Blending almost 25 years of experience with the very latest insights into performance and comfort, the Wajer 55 is the largest powerboat built to date by the renowned Dutch yard Wajer Yachts. This elegant and sophisticated 16-metre beauty builds on the achievements of its award-winning predecessors while adding a range of smart innovations of a type more commonly seen on superyachts. The fact that 12 vessels were ordered before the first Wajer 55 is even launched speaks volumes for the success of this new flagship. Using innovative lightweight materials and state-of-the-art production methods, our craftsmen have ensured that the Wajer 55 sets a new benchmark in its class. The flagship also leverages on Wajer’s many years of experience at sea and the yard’s ongoing search for perfection. Take, for example, the swimming platform which can also be used as a swimming ladder or gangway, or the ingenious automatic foldable roof. The Wajer 55 will be introduced this summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Pushbutton fender system, inflating automatically and operated remotely.
• Fully automated bimini/sprayhood.
• Swim platform doubles as a gangway.
• Hydraulically operated anchor operated from the steering console.
• Adjustable console and movable cockpit floor.
• Three powerful 435 hp IPS600 Volvo Penta engines.
• Williams Turbo Jet tender in the aft.
• Wrap around glass windshield, four metres wide.
Wajer Yachts has done everything possible to place owners and their guests centre stage and optimise the entire on board experience. “We set out to create a powerful motorboat which marries a sporty exterior with an exceptional degree of comfort and state-of-the-art innovations,” explains commercial director Dries Wajer. “The diverse goals of the clients who have already ordered a Wajer 55 emphasise its versatility. From couples looking for a superior weekender and families with kids requiring more space to superyacht owners interested in a chaseboat and people seeking a great vessel to share with friends, the Wajer 55 is a motoryacht for connoisseurs who appreciate the finer things in life.”
SMART FEATURES
An example of this approach in practice is the pushbutton fender system, with fenders popping out from the side and inflating automatically. This adjustable solution can be operated remotely as well as from the main steering station screen. Wajer Yachts is the first yachtbuilder to implement such a system on a yacht below 17 metres and currently has a patent pending.
Another neat innovation is the way the hydraulically operated anchor concealed in the bow can be conveniently operated from the steering console. This automated operation is aided by a camera, dispensing with the need to brave the elements when dropping/raising the anchor.
The innovations continue elsewhere. The fully automated bimini/sprayhood retracts into the aft seating area and the table in the cockpit lowers into the floor via a hydraulic mechanism, freeing up space. The swim platform, developed and produced in the Netherlands especially for the Wajer 55, is exceptionally large and doubles as a gangway. At 1.8 metres, this smart passerelle is wide enough for several people and adjusts to the height of
the quay.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
In terms of its construction, the Wajer 55 is designed for maximum comfort in the water and excellent manoeuvrability. Weight savings were a key aspect during the design phase and the lightweight construction was achieved using lightweight materials and next-generation vacuum technologies. Low noise levels were a further priority. And yet, despite her quiet air of luxury, this is also very much a performance machine. The Wajer 55 is one of the very few yachts to feature three powerful 435 hp IPS600 Volvo Penta engines. Her high-tech V-design hull, excellent balance and effective spray rails make for a smooth and dry ride.
The engines, which can be operated via joystick drive, are compact enough to leave sufficient space in the aft section of the boat for a 2.85-metre Williams Turbo Jet tender. Despite the low profile of the 16-metre Wajer 55, the tender is concealed entirely within the aft section, below the sun pad. It is released via a hydraulic system, making it very easy to launch and retrieve. This provides an unbeatable way to visit secluded coves while out on an extended trip, one which will be further enhanced by the long-range fuel tanks, spacious galley and overnight accommodation for between four and six people.
VIEWS FOR ALL
The Wajer 55’s state-of-the-art cockpit features a Raymarine glass bridge system with four touchscreens at the helm, all part of a highly intuitive system that is easy to operate. Four captain’s chairs with custom-made suspension maximise the options for guests to join the fun of sailing. Similarly, the console can be brought forward, and the moveable cockpit floor can be raised for better views or lowered to enhance protection against the elements behind the windshield. This huge wraparound windshield, a typical Wajer element, is almost four metres wide and made of tinted glass.
Other major highlights include the skylight above the cabin in the forward part of the boat. A discreet yet fascinating signature attribute is the fan-shaped pattern in the composite deck referring to the Dutch meaning of the company’s name.
IMPRESSIVE PRICE-QUALITY RATIO
With a standard price of 1,695 million euros (ex VAT), all these attributes are offered at an impressive price-quality ratio. Built to order with a wide range of customisation options, the first Wajer 55 will be unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show.