Over the last couple of months Ulstein has updated its website with several concepts for yachts based on their X-Bow. Some look quite impressive. My favorite: CX127.
Now I know how my grandfather felt seeing jet airplanes after growing up with horse and buggy. My first thought in 'no way' which is quickly replaced by 'interesting'.
When you started with the boats of the 1950's it's very far fetched. One of the pleasures of a long life is to see what was once far fetched become reality.
Existing is easy. Functional and in use is another. Is "Olivia O" cruising in all weather often? Or a dock queen out on calm days. I still have mixed feelings about these submersible bow designs. When I think about them, I mostly deem them unsafe. Just to much water weight now on top of the boat vs under the boat where it belongs while punching a wave. AND, now these down forces are doing all kinds of stress and strange things to the whole hull & trim.
Anybody who cruised on a destroyer will tell you about spending more time under water than above. I once ran down from Geotgetown to Charleston in a 41 Sea Ray in 10' seas and had the waves constantly going over me and that boat's designed to stay above. If you're going to go through them anyway I'd rather it be on a boat designed for it.
The Ulstein X-Bow was initially designed for North Sea vessels used in the offshore oil and gas industry (rough weather and big waves more or less guaranteed all year round). When that market segment tanked, Ulstein started to design (and build) small explorer cruise ships, yachts and yacht support vessels. From what I have seen and read I think an X-Bow handles rough seas at least as good as a conventional bow.
Having stuffed a couple of my boats (unplanned), It still has to be an exercise on ones sphincter to watch your bow go deliberately thru (under) a wave than over it.
Ulstein CX130, 91 m yacht support vessel I think an Ulstein CX130 would be a good choice for an owner who wants to upgrade to a Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter.