Catamaran aluminum yachts announced by Metal Shark

[DCockey]

A line of catamarn yachts, 30 meters / 100 feet, 48m / 158 feet and 72m / 231 feet LOA, built in aluminum in the USA has been announced by Metal Shark. A 48m yacht, Magnet, has been built for the first customer. Metal Shark Yachts – The Ultimate Expression of Personal Independence http://metalsharkyachts.com/

Metal Shark says they specialize "in the design and production of boats and ships for military, law enforcement, fire rescue, and a wide spectrum of commercial applications." The move into yachts is an expansion of their markets. METAL SHARK https://www.metalsharkboats.com/ The yachts are designed by Metal Shark, and partnered with Incat Crowther for the hull design. Based on the information in the news release and on the website the yachts are designed for long range and moderately high speeds and to be self sufficient for extended periods.


Specifications for the M48

Principal Dimensions
Length Overall 48 Meters / 158’ Length
Design Waterline 48 Meters / 158’
Beam 12 Meters / 39’ Draft 2 Meters / 6’ 7”

Tankage
Fuel 110,000 Liters / 29,000 US Gallons
Fresh Water 6,000 Liters / 1,585 US Gallons
Black Water 1,250 Liters / 330 US Gallons
Gray Water 1,250 Liters / 330 US Gallons

Persons Capacities
Owners 2
Guests 6
Crew 7

Weight
Lightship: 240 Metric Tons
Fully Outfitted: 350 Metric Tons Tonnage
US Gross Register Tonnage 290
US GT US Net Tonnage 197 US NT
ITC Gross Tonnage 653 ITC GT
ITC Net Tonnage 195 ITC NT

Propulsion
Main Engines 2 x MTU 16V2000M96L with SCR (1939 kW / 2600 BHP @ 2450 rpm)
Gear Box 2 x ZF 5350 (ratio 4.033:1)
Propellers 2 x 5-Blade Fixed Propellers (size 58”)

Generators
Day Units 2 x 80 kW 120/240V, 60Hz, 1PH (Paralleled)
Night Unit 1 x 16 kW 120/240V, 60Hz, 1PH
Solar 12 x Solar Panel Array on Flybridge Roof Supplemental 10 kW Supplemental Inverter Power Generation Capable

Performance & Range*
10 Knots 11,000 NM
17 Knots 4,500 NM
23 Knots 2,500 NM
*Estimated range calculated with 10% reserve. Actual performance may vary.

Submersible Stern Platform
For Tender, Sub, or Aircraft: 2,268 Kilograms / 5,000 Lbs

 

[Alik]

Quite strange architecture... If they use higher forecastle, could get more accommodation space, better seakeeping. And the look will be much better!

 

[DCockey]

Looks are subjective, and what looks good to one person can be unattractive to another.

They design requirements/needs/desires may have lead to the proportions. Length by itself may not have been a significant limitation.

 

[Alik]

Looks are subjective, and what looks good to one person can be unattractive to another.

They design requirements/needs/desires may have lead to the proportions. Length by itself may not have been a significant limitation.

There are also objective criteria. Say, where are owner's accommodations on this boat? If on main deck or above, they will lack privacy. If in demihulls, they will lack space.
My personal feeling, someone drew a concept of such boat (I call it 'pagoda on a raft'), maybe the Client himself defined such weird architecture.

 

[Ad Hoc]

... If they use higher forecastle, ...

The image above doesn't really show the forecastle very well.
This is a better image to see this region, and shows just that...

 

[Mr Efficiency]

Performance & Range*
10 Knots 11,000 NM
17 Knots 4,500 NM
23 Knots 2,500 NM
*Estimated range calculated with 10% reserve.


That is a huge "range of range", for want of a better term. "double the speed, and quarter your range". How do other types of vessel compare, on that score ?

 

[bajansailor]

How do other types of vessel compare, on that score ?

The Damen Sea Explorer has a slightly similar bow (re the two spray rails) - the smallest is 55 m, so a bit longer than the Metal Shark, and 1 metre less overall beam (11 m. vs 12 m)..
SeaXplorer 55 – Damen Yachting https://www.damenyachting.com/yacht/seaxplorer-55/
They mention a maximum speed of 14.5 knots, and a range of 5,000 miles at 11.5 knots.
They do not mention what her fuel capacity is, but I doubt that her miles per gallon (or gallons per mile) is anywhere close (never mind better) to the Metal Shark's 3 gallons per mile (or just under rather) at 10 knots.

In David's side profile photo the rigid canopy on the top deck appears to stand out a lot (perhaps too much?) but it is not so obvious in Ad Hoc's view from above.

The 48 metre Metal Shark reminds me somewhat of what Steve Dashew's 97' FPB might possibly look like if she was transformed into a larger power cat instead -
SetSail FPB » Blog Archive » FPB 97 – Code Name “Wicked” https://setsail.com/fpb-97-code-name-wicked/

Edit - I just noticed that there is a 30 metre / 98' Metal Shark as well, and this one might be a better comparison to the FPB -
M30 – Metal Shark Yachts http://metalsharkyachts.com/m30/

 

[Alik]

The image above doesn't really show the forecastle very well.
This is a better image to see this region, and shows just that...

