A weekend in the Bahamas: Van der Valk Edge 65

When one thinks of 'full custom', visions of a floating palace over 100 m long or a luxurious limousine tender in its garage often come to mind. However, there are also remarkable custom yachts of a more modest size. These smaller vessels possess their own unique style, glamour, and practicality, tailored to meet different needs. Similar to how a luxury tailor creates made-to-measure  tuxedos, business suits, and tweed hunting attire, a shipyard's genuine quality is demonstrated by its capacity to meet the various demands of clients beyond the typical offerings.

For Van der Valk, the size and type of vessel are not paramount, especially when a loyal customer makes a request. The owner of the 34 m wheelchair-friendly superyacht Lady Lene commissioned the 19.6 m Edge 65 cruiser for his grandson. The client envisioned a boat for cruising the Caribbean, where elderly parents, children, and young people alike could feel comfortable. You might describe it as an elegant family bungalow on the water. As exterior designer Cor D. Rover puts it, the yacht is truly 'a house on the water'.

Speed and reliability were key factors in the brief. Since the yacht is based in Nassau, it needs to reach Exuma in four hours at a cruising speed of 30–35 knots. If the owners are running late for a festive dinner with friends, it should be capable of hitting 40 knots. Additionally, the elderly guests on board should feel as if they’ve never left the comfort of their villa sofas, even during a speed run.

To achieve this, four Mercury V12 Verado outboards of 600 hp each were installed on the Edge 65. A small but noteworthy detail is the letters E, D, G, and E placed not on the transom but rather on the engine cowlings, resembling a knuckle tattoo on a clenched fist.

“It is unusual for a Dutch yard to install these engines on a luxury yacht of this size, and the EDGE 65 is the heaviest possible size that can be propelled by outboards,” says Van der Valk general manager Bram Kooltjes.

For marine engineers and designer Cor D. Rover, the project posed a technical challenge. The choice of the most powerful Mercury Verado model with a pivoting lower unit provided a solution. The powerhead of the engine remains stationary, allowing the motors to be placed closer to each other. This prevents the hull from rocking during sharp turns.

Every detail of the yacht, featuring an aluminum hull and superstructure, has been meticulously optimized to enhance speed and minimize drag. This model marks the first time Van der Valk has incorporated Petestep deflectors into the hull design. The three sweeping wings significantly reduce drag and the impact of waves on the hull, with SFD modeling indicating a 30% reduction in slamming forces. The result is not only increased speed but also a smoother ride.

“While we have consistently observed similar reductions in slamming forces on smaller vessels using our technology, we didn't anticipate such a high percentage on a 65-foot yacht. It's fantastic to collaborate with a reputable shipyard like Van der Valk on this project; it has the potential to open up a new market for large luxury vessels that are relatively fast and suitable for both shallow water entry and ocean cruising,” says Jonas Danielsson, CEO of Petestep.

The client enjoys spending time outdoors in the aft cockpit, which received special attention in the design process. The result is a 40-square-meter patio by the water, perfect for sunbathing and dining in the shade of the flybridge overhang. Additionally, side-folding wing platforms provide an extra 8 square meters of space.

“Open the fully sliding doors to the saloon, and the entire main deck transforms into one expansive space, seamlessly connecting to the living quarters below,” explains Rover. “While the concept itself isn’t new, the combination of all these features in a vessel of this size certainly is. I believe the Edge 65 will be the ideal boat for the Bahamas.”

Brazilian designer Carla Guilhem, who collaborated with the owner on Lady Lene, crafted the interiors in a contemporary style, showcasing a rich array of textures in predominantly pastel grey and white tones. Oak wood was a primary material, with oak floor panels complemented by French fir.

The salon has been thoughtfully designed. Interestingly, even in tropical regions, people enjoy conversing in the kitchen. Rather than the usual armchairs and sofas, most of the space is occupied by a bar and a galley with a cooker, sink, fridge, and ample storage for provisions and crockery.

“The owners of the Edge 65 understand that during day trips in the Caribbean, people spend very little time indoors. When they do come inside, they’ll find an informal space to sip cocktails and gather around the island,” explains Guilhem.

The wheelhouse is integrated with the saloon and elevated for improved visibility, space efficiency, and easier access to the lower deck, which houses the owner's cabin along with two guest cabins, although an alternative configuration is available where one guest cabin can be sacrificed to enlarge the master suite. In these rooms, the color scheme shifts to darker, more vibrant tones. Given that guests typically won't stay for extended periods, there’s no need for extensive storage. The master suite features a queen-size bed with a high headboard that complements the furniture, and it boasts wide windows that stretch across the ceiling. Optionally, the center of the ceiling can be glazed to allow more natural light in and provide an opportunity for stargazing from bed. The master suite includes its own bathroom, while the two guest cabins share a second bathroom.

The yacht's flybridge is entirely open, offering a continuous seating area, though there is also space for a crane to lift a small tender—more akin to a jet ski.

The Edge 65 model has proven so successful that the decision has been made to put it into production, along with plans for a version featuring inboard Volvo Penta motors with IPS drives. The second hull of this “floating bungalow” is already under construction.