Tips Sail

195 Aluminum Motoryacht Design 2688

This 195' aluminum displacement motoryacht was launched by Palmer Johnson in 1999. The styling and interior design was developed by the design firm Nuvolari Lenard of Italy. Naval architecture and structural engineering was by Sparkman & Stephens. The boat is unusual as she is all aluminum, where most yachts of this class are of steel or built with a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. The boat was extensively tank tested including different sea states and at anchor to optimize running gear and appendages to minimize roll.

She's a behemoth. The boat displaces 1,536,000 lbs when fully laden. By comparison the maximum take-off weight of a Boeing 747 is 735,000 lbs.

The boat is powered by twin Caterpillar 5212B diesel engines developing 1,950hp each driving controllable pitch propellers. Top speed is 17 knots. The boat carries an astounding 42,000 gallons of fuel which equates to a range of 14,000 nautical miles at an endurance speed of 10.5 knots. Just to put things into perspective, a typical large tanker truck as seen on U.S. roads carries 9,000 gallons. That's almost 5 trucks showing up at the dock for a refueling.


The boat has a creative split level design. The interior is finished in glossy ebony and lacewood.