Aluminium
- Fuel Capacity: 36000 litres
- Water Capacity: 10000 litres
- Main Engine: 2 x Caterpillar C-30 @ 1550hp each.
