Review: Aquos Yachts 147' Expedition "Big Fish"

Also here in the Owner’s Bath, another surprise, as the designer proffers a full size tub-shape in the modern aura, tucked directly under a floor-to-ceiling window with a unique film to prevent prying eyes from seeing in. Cheeky, but attractive, and certain to give a silent thrill. Nice for bathing the kiddies, if any. Oh yes, there is also a very unique, smooth, stone-walled shower behind the molded glass door.

This astounding photo shows a facet new to most of yachting; a two-story, 24-foot tall audiovisual system with a video wall delivery of several 20” x 46” HD plasma screens. For viewing, the stairway folds up to disappear into the side wall, and the complete width picture dominates. This innovation seems certain to garner more than average attention to all concerned, especially considering the ship’s enormous video storage capacity (1,200).

A complete page screen shot of the Video Wall shows a breathlessly entertaining full 10’ wide close up of undersea life, fish, corals, action, in living color. In this photo, the staircase has been raised to become flush with the deck above, giving an unobstructed view of the entire wall.

BigFish’s Galley, while boasting considerably more standard equipment than the usual expedition yacht – owing to her expected long range voyages – provides excellent working space that will delight every talented chef. Modern to the teeth, she favors non-scratch cabinetry as well as multiple storage areas and working surfaces.

This side look at the spacious galley shows a snippet of the decor and pass-through angle from galley to serving station. Appliances include a selection of Miele ranges, oven & dishwasher, Hoshizaki refrigerators & freezers and a Chemchek boiling water dispenser.

Spotless stainless steel counter-tops, grilles, and storage bins define food prep areas, spacious and complete, allowing a fully expressive scope for the ship’s chef. Flooring is Mystix Strip bamboo vinyl. Various operations are nicely set apart, allowing perhaps the most open, best food design prep yet in a yacht this size.

Her modern galley settee, in warm light oak wood veneer, nestles up to the kitchen’s open prep area with designer style chairs; convenient to arrange snacks for three; or light meals on the run.

In BigFish’s main salon, note on the far wall, the full size video scene described earlier. The custom “stacked wall” trim is solid walnut. Airy, roomy, commodious, it shows excellent taste with comfortable furnishings. Large windows framed in walnut and white oak are accented by dark blue-black “Graphite President” carpeting. Her “living room” decor would be quite at home in any luxury hotel VIP suite, yet fits easily into the adventure ship’s relaxed atmosphere. Window treatments feature motorized and manual blinds with Thermoblock screening.

There are two sets of staircases, both of which elevate to become flush with upper deck or the main deck. This set leads from the latter to the lower accommodations in the hull deck.

BigFish’s guest rooms also reach for the highest praise in decor, with furnishing equal to the finest hotel standards. Walls and furniture, wardrobes, are white oak and aromatic cedar veneers, convenient custom drawer units. Spacious, with each guest room sporting a large window, a desk, and copious walk-in closet space.

Guest rooms offer extra lounging space with modern design chairs, a compact coffee table and wall mounted 32” TV/video screens. Wood veneers throughout are American White Oak, with textured panels. Ensuites feature Benjamin Grey Limestone. Guest headboards and bed rails are Majilite. Fabrics are Tervira Linus, with Marillo Taupe carpeting and limestone tile. Although this looks like a guest room study/lounge, a Pullman berth is located in the wall, transforming this space into another guest suite. A pocket slider separates the two rooms for privacy.

Not to be remiss in patterns of fitness, BigFish takes the health of its charterers into account. Her excellent gym station offers running, cycling, a full set of weights, plus other equipment for staying in shape, even while sailing to far-off destinations. So, no excuses allowed; keep those muscles in top condition, even at sea. The penguins will be impressed.

BigFish’s energetic 1,050 hp twin Caterpillar 3508's draw from up to 24,000 gallons of fuel; enough to satisfy very long journeys; for many a ten-day voyage, in any weather or seas. Her 10,000 mile range allows lengthy planning. Cruising speeds average 12 knots with a top at 14 knots. Venting the breath of these motors is a DeAngelo Exhaust System and illuminating the dark is a pair of 125kW Kilopak gensets.

