NOVEMBER 2017 WWW.BOATINTERNATIONAL.COM
16,000 square feet of open deck for loading
on the toys and tenders.
Piriou and Damen have similar
philosophies on what makes the ideal
support boat. First, it needs to be fast. Often
left to collect toys after the mothership
departs, this second-in-command should
beat the primary boat to the next destination
to unload everything before the latter arrives.
It should also be versatile in its abilities
and have a certified helideck. Finally, it must
look good. “When you turn up in a bay of
superyachts, you are part of the show,” says Caminada. “You don’t want to be the ugly
duckling. But at the same time it needs to be practical, so that not a lot of crew are
needed to maintain her.”
A deck laden with toys may grab the attention, but the advantages of a support vessel
also lie in the unsexy bits, such as fuel storage, workshop space, laundry, extra staff
accommodation, and refrigerated waste facilities. Security is another consideration.
The owner of a Damen YS 6711 model (67 meter, or 219ft, LOA, 11 meter, or 36ft, beam)
decided to paint his vessel military gray and name it after its model. With 6711
emblazoned on the side and fire-fighting water cannons visible on the top deck, it makes
an intimidating sidekick when transiting the Suez Canal and Gulf of Aden. Then, of
course, there are the toys. Think submarines, seaplanes, dive centers, limo tenders,
fishing tenders, and the helicopter with hangar and generous certified platform that
doesn’t fit on a typical superyacht.
The concept makes sense, says Daryl Wakefield, president of Westport Yachts. He
knows of three Westport 164s that run with a shadow. “It’s expanded real estate, it’s less
wear and tear on the high-dollar [yachts] and keeps the clutter off the mothership.”
It also transforms a yacht’s
capabilities. “My Girl, whose
owner goes sailfishing all over
the world, has been supported
in the South Pacific by what’s
primarily a fuel barge carrying
100,000 gallons of fuel,” says
Wakefield. “They went to a lot
of islands where the
infrastructure to support a big
boat just wasn’t there.”
As every superyacht owner’s
needs vary depending on their
interests and cruising program, support
boats are highly personal, which is why
Piriou won’t build on spec. Damen’s
business model has been to start them
without a client, though. As the largest
shipbuilder in the Netherlands, it has the
means to do so and sell them for a price
for which making some modifications
still makes sense.
When Thom Conboy found buyers for
two Damen YS 5009 models, he helped
organize their modifications with Fort
Lauderdale naval architecture firm
Murray & Associates, which has become
something of an expert, currently working
on its fourth Damen. One of these was
Fast & Furious (now Axis), which made the
rounds at the fall boat shows last year.
Gigi’s owner is still getting to know the
new addition to his fleet, but is already
happy he chose two yachts over one. The
two vessels total about 320 ft, he says.“It’s expanded real
estate, it ’s less
wear and tear on
the high-dollar
[ yachts] and keeps
the clutter off
the mothership”
Clockwise from top
left: Garçon’s toys
swing into action;
the 70ft YXT 20,
which offers nearly
500 sq ft of deckspace and two twin
crew cabins; the
Piriou YSV range,
which includes a
205ft, a 175ft and a
131ft support vesselTHE BEST
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