NL2016359B1

NL2016359B1 - Vessel, in particular a motor yacht

Info

Publication number: NL2016359B1
Application number: NL2016359A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Gerrit Van Oossanen Pieter
Original assignee: Excellent Naval Arch B V
Priority date: 2016-03-03
Filing date: 2016-03-03
Publication date: 2017-09-20
Also published as: NL2016359A

Abstract

The invention relates to a vessel, in particular a motor yacht, comprising a hull, having a length L, a moulded depth D and a moulded beam B, wherein: - L/B is approximately 5-7, - L/D is approximately 9-13, and - the angle of entry (ε) of the waterline (WL) is less than approximately degrees.

Description

Title: Vessel, in particular a motor yacht Description

The present invention relates to a vessel, in particular a motor yacht, comprising a hull having a hull length L, a moulded depth amidships D, and a moulded beam B. ‘Moulded’ means that only the hull is included, i.e. without any protrusions such as the rubrails.

Such vessels are known, of course. However, in particular with respect to motor yachts a problem exists in the design of such vessels caused by the lack of space near the stern portion of the vessel. For instance: in the case of motor yachts having a gross tonnage of 500 GT, which generally possess a typical length L of between 45-50 m. In practice, such a length range leaves a lot to be desired in terms of available space near the stern portion of the vessel. For instance: it is not possible to arrange a swimming pool and/or a beachclub when the space in the stern is also to be used for tenders and the engine room. It has proven to be next to impossible to increase the available space near the stern portion by taking relatively obvious and “simple” measures such as just increasing the length L of the hull. The problem with taking such measures is that the motor yacht's gross tonnage will increase in such a way, that the motor yacht will fall into a different gross tonnage category altogether. This is highly undesirable, because regulations regarding the vessel's design -mainly of a safety nature - are often more strict in a higher gross tonnage category. For example: a motor yacht “initially” having a gross tonnage of 499 GT and a length of say 50 m - categorized as a 400-500 GT vessel - could suddenly comprise a gross tonnage of say 550 GT when the length L is increased to 55 m to accommodate a swimming pool, beachclub or a similar feature. The motor yacht will then fall into the category above 500 GT, wherein the vessel has to comply with the more strict regulations of this category. It has proven to be very difficult to increase the available space near the stern portion of the vessel while at the same time avoiding a substantial increase in gross tonnage.

An object of the invention is thus to provide a vessel, in particular a motor yacht, wherein the available space near the stern portion of the vessel is increased in such a way that features such as a swimming pool and/or beachclub can be accommodated there, while avoiding a substantial increase in gross tonnage.

Hereto, the vessel according to the invention is characterized in that: L/B is approximately 5-7, L/D is approximately 9-13, and the angle of entry (ε) of the waterline (WL) is smaller than approximately 10 degrees.

The inventor has found that when the hull of the vessel has these characteristics the gross tonnage of the motor yacht is kept relatively low, whereas at the same time sufficient space is made available near the stern of the motor yacht to accommodate further facilities, in particular a rather large swimming pool and/or beachclub. Surprisingly, the above values provide the stated space benefits at the stern of the vessel for any chosen length L. The inventor has found that basically the whole design of the stern portion of the vessel can be altered as a result of the new hull form designed in this way. For instance, the above new hull type allows for greater flexibility in locating the engine room, and allows for the use of further intermediate decks near the stern portion, et cetera.

Further benefits of the above-described hull type include a higher attainable speed for the same engine output, a higher operating range for a given quantity of fuel, and increased comfort of the occupants on board of the vessel due to lower vertical accelerations when operating in waves. Another benefit is that the effective increase of length of the motor yacht improves the prestige of the yacht's owner. Visitors, onlookers, et cetera, will also be positively surprised by the increased length of vessel, the more so when they are aware of the fact that the gross tonnage of the “new” motor yacht has hardly increased with respect to that of a conventional motor yacht hull design.

