From the moment a contract is signed, to the point of the yacht being delivered is a truly unique process. This is a special period of time that is intriguing and rewarding for both the client and the builder, and the feeling of emptiness that arises after delivery is striking for both parties.
What makes this process even more incredible is that you get to know the client’s dreams and preferences. It creates an environment where you get to know each other, and allows you as the builder to translate the clients’ visions into reality. This becomes extra clear in the interior – after all, we are actively trying to create a second home on the water for the client.
The vision
“When we initially discussed the vision for the interior with the client, it quickly emerged that he liked the design of the latest OE60 that we constructed. Therefore, it felt natural and ideal to start from this.” said owner of Riskas Snickeri and OQS co-founder Bernt Riska, who is responsible for the interior on the OE72-001. Bernt continues to explain that over time, the concept was continuously developed further to better fit the client’s preferences and to make the spaces more personal.
The material, construction and assembly
After getting an idea of what the client was looking for in terms of design, there were many discussions about the choice of material. A conclusion was reached together; the base would be in walnut and panels, upper cabinets and other details in white-stained oak. To keep the weight down at the same time, sandwich was used as a frame. Corian was used in various colors in all bathrooms.
To assure that the right choice had been made regarding the design, a mock-up was made in plain plywood to simulate the feeling of the space.
“We started the production of the interior from the starboard front cabin and then worked our way back towards the portside – one cabin at a time.” said Bernt. The interior was surface treated with polyurethane varnish and a matt polishing was performed in the end. The final finish was made onboard the catamaran by carpenters with a high level of expertise, to ensure the best possible quality and attention to each detail.
The owner wanted a catamaran that is strong, light and fast. Having a client who is a very experienced sailor, and a former yacht owner means that user-friendly and practical solutions are of utmost importance. With the intention of long-distance sailing, a good example of this is the presence of storages and hidden cupboards in the development.
Challenges are something you can never rule out in any project of this magnitude, especially when you use various materials and try to achieve the mentioned wishes. But it was clear that we managed to overcome all of them, since the owner was very pleased with the final result when sailing away.
Finally, Bernt would like to express his warmest gratitude towards all the carpenters and other team members involved, we couldn’t have done it without you.