So, the design is even worse than I thought... Almost half of boat length is unused, and anchors are too far aft. Wonder how they can anchor this boat on a current - the anchor cable will go under keel. Deep wavebreaker is obstructing the narrow tunnel between hulls. Very weird design; probably some stylists' first experience with catamarans ;D

 

[Ad Hoc]

.... Almost half of boat length is unused, and anchors are too far aft. ...

It really depends upon the objective, as DC also notes.

If the hulls were suited for the size of the superstructure, i.e. no half unused portion - then those performance figures would not stack up.
Extending the length - beyond what is needed - is a simple tool used by NA to increase the length-displacement ratio which has many benefits. Such as lower resistance and thus lower engine power and thus greater range for a fixed amount of fuel. It also improves seakeeping in terms of lower vertical accelerations and reduces the propensity of the multihull to deckdive too.

There are far too many designs about that attempt to maximise the amount of deck area, which in itself is not a bad objective, but then the performance of the vessel is compromised in terms of resistance and often its seakeeping too.

It is very difficult to convince a client that keeping everything the same, accommodation layout etc, yet just adding length to the hull will improve the efficiency of the hull - just adding hull length and nothing else.. Since as soon as the hulls are extended, there are the inevitable cries of... what a waste of space..fill it!!. And then the negative returns in the design philosophy objective occur.

Everything is a compromise...and everyone is a critic....

 

[Alik]

It really depends upon the objective, as DC also notes.

If the hulls were suited for the size of the superstructure, i.e. no half unused portion - then those performance figures would not stack up.
Extending the length - beyond what is needed - is a simple tool used by NA to increase the length-displacement ratio which has many benefits. Such as lower resistance and thus lower engine power and thus greater range for a fixed amount of fuel. It also improves seakeeping in terms of lower vertical accelerations and reduces the propensity of the multihull to deckdive too.

There are far too many designs about that attempt to maximise the amount of deck area, which in itself is not a bad objective, but then the performance of the vessel is compromised in terms of resistance and often its seakeeping too.

It is very difficult to convince a client that keeping everything the same, accommodation layout etc, yet just adding length to the hull will improve the efficiency of the hull - just adding hull length and nothing else.. Since as soon as the hulls are extended, there are the inevitable cries of... what a waste of space..fill it!!. And then the negative returns in the design philosophy objective occur.

Everything is a compromise...and everyone is a critic....

This is well understood about length-performance.

However, this is a yacht, and accommodations should provide some sort of privacy. On the design I posted, there are side windows, and master accommodation takes the entire beam of the boat, and it is private! Given that, the bow is raised, thus allowing higher vertical clearance at bow.

And if the bow area is shaped properly, the boat can use her anchors. I wonder if the guys designing Metal Shark boat ever sailed on a catamaran? This is what I always say: design of boats is all about understanding of boats.

 

[bajansailor]

And if the bow area is shaped properly, the boat can use her anchors.

Maybe they have a similar philosophy to sailing cats here, where the anchor windlass (and often the anchor on it's roller) is quite far back, to keep weight out of the bows?
And then they use a long rope bridle (perhaps attached to eyes on the inboard sides of the hulls in way of the pulpits) to ensure that the anchor chain does not go under the keel?

 

[Alik]

Maybe they have a similar philosophy to sailing cats here, where the anchor windlass (and often the anchor on it's roller) is quite far back, to keep weight out of the bows?
And then they use a long rope bridle (perhaps attached to eyes on the inboard sides of the hulls in way of the pulpits) to ensure that the anchor chain does not go under the keel?

On a sailing cat, they will attach the anchor cable on forebeam. There is no way one can anchor a cat at the middle.
Yes they might do something, but this will not add easiness to anchor operations. So for what?

 

[Ad Hoc]

...And then they use a long rope bridle (perhaps attached to eyes on the inboard sides of the hulls in way of the pulpits) to ensure that the anchor chain does not go under the keel?

That is what they appear to do:

 

[Alik]

That is what they appear to do:

Looks like a joke...
If designed properly, this hassles with multiple cables could be avoided.

I anchored many times on my catamarans on strong concurrent wind and current. We used my boats as commette boat for sailboat racing, and this is not 'lunch hook' anchoring conditions. On the wind gusts, it will follow the wind'; on the lulls, it will follow the current. The crew on Metal Shark will have fun adjusting those lines every few minues

 

[DCockey]

A customer interested in Alik's design may not be interested in a Metal Shark yacht. Probably most customers for yachts in that size/price range will not be interested. It appears that Metal Shark has decided to go after a smaller group of customers, perhaps similar to those interested in the Dashew FPBs but a catameran and considerably more space.

The news release from Metal Shark describes some of the design philosopy. One quote from it:

“M48 and our broader line of Metal Shark Yachts defy simple categorization,” said Metal Shark CEO Chris Allard. “While they are expedition yachts by definition, we focused on capability instead of trying to reach new levels of haute couture interior design. A Metal Shark Yacht offers a different type of experience by enabling owners to go farther, faster, without refueling, by extending the amount of time they can operate autonomously, by reducing reliance on crew, and by maximizing the enjoyment of the yachting experience by minimizing maintenance concerns.”​

September 23rd, 2020: Metal Shark Debuts 48-Meter Catamaran Expedition Vessel and Introduces “Metal Shark Yachts” Portfolio – Metal Shark Yachts http://metalsharkyachts.com/september-23rd-2020-metal-shark-debuts-48-meter-catamaran-expedition-vessel-and-reveals-metal-shark-yachts-portfolio/