Yet another advantage is that the so-called freeboard deck can be chosen to coincide with the aforementioned intermediate deck(s). This leads to the motor yacht having to comply with far less strict regulations.

It should be noted that conventional, prior art motor yacht designs comprise an angle of entry (ε) of the waterline (WL) of 15-25 degrees. However, some motor yacht designs currently in use have an angle of entry (ε) of the waterline (WL) of slightly lower than 15 degrees, such as the motor yacht named “Silver” built by Hanseatic Marine Engineering Pty. Ltd. However, the “Silver” hull design has a relatively high L/B value (substantially) higher than 7 and a relatively high L/D value larger than 14, effectively providing a hull type that is so slender that severe design compromises have to be made in other areas.

An embodiment relates to an aforementioned vessel, wherein L is approximately between 35 m and 65 m, such as 35 - 45 m or 50 - 65 m. Particularly for these vessel lengths the invention provides specific advantages. The invention allows for a vessel in this range of length to remain in the same gross tonnage category of below 500 GT, compared to a vessel of such a length not having the hull design according to the invention. For instance: a 60 m motor yacht having a conventional hull design would end up in a higher gross tonnage category when its (conventional hull) design length L is increased from e.g. 45-50 m to 60 m (typically the vessel would move from the 400-500 GT category to the 600-700 GT category). The present invention allows the 60 m motor yacht to remain in the same 400-500 GT gross tonnage category.

Existing regulations lead to preferred gross tonnages of the vessel (slightly) lower than 300 GT and 500 GT. For these gross tonnages, the present hull design allows for a substantial increase in length of a motor yacht compared to a conventional hull design without exceeding the respective gross tonnage category upper limit. For instance, the invention typically allows the length of a 300 GT vessel with a conventional hull design and a length of 35 - 38 m to be increased to 45 m with the new hull design.

In a preferred embodiment, a bow portion of the hull comprises a sprayrail, having a sprayrail length (SRL) of approximately at least 1/3 L. This provides the forebody of the hull with the ability to deflect spray originating from the bow wave sideways and downwards, thereby causing less wetting of the freeboard deck and the superstructure.

An aforementioned vessel according to the invention may have a stern portion comprising a main deck at a main deck level (MDL), and a stern deck at a stern deck level (SDL), wherein the stern deck level is situated below the main deck level (MDL) at a vertical distance (D1), the stern deck intersecting a sternpost of the vessel. By having several deck levels at the stern portion of the vessel, flexibility with respect to the design of the stern portion of the vessel increases significantly.

Preferably, the vertical distance between the stern deck level (SDL) and the main deck level (MDL) (D1) is 0.5 - 1.0 m. Thus, volume is ‘removed’ from the hull and this volume can be added to the hull again in the form of length.

More preferably, the stern deck comprises a swimming pool or sun bathing area. Due to the vessel's special hull design, the stern deck now has sufficient space available to accommodate a swimming pool or sun bathing area. This is important for motor yachts, wherein being able to fit a swimming pool or sun bathing aera increases the usability and attractiveness of the motor yacht.

Alternatively, in the vessel's longitudinal direction (X), an intermediate deck can be arranged between the main deck and the stern deck, at an intermediate deck level (IDL) between the main deck level (MDL) and the stern deck level (SDL). Such an intermediate deck further increases design flexibility at the stern portion of the vessel.

The intermediate deck may for instance then comprise the swimming pool or sun bathing area.

The intermediate deck could then also constitute the freeboard deck of the vessel, i.e. below the intermediate deck level (IDL) the vessel may be configured to be “watertight”, but above the intermediate deck level (IDL) this does not have to be the case, thereby allowing for the application of less stringent regulations regarding the construction of hatches, doors, et cetera, on the main deck.

