Moonen 110 - Milestone Moments
In November 2020, Moonen Yachts launched a new design, the 34 meter Moonen 110. A gentleman’s yacht with traditional lines inspired by her timeless predecessors, the Moonen 110 combines the best of the Dutch shipyards’ Moonen 84 and Moonen 97 builds from the early 2000’s.
Collaborating again on this new design, is exterior designer René van der Velden and naval architect Diana Yacht Design. They are joined by interior designer Studio Indigo from London, who have all previously and successfully worked on the first three 36 meter Moonen Martinique’s together.
In February 2021, YN202 was announced as Moonen Yachts’ next yacht in line to be built, and construction of the 34.4 meter steel hull would begin in June of that year. Characterized by her sleek, low profile design, the Moonen 110 is comprised of a lower deck, main deck and combined sun and bridge deck. She boasts a shallow draft of two meters, ideal for accessing anchorages closer to shore, and a transatlantic range of 3,500nm when traveling at 9 knots. The combined sun and bridge deck has space suitable for a tender of up to 7.5 meters long when stored longitudinally.
As well as low fuel consumption, low noise and low vibration levels are paramount for the team at Moonen Yachts when engineering any new design. This is a key feature noticeable on all their yachts and is achieved by a number of methods in order to produce the highest comfort levels for both motoring around the Med and cruising across oceans.
For this project, Moonen chose to work with Talsma Shipyards, who would spend the next seven months building the hull at their facility in Franeker in the northern part of the Netherlands. The next stage of the project was to turn the hull over, a delicate, and in this case a four hour long process, requiring many parties to ensure the safe execution of the turning. In October 2021, the hull of the 34 meter Moonen 110 was slowly rotated by four cranes.
Talsma, who always build their hulls upside down say “Turning the hull is one of the bigger milestones in the hull production.” Building in this manner not only improves the quality, but makes the process easier since the building floor and deck are both flat and reduces the time spent working above the head.
Talsma continues; “The building process is typically about 60% finished when the turning takes place. Most of the section work has finished and after turning we enter the outfitting phase of the build. Small ironwork, like placing foundations, hull penetrations, bollards, piping, placing the bulwark etc.”
As YN202 is the very first Moonen 110 to be built, each milestone becomes a very special moment for all involved in it’s construction. John Bechtold, the Project Manager of YN202 from Moonen says “It is a very special moment to see the first hull of the new Moonen 110 ready in her sailing position. I am very proud and grateful of the first result that we have achieved together as a new team, after an intensive and instructive process. Talsma Shipyards, Diana Yacht Design and our own Moonen team have all done an exceptional job.”
Nick Tot, Naval Architect at Diana Yacht Design states that “The hull of YN202 is the result of the extensive collaboration between multiple disciplines across multiple companies. We at Diana Yacht Design modeled the hull to achieve the desired sailing characteristics, dimensions, and interior space as desired by Moonen Yachts. After which we engineered her in full compliance of the Bureau Veritas rules and regulations and optimized her for construction at Talsma shipyards.”
Following the turning of the hull, YN202 was transported South to Moonen Yachts in Den Bosch where the inclination test was conducted to ensure even weight distribution. In March 2022, two Caterpillar C18 ACERT engines were lowered into the engine room inside the hull ahead of the next big milestone; the joining of YN202’s hull and superstructure, also called ‘the marriage’. This took place at Moonen Yachts in Den Bosch.
The Moonen 110 superstructure was constructed by Willems Boven-Leeuwen, a new partnership for Dutch ship builder Moonen Yachts. Together with Diana Yacht Design, Willems have integrated a new method of deck construction, which has improved both the process and overall quality of the build.
John Bechtold from Moonen Yachts said, “I am proud of our team and what we have achieved together in this last month. Now that the joining of YN202 is complete, the world can see what a beautiful design she is and that she is being built with much love and passion.”
Within the superstructure, the spacious sun deck of the Moonen 110 allows her owner the choice of which amenities to customize their yacht with. Allow it to remain an open space with loose furniture, or perhaps add the option of a jacuzzi as an added touch.
With most major milestones until the launch of the yacht having been met, the focus is now on the superyachts’ interior. On site, Moonen have their own in-house carpentry facility where all cabinetry and built-in furniture is created by the craftsmen of Moonen Yachts. As the interior of the yacht is being built and installed by the team at Moonen, the interior designers at Studio Indigo are working to source the pieces they require to pull the look and feel of the yacht together.
Studio Indigo has aimed to create a classic, yet modernized home on sea that is “understatedly luxurious whilst also giving those onboard the freedom to express themselves. The Moonen 110 is new and fresh, a soothing floating oasis where owners can entertain their family and friends whilst cruising the oceans.”
Mike Fisher, Founder and Creative Director of Studio Indigo says “The layout is open and spacious with clean fluid lines that guide you around the yacht, highlighted by curved organic forms that envelop and cosset, creating a relaxing and comforting interior.
The staircase is the heart of not only the vessel but of the design as well. We created a modern sweeping spiral staircase with an almost sculptural feel using fluted natural timbers. Strong and consistent use of materials and detail gives continuity to the boat creating an illusion of greater volume, with a real effort made to create a multigenerational vessel that will appeal to the new modern yacht owner.”
The interior styling of the main salon and dining features an ‘inclusive’ layout, designed to bring people together. Highlighting the panoramic views in the main salon, the dining area of the Moonen 110 will have floor to ceiling windows, increasing the sense of space and light. The superyachts’ layout includes a full beam Master stateroom with panoramic views over the bow on main deck, and two VIP staterooms as well as two twin cabins on lower deck. All staterooms feature their own en-suite and the two twin cabins are optimized to allow the beds to be converted into double beds, allowing 10 to sleep comfortably on board.
Made to be enjoyed. The Moonen 110 is a gentleman’s yacht, full of character that begs to be enjoyed in the most elegant of ways. She is a fresh new take on a beloved classic, where owners can entertain their family and friends whilst cruising the oceans. Currently available for sale, YN202 is scheduled for delivery in May 2023.