A Thousand Feet of Feadships Page 3

Despite having owned more than 200 boats, ranging from a 19-footer to a 172-footer, in practically every make and style you can think of, Jim Moran decided in 2004 that he wanted to build a new yacht.Was he bored with his other boats? Well, no. Was there something wrong with them or their layouts? No again.

By Mike Smith

November 1, 2007

If guests are familiar with yacht design, they might be surprised to learn that the master suite isn’t located fully forward, but that’s because it’s up one deck and aft. It’s essentially an owner’s apartment in the sky, with a private shaded deck area and Jacuzzi fully aft plus a “solarium” tucked forward and to port of the sleeping area. And even though this deck is called the owner’s deck, the club lounge fully forward is at guests’ disposal, featuring a pop-up television, games table, C-shape lounge with another table (itself curved to complement the lounge’s shape), and a bar with a wine chiller and a refrigerator.

Shaded alfresco areas are musts for the strong Florida sun.

Should they get the chance to see the crew’s quarters, guests should definitely do so—as should anyone contemplating commissioning a yacht of their own. According to Moore, “Mr. Moran insisted on comfortable quarters.” The crew mess alone is larger than some yachts’ main dining areas. And there’s a neat twist, literally: Since one of the dining banquettes has its back turned to the 42-inch plasma TV mounted on the opposite wall, the banquette can swivel around to let the ten crewmembers housed down here (the captain’s cabin is on the owner’s deck) all enjoy a movie without craning their necks.

Even though so much about this Gallant Lady is new, the inspiration drawn from the 172 is unmistakable. “At the age of 84, he did not want to wait five years by starting with something completely new,” Jan Moran says of her husband. Besides, she says, he loved the 172’s profile.

And given that statement and the 20-year relationship with the De Vries shipyard, why mess with success? This Gallant Lady brings the total LOA of Feadship-built Ladys to a little more than 1,000 feet. In size order, they are 87’4″, 87’4″ (two were the same size), 116, 130, 131, 167, 168, and 172. They represent a remarkable achievement for any owner, at any age, and for any yard, but above all, they represent passion. At the end of the day, that’s what this business is all about.

For more information on Feadship, including contact information, click here.

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