100 Largest Yachts 2009 #65: Predator

Predator | 238'8" ( 54 ) At first glance Predator may seem like something out of a Jules Verne novel, but she is very real and very eye-catching. Her axe-bow design is actually a throwback to ships of the 1800’s, but by no means an exercise in nostalgia. According to Feadship, about six years ago it investigated the possibility of

By Mike Smith

July 28, 2009

Predator | 238’8″ ( 54 )

At first glance Predator may seem like something out of a Jules Verne novel, but she is very real and very eye-catching. Her axe-bow design is actually a throwback to ships of the 1800’s, but by no means an exercise in nostalgia. According to Feadship, about six years ago it investigated the possibility of creating a megayacht based on a semi-submersible concept. Within a year, the builder met with an owner who was interested in a large, thoroughly modern yacht that could make 25 knots without having to resort to water jets or gas turbines. After extensive model testing the concept received some tweaking, including reshaping the forward dodger to act as a breakwater and modifying the shape of the bow to provide superior stability in a seaway and reduce the possibility of broaching. Some notable features of Predator are her 12’2″ draft, four MTU diesels that provide a total of 23,173-bhp, controllable-pitch propellers from Rolls Royce, nine crew cabins, and headroom in the engine room that is reported to be as high as 14 feet. Longitudinal frames make the yacht every bit as rigid and strong as she is striking.