Rethinking the Cat
Zurn Yacht Design and New England Boatworks team up on a radical new catamaran concept that’s ideal for island time.
The concept came from Doug Zurn of Zurn Yacht Design, who worked with a prospective owner with a thirst for open-ocean cruising. The result, far as we can tell, is a 60-foot trendsetter that presents three staterooms and five heads in a reimagined layout that raises the bar for catamaran design.
If a main-deck master on a 60-foot cruising yacht isn’t inventive enough, the designer’s focus on the overall cruising experience should make the Zurn 60 Powercat sing to seasoned voyagers and millennials alike. The creative positioning of living quarters, intended to emphasize convenience and spectacular views, also allows for narrow hulls , which means not only increased cruising efficiency and performance but also an islands-friendly draft of less than 4 feet.
The yacht’s radical configuration begins with the main deck, which houses all of the living quarters. The master stateroom forward owns the entire beam of the deckhouse for a 270-degree view through expansive windows that overlook the foredeck. Entered via a door on the starboard side deck, the master has a centerline king berth, a settee, a bath suite with companion heads (one on the lower deck of each hull) and a desk large enough to run a Fortune 500 corporation from anywhere on the water. Abaft the master, the guest staterooms also offer sweeping views through large windows. Insulated bulkheads attenuate outside noise, giving each stateroom a level of privacy normally found only on much larger boats.
“Everybody gets a private, quiet corner of the boat,” Zurn
says. “And with engines and generators placed well aft in engine rooms insulated by Soundown perforated aluminum, that holds true whether underway or at anchor.”
Powered with a pair of 435-horsepower Volvo Penta IPS600s, the Zurn 60 Powercat is expected to cruise at 18 knots and top out at 23 knots, with a range of 500 nautical miles at 18 knots.
Zurn and team have also taken the standard catamaran flybridge concept and run with it—the downright handsome bridge deck is fondly reminiscent of a long-range cruiser or, dare I say, proper trawler. Accessible by stairs from the aft deck or the master side-deck entrance, the Zurn 60 Powercat’s upper deck—complete with a day head—is the primary indoor entertainment space on the yacht. A striking reverse pilothouse windshield adds to the interior volume while reducing glare and improving sightlines. Aft, the starboard U-shaped galley is designed for alfresco entertaining. A large window over the stove opens so the significant workspace can double as a fresh-air grilling station.
Despite all the hubbub about the Zurn Powercat’s plush interior living spaces, the design also emphasizes outdoor living. Wide side decks connect the beamy aft cockpit to an equally voluminous forward one that includes a U-shaped settee and a table for cocktails, dining or just watching the world go by while on the hook, all beneath an optional Bimini sunshade. Who’s ready for a mojito?