Brilliant Boats 50-meter Sportfish Concept

Brilliant Boats 50-meter Sportfish​

A Sportfish for the Superyacht Segment​

It takes a lot to get noticed in a segment as hotly contested as the sportfish market, but a new concept from Brilliant Boats is about to make the alphabetical brands stand up and take notice with the first sportfish yacht designed for the superyacht segment. At 50 meters, it’s no tournament boat. Rather, it’s a battlewagon of battleship proportion. If the size doesn’t scare fish out of the water, the cutting-edge style will have fish filleting themselves in fear.​

Based on a "minimax" concept, the BB50 weighs in at just under 500 gross tonnes, and measures 49.90 meters (163.7 feet) from stem to stern. The hull is based on a design developed for very fast sailing cats... a criteria that demands efficiency. The result is a very slippery hull-form with minimum resistance at cruising speeds in the high teens, while also developing significant amounts of dynamic lift when pushed a bit harder. The team of designers at Brilliant Boats estimates point speeds in the mid twenties with less than 5000 horsepower - a relatively modest powerplant given the size of the vessel. However, a more significant benefit to this low resistance design is a cruise regime which should keep fuel consumption very light for a vessel of this size and speed.

The general arrangement of the BB50 harkens back to a boat they designed a few years ago called Forty Love, featuring plenty of large outside areas, expansive glass for great views from the interior and an abundance of natural light. The main deck windows are taller than usual, nearly full standing height towards the aft dining area, to provide outstanding views from the interior. Forward, there is a Portuguese bridge that can be set up for dining or lounging, with tables on canted axis gas lifts to deal with the various geometry requirements. A centerline staircase forward provides immediate access to the foredeck.

The aft deck - the business end of any sportfish yacht - is close to the water and completely open aft to provide a fishing cockpit with plenty of room for spectators. Forward, and just a few steps up, is an al fresco dining area and bar, as well as access to the skylounge deck. The BB50 is made for outdoor living... anything you may need or want inside has a counterpart outside.

Alternately, if family and friends are aboard and there's no time for the business of fishing this area can be transformed into a huge beach club, with sofas, chairs, and water level access via fold out steps on the stern. The aft deck could also be set up to carry some more water toys, using the passerelle as a crane.

The flybridge provides a serious altitude adjustment. Even at these heights, Brilliant Boats hasn't missed the chance to provide room to enjoy the outdoors. Aft of the helm is a small seating area around a table, as well as room for a couple of sun chases beneath the arch. Down a small spiral staircase to the bridge deck and skylounge, the captain gets a private cabin - just steps away from the helm.

On the foredeck is a large commercial spa with room for 8, along with an abundant sunpad area, sofas and plenty of room to organize loose furniture for socializing or dining when privacy is desired. The helipad shown on this arrangement is definitely for a touch-and-go only, but the handrails fold down to horizontal to allow plenty of room for a small bird (5.8m dia.) to land and take off. Optionally, one could choose to have access for a larger helicopter by putting a bulge into the topsides if a 6 passenger helo is required.

Beneath that extended foredeck is the tender garage and mooring compartment, accessed by a large hatch forward of the helipad. The tender garage will easily accomodate a 25' tender as well as a crew RIB. These are deployed by overhead linear cranes. The anchor pockets are hidden in the wide spray flat, allowing the anchors to be dropped straight down - a small shell door will be provided so they can actually see what they are doing.

The interior layout is conventional - the owner's suite forward, 2 VIP suites amidships, and 2 twins between them. Setting the BB50 apart, however, the owner's suite is accessed through a private reception and sitting room above the suite on the main deck, making it a duplex of sorts. The 4 amply sized guest cabins can be set up as doubles or twins, depending on the tastes or intent of the owner. Finally, on the lower deck, there is a full professional galley with a stairwell leading up to the service pantry/bar area in the dining area. Also below is a crew's mess area and accommodations for up to eight, as well as access through the engine room to the aft deck where they have a dedicated entrance. This helps with provisioning as well as crew/guest separation.