Feadship has proudly announced the launch of the brand new 46,40m (152’3”) motor yacht Kiss (hull #689), which took place on Saturday 14 February, in a ceremony that made the most of the Valentine’s Day spirit. Having recently revealed two of the largest superyachts in the global fleet – the 101,50-metre mega yacht Hull 808 and 83,50-metre luxury yacht Savannah – the latest Feadship launch demonstrates how the company can also embrace its roots size-wise within the highest standards of 21st-century custom yachtbuilding. Superyacht Kiss also showcases Feadship’s ability to optimise the efficiency of the engineering processes involved in creating a bespoke superyacht.
46m motor yacht KISS (hull 689) launched by Feadship
The story behind luxury yacht Kiss is linked in a number of ways to the 46,22-metre Feadship superyacht Como, which was launched in 2014. Como stole the Monaco Yacht Show last year, proving beyond doubt that biggest isn’t always best. The validity of this statement has been proven by the unprecendented number of awards won by Como… And Feadship director Henk de Vries is convinced that Kiss will follow in her path.
“With yachts like Como and Kiss, we are effectively building a sporty type boat around our average size of over 15 years ago, but now with all the know-how and intelligence Feadship has developed,” De Vries explains. “This facilitates a clever approach to high-end production, one which remains entirely custom while keeping the costs of a Feadship of this size within the bounds of reason.”
Superyacht Kiss
Half a year after signing the contract for Como, architect and designer Ed Dubois came to Feadship with another client. “Ed was highly appreciative of the way that the Feadship yards work with outside designers as well as the in-house naval architects at Feadship De Voogt,” De Vries continues. “Even though Como and Kiss have similar looks they are very different yachts. Most if not all yards would have taken a platform approach based on Como’s hull, offering the client a discount for the reduced amount of engineering. That’s not how Feadship does things.
“The owner of Kiss required a more conventional speed of 16 knots (Como is 19), so she has a different power plant. And while Como is a sports boat with an open top deck, Kiss has a complete master penthouse on the upper deck. This obviously added both volume and weight to the yacht, hence requiring a revised lines plan. Make no mistake, these are two different Feadships.”
Luxury yacht Kiss
Where super yacht Kiss did benefit from the Como project was Feadship’s enhanced ability to standardise not the product but the process. Successfully incorporating the production methods and the majority of engineering phases used on Como made Kiss cost-effective in production while still resulting in an entirely bespoke superyacht.
Kiss superyacht is also the most complex object ever to have been metallically painted, featuring a stunning metallic black hull with a red stripe on the waterline. This was another specific request by the client and required Feadship to develop special mixing machines and electrically-charged spray guns in order that all the metallic flakes would be in perfect order.
Kiss superyacht
The interior of Kiss yacht is from the boards of Redman Whiteley Dixon and features a stark, crisp look. Mark Whiteley and Toby Ecuyer started together, Toby and Douglas Hynd completed the design work. “They did a fantastic job on Kiss,” adds De Vries. “It is never easy to take over an interior design project once underway and, on behalf of Feadship, I would like to say how impressed we are again with RWD’s work.”
The powerful and purposeful exterior Dubois profile, with its large bulwark window measuring some 6.5 metres in width, generates a sporty ambience. A sense of openness is enhanced by the giant doors adjacent to the main entrance, which slide out three metres either side. All this combines to bathe the restfully austere interior in natural light, making for a genuinely soothing experience.
Super yacht Kiss
The complete owner’s deck – an unusual feature for a yacht under 50 metres – makes the most of both the volume and interior space. An aluminium-plated sun roof opens up to add to the light interior vibe. More al fresco-like pleasures include a sun deck with Jacuzzi and a transom swim platform with swim ladder and underwater platform.
Motor yacht Kiss also features superior accommodation for eight guests in four suites as well as four crew cabins, a staff room and a captain’s cabin positioned near the raised pilothouse.
Kiss Yacht
Technical specifications of superyacht Kiss (hull #689)
Type: Twin screw motor yacht, aluminium hull and superstructure
Length overall: 46.40m 152’3”
Beam overall: 9.00m 29’6”
Draught (loaded): 2.28m 7’6”
Fuel capacity: 51,000 litres 13,473 US Gallons
Fresh water capacity: 16,000 litres 4,227 US Gallons
Design
Naval Architect: Dubois Naval Architects
Exterior styling: Dubois Naval Architects
Interior design: Redman Whiteley Dixon
Propulsion
Main engines: 2x Caterpillar C32 / 895 kW @ 1800 rpm
Generators: 2x Caterpillar 6.6 – 2x 125 kW – 1500 rpm
Stabilizers: Quantum zero-speed stabilizers
Accommodation
Owner: The upper deck is devoted to the owner, stateroom situated here with prominent views around the whole yacht.
Guests: VIP stateroom on the main deck and four guest cabins on the lower deck. All of the guest accommodation is ensuite.
Crew: Four crew in two crew cabins; two in captain’s cabin, two in engineer’s cabin. Storage rooms, laundry, galley and crew mess on lower deck, twin staff
Below is a gallery for the luxurious charter yachts built by Feadship.
Feadship Charter Yacht Images
More: Feadship Image Gallery