Preferably, the vertical distance between the stern deck level (SDL) and the intermediate deck level (IDL) (D2) is 0.5 - 1.0 m, preferably 0.5 - 0.7 m, such as 0.5 or 0.7 m. In this way, the freeboard deck can coincide with the intermediate deck, which would otherwise not be allowed (i.e. the freeboard deck must otherwise coincide with the main deck).

The vertical distance between the intermediate deck level (IDL) and the main deck level (MDL) (D3) is 0.5 - 1.0 m, preferably 0.5 - 0.9 m, such as 0.7 or 0.9 m. Thus, volume is again ‘removed’ from the hull and this volume can again be added to the hull again in the form of length.

Another embodiment relates to an aforementioned vessel, wherein, in case L is approximately 45 m, the main deck (MDL) is situated approximately 2 m above the waterline (WL) and in case L is approximately 60 m, the main deck level (MDL) is situated approximately 2.25 m above the waterline (WL). This is to provide the hull with sufficient height in the area above the tanks to allow a person to stand .

In a preferred embodiment of the aforementioned vessel, a beachclub is situated in a forward area of the stern deck or the intermediate deck, respectively, and below the main deck. The special construction of the hull according to the invention allows such a beachclub to be arranged below the main deck, for instance and preferably in addition to a swimming pool or sun bathing area arranged on the stern deck or intermediate deck, respectively, which further increases the appeal of the vessel, especially when this is a motor yacht.

More preferably, an engine room of the vessel is arranged in a central portion of the vessel, i.e. at a distance, in longitudinal direction (X), of between 1/4 L and 2/3 L from the sternpost, providing even more flexibility regarding the design of the vessel’s stern portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be explained hereafter with reference to exemplary embodiments of vessels according to the invention and with reference to the drawings. Therein:

Figure 1a shows a schematic bottom view of a first exemplary embodiment of a vessel according to the invention having a length of 60 m;

Figure 1b shows a schematic bottom view of a second exemplary embodiment of a vessel according to the invention having a length of 45 m;

Figure 2a shows a schematic top view of the vessel of figure 1 a;

Figure 2b shows a schematic top view of the vessel of figure 2b;

Figure 3a shows a schematic side view of the vessel of figure 1a with the stern portion configured without an intermediate deck between the stern deck and the main deck;

Figure 3b shows a schematic side view of the vessel of figure 1b with the stern portion configured with an intermediate deck between the stern deck and the main deck;

Figure 4a shows a schematic side view of the vessel of figure 1a with the stern portion configured with an intermediate deck between the stern deck and the main deck; and

Figure 4b shows a close-up view of the stern portion of figure 3b configured with an intermediate deck between the stern deck and the main deck; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1a - 4b will be discussed in conjunction. Figure 1a shows a schematic bottom view of a first exemplary embodiment of a vessel 1 according to the invention in the form of a motor yacht 1 having a length of 60 m. A hull 2 is shown having an angle of entry (ε) of the waterline (WL) of less than approximately 10 degrees, in case of the hull 2 as shown: about 6-7 degrees, preferably about 6.4 degrees. The hull 2 has a bow portion 3 and a stern portion 5 and the hull 2 extends from a sternpost 8 in a longitudinal direction indicated by X, over a length L of (in this case) about 60 m. Please note that the motor yacht 1 according to the invention may have a length of for instance about 30 - 100 m, preferably about 40 - 80 m, more preferably about 50 - 65 m. The benefits of the hull type according to the invention are most pronounced when used with the latter length range. Although the hull type according to the invention could be used with “shorter” motor yachts 1, it will (for example) become increasingly hard to accommodate a swimming pool or sun bathing area of decent size: the skilled person will understand that fitting a 3 m long swimming pool on a 10 m motor yacht is rather unrealistic. With substantially “longer” motor yachts, such as having a length L in excess of 100 m, the problem of having insufficient space near the stern portion 5 of the motor yacht 1 will simply be less prevalent. For the 60 m motor yacht 1 as shown in figure 1a, the moulded beam B could be 6 - 10 m, such as about 8 - 9 m. Preferably, the sides of the hull 2 run approximately parallel to each other from the sternpost 8 towards the bow (in the longitudinal direction X) until a position at about a 1/4 L from the sternpost 8. From this position at about a 1/4 L from the sternpost 8 the sides start to converge towards each other until contact is made at a forward position on the bow. The angle of entry (ε) therein basically indicates the angle of a respective (converging) side with respect to the (longitudinal) plane of symmetry of the motor yacht 1. Preferably, the hull 2 of the motor yacht 1 is made of a lightweight material, such as aluminium, composite, carbon, et cetera. The use of steel is not an option. Due to the use of the hull type according to the invention, the gross tonnage of the 60 m motor yacht 1 as shown in figure 1a will be less than 500 GT.

