Launched earlier this year, the flagship of the Turkish shipyard Vicem – the 32.5m motor yacht Moni – boasts a comprehensive suite of Raymarine electronics. The Vicem 107 Moni superyacht is the largest wooden luxury vessel constructed by Vicem and is one of the largest wooden yachts in the world. Fitted with twin Caterpillar diesels producing a maximum speed of 18 knots, she features classic lines and is based on a semi-displacement hull.
“We chose Raymarine as our supplier for this yacht because we could get everything we required from one supplier,” commented Gary Smith, the US sales broker of Vicem. “We wanted this flagship design to be equipped with the latest in marine electronics.”
In the wheelhouse Vicem has installed a three screen bank of Raymarine 17” Glassbridge Monitors, interchangeable between HD Digital radar, electronic chart, video from nine CAM50 and CAM100 cameras around the yacht and information from the Raymarine T350 thermal camera mounted at the masthead. The yacht also has a Raymarine SPXSOL Smartpilot, Ray240 VHF radio and ST70 Plus data displays. There is a similar display of equipment on the flybridge with two E140 Widescreen displays plus Satellite TV antenna on the hard top.
The Captain of luxury yacht Moni, Bekir Karakus, is very pleased with the Raymarine equipment. “This is my first command of a motor yacht; previously I was captain of traditional Turkish sailing caiques. The Raymarine equipment makes navigation so positive. We plan to replace the existing joystick control of the engines and thrusters with a Raymarine unit in the near future because this will also give us heading control as well as delicate manoeuvring.”
Vicem has recently expanded its boatyard in Antalya Free Trade Zone, maintaining its head office in Istanbul. Turimpeks AS, Raymarine’s distributor in Turkey, has an exclusive supply contract with Vicem and has been working closely with the boatyard since 2008. Raymarine equipment is fitted on Classical, Cruiser and Bahama Bay models of Vicem’s Vintage Line boats ranging from 52-92 feet. They are engineered-wood construction and built in Antalya.