Superyacht developer, Curvelle, has partnered with the top Dutch lift supplier, Lift Emotion, to create an elevator installation for the company’s charter yacht ‘quaranta’. Putting a three deck guest elevator on the 34m superyacht ‘quaranta’ was quite a challenge for Curvelle, but the result is an attractive and unique solution, presumably the first elevator for a luxury vessel of this size.
The first ‘quaranta’ yacht was launched with a fixed spiral staircase. The forward thinking design team at Curvelle has allowed space for a three deck guest lift or a bespoke arrangement for a mobility scooter, for future customers.
Curvelle founder Luuk V. van Zanten explains some background to this innovative approach. “Our original research into our design criteria of the Curvelle range of power catamarans offered up some very interesting data and along with other factors the need for wheelchair access became part of our fundamental design platform. We found that many superyacht owners had older parents that were excluded from cruising itineraries because of mobility issues. This factor was designed-in from the start with decks, passages and cabins having the optimum space for wheelchair access. Even without the optional lift we have a ‘stair climber’ device that can be used to easily get wheelchairs up the central spiral staircase.”
Lift Emotion’s Mike Brandt takes up the story. “Curvelle naturally teamed up with our business as one of the leading innovators in custom yacht lifts. We work within the safety and classification regulations to supply lift solutions for superyachts of all sizes as specified by owners, designers, naval architects and shipyards. Designing a glazed lift system for Curvelle was no challenge for us as the spiral staircase fitted in the standard yacht can be replaced by our lift. We have created a very attractive and unique solution.”
The design is very elegant connecting the accommodation deck, middle deck and the sun deck. The sun deck lift position is cleverly incorporated at the front of the fixed bimini.