Figure 1b shows a schematic bottom view of a second exemplary embodiment of a vessel 1 according to the invention in the form of a motor yacht 1, wherein the motor yacht 1 has a length of 45 m. The moulded beam B for this motor yacht 1 preferably lies between 7 and 8 m, whereas the angle of entry (ε) for instance lies between 7 and 8 degrees, but more preferably is around 7.8 degrees. Again, due to the use of the advantageous hull type according to the invention, the gross tonnage of the 45 m motor yacht 1 as shown in figure 1b will typically be less than 300 GT.

Figure 2a shows a schematic top view of the vessel of figure 1a. For clarity, the superstructure, for example comprising the pilothouse, crew cabins, et cetera, is not shown. The bow portion 3 as shown comprises a sprayrail 4 to prevent the deck from getting (overly) wet by deflecting spray from the bow wave sideways and downwards. The sprayrail 4 preferably has a sprayrail length (SRL) of approximately at least 1/3 L in length. The sprayrail 4 as shown in figure 2a has a sprayrail length (SRL) of about 1/4 L. The motor yacht 1 of figure 1a shows an intermediate deck 10 being present between a stern deck 7 and the main deck 6.

Figure 2b shows a schematic top view of the 45 m motor yacht 1 of figure 2b. The layout at the stern portion 5 is basically similar to the layout of the stern portion 5 of the motor yacht 1 of figure 2a: again an intermediate deck 10 is present between the stern deck 7 and the main deck 6. The intermediate deck 10 is provided with a swimming pool 9, for instance having a length of 4 - 6 m (in longitudinal direction X), and a width (in moulded beam direction) of 2.5 -3 m. The swimming pool 9 could also (partially) extend onto the stern deck 7, as shown in figure 2b.

Figure 3a shows a schematic (overall) side view of the vessel 1 of figure 1a with the stern portion 5 configured without an intermediate deck 10 between the stern deck 7 and the main deck 6. The main deck 6 is situated at a main deck level (MDL), and the stern deck 7 at a stern deck level (SDL). The stern deck level is situated below the main deck level (MDL) at a vertical distance (D1). The above configuration with the different deck levels is more clearly shown in figure 4a.

Figure 3b shows a schematic side view of the vessel 1 of figure 1b with the stern portion 5 configured with an intermediate deck 10 between the stern deck 7 and the main deck 6. The vertical distance between the stern deck level (SDL) and the intermediate deck level is indicated by D2, whereas the vertical distance between the intermediate deck level (IDL) and the main deck level (MDL) is indicated by D3. This configuration is also illustrated more clearly in figure 4b.

Figure 4a shows a close-up schematic side view of the vessel 1 of figures 1a and 4a with the stern portion 5 configured with an intermediate deck 10 between the stern deck 7 and the main deck 6. The vertical distance between the stern deck level (SDL) and the intermediate deck level (IDL) D2 preferably is 0.5 - 1.0 m, more preferably is 0.5 - 0.7 m, such as 0.5 or 0.7 m. The vertical distance between the intermediate deck level (IDL) and the main deck level (MDL) D3 preferably is 0.5 -1.0 m, preferably 0.5 - 0.9 m, such as 0.7 or 0.9 m. The values for D2 and D3 for the motor yacht 1 as shown in figure 4a are 0.5 and 0.9, respectively, and D is about 4.25 m. The length of the stern deck 7 (LSD) for instance lies between 3 and 4 m, while the length of the intermediate deck (LID) could lie between 4 and 5 m.