BigFish is the first of a series of long range Expedition Yachts by Aquos. The second vessel called Star Fish, a 50 meter, 164 ft., with six staterooms, is now under construction at McMullen & Wing Shipyard in Aukland, New Zealand for a 2012 delivery. Cruising plans for BigFish, as a go-anywhere yacht, with a 10,000 miles range, include a one-year circumnavigation via both poles; from the western coast of South America to Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula, to be available for fly-in, fly-out charters in January-February. From the Antarctic, BigFish will cruise north into the upper Amazon Basin, to offer charters the remarkable wildlife experience, and indigenous cultures.

Perhaps her most adventurous feat will be the first-ever crossing of the Northeast Passage, over the top of Russia, 2011. Truly a voyage of discovery, accompanied by scientists and film crews to document some of the most pristine, unvisited archipelagos remaining on earth. Her mission is to monitor weather/climate/ocean particulars for better understanding of our changing planet.

Penguins Beware: A Big Fish Fast Approaches!​

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by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy and YF Publisher Carl Camper


(scroll down for YF's 'details' section)​

Specifications:

LOA: 147’7”
LWL: 140’9”
Beam: 29’6”
Draft: 8’5”
Construction: Steel Hull / Aluminum Superstructure
Class: 100 A5 Motor Yacht MC
Passengers: 10
Crew: 10
Displacement: 470 Metric Tons
Engines: 2xCAT – 3508B-DITA 1,008 hp ea.
Max Speed: 14 kts
Cruise Speed: 12 kts
Range: 9,200 nm
Fuel: 23,920 gals.
Water: 2,860 gals.
Flag: Marshall Islands
Charter Price: $193,000 / Wk

For more information contact:

Aquos Yachts
Jim Gilbert
954-770-9624
http://www.aquosyachts.com/

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DETAILS:​

The YF editorial crew was blown away during our personal tour of this marvelous yacht by Aquos Marketing Director Jim Gilbert, the former publisher of Showboats magazine. We were accompanied by one of the most recognized and noted captains in the industry, YF member Kenny Bracewell, who joined us to share his perspective as a captain with 1000's of charter hours at sea.

BigFish’s tender has its own unique story: It is literally the tail that wags the dog. Big Fish was built around her tender "Triple Ripple", unlike most yachts whose tender is simply an afterthought. Underway stowed inside the hull, enclosed under the bow deck with a 33’ x 15’ lid-cover; the tender is launched forward, after the huge cover is hydraulically raised from its stowage compartment.

Tender Deployment Sequence #1

Then a hidden 5-ton crane, also mounted under that lid, handily elevates the tender up and over the side at the bow.

Tender Deployment Sequence #2

While a tender this size is normally towed – and this one tows well – the owner wanted a safer, yet substantial “nest” to be available on long ocean runs through tricky, unpredictable sea conditions in the north and south poles.

Tender Deployment Sequence #3

Requiring strongly creative engineering and substantial strength of materials inside and out; yet more swashbuckling boasts for yet another BigFish design innovation -- a marvel. On normal ocean runs/seas, fishing, diving etc., the tender is towed.

Tender Deployment Sequence #4

How easy it is to move a large yacht. BigFish rolls out of the construction garage on ten quadruple motorized sleds at headquarters of McMullen & Wing HQ in New Zealand, after months of dedicated labor by a proud crew. That’s 147’7” of brand new Luxury Expedition Yachting. Everyone involved should be, and are, very proud of this major accomplishment, a benchmark in the Island nation’s modern history.

Not a dark and stormy night inside McMullen & Wing’s enormous New Zealand construction shed, as the brand new mammoth expedition adventure yacht slides silently into the afternoon sunshine; a celebration after months/years of concentrated effort by a diligent crew of talented workers.