Figure 4b analogously shows a close-up view of the stern portion 5 of figures 1 b and 3b. However, the values for D2 and D3 for the motor yacht 1 as shown in figure 4b are now 0.7 and 0.7, respectively, and D is about 4 m.

It should be clear that the description above is intended to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention, and not to reduce the scope of protection of the invention. Starting from the above description, many embodiments will be conceivable to the skilled person within the inventive concept and scope of protection of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1. Vessel 2. Hull 3. Bow portion 4. Sprayrail 5. Stern portion 6. Main deck 7. Stern deck 8. Sternpost 9. Swimming pool 10. Intermediate deck 11. Beachclub X = vessel longitudinal direction L = vessel length D = vessel moulded depth B = vessel moulded beam ε = angle of entry of the waterline WL = waterline D1 = vertical distance between stern deck and main deck D2 = vertical distance between stern deck and intermediate deck D3 = vertical distance between intermediate deck and main deck SDL = stern deck level IDL = intermediate deck level MDL = main deck level LSD = stern deck length LID = intermediate deck length SRL = sprayrail length

Claims

A vessel, in particular a motor yacht, comprising a hull with a length L, a cavity to the mold D and a width to the mold B, wherein: L / B is about 5-7, L / D is about 9-13 and - the entry angle (ε) of the waterline (WL) is less than about 10 degrees, with a stern portion comprising a main deck at a main deck level (MDL), and a stern deck at a stern deck level (SDL), with the stern deck level situated below the main deck level (MDL) at a vertical distance (D1), the stern deck crossing a stern of the vessel.

Vessel according to claim 1, wherein L is approximately between 35 m and 65 m, such as 35 - 45 m or 50 - 65 m.

Vessel according to claim 2, wherein the gross tonnage of the vessel is less than 300 Bt and 500 Bt respectively.

Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a bow section of the hull comprises a spray rail, with a spray rail length (SRL) of approximately at least 1/3 L in length.

Vessel according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical distance between the stern deck level (SDL) and the main deck level (MDL) (D1) is 0.5-1.0 m.

Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aft ship deck comprises a swimming pool or a sunbathing area.

Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an intermediate deck is arranged in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vessel between the main deck and the aft ship deck, at an intermediate deck level (IDL) between the main deck level (MDL) and the aft ship deck level (SDL).

The vessel of claim 7, wherein the intermediate deck comprises a swimming pool or sunbathing area.

9. Vessel according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the intermediate deck is the freeboard deck of the vessel.

Vessel according to any of claims 7-9, wherein the vertical distance between the stern deck level (SDL) and the intermediate deck level (IDL) (D2) is 0.5 - 1.0 m, preferably 0.5 - 0.7 m is, such as 0.5 or 0.7 m.

Vessel according to any of claims 7-10, wherein the vertical distance between the intermediate deck level (IDL) and the main deck level (MDL) (D3) is 0.5 - 1.0 m, preferably 0. 5 - 0.9 m is, such as 0.7 or 0.9 m.

Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, when dependent on claims 2 and 5, in the case that L is approximately 45 m, the main deck level (MDL) is situated approximately 2 m above the water line (WL) and in the case L is approximately 60 m, the main deck level (MDL) is approximately 2.25 m above the waterline (WL).

A vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, when dependent on claim 5 or 8, a beach club is situated in a forward-lying area of, respectively, the stern deck or the intermediate deck, and below the main deck.

A vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an engine room of the vessel is arranged in a central portion of the vessel, 1. e. at a distance of between 1/4 L and 2/3 L from the stern in the longitudinal direction (X).