Having been bound to secrecy on many recent projects, Delta is thrilled to announce a very special new build currently underway.
Project 174046 is a 174-foot, high-performance motor yacht with an aluminum hull and composite superstructure. “Building at home, in the U.S., was very important to the Owners and Delta was the premier choice based on its history, facility, and family-style business model,” says Captain Heath. “Delta’s unique ability to build a metal hull and composite superstructure was also a big factor.”
“The clients were looking for a high-performance motor yacht of less than 175 feet in length with a shallow draft for Bahamas and Caribbean cruising,” says Delta’s Chief Naval Architect Jay Miner. “They liked the style and build caliber of Silver Shalis and this project expands upon the technical achievements of that build.” Seattle-based designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett, who was responsible for the interior design and collaborated with the late Bill Langan on the exterior design of Silver Shalis, was contracted from the start of the project.
The clients worked closely with the Delta Design Group and Barnett in designing the topsides, sheer, chines and stem line of Project 174046’s semi-displacement, aluminum hull. The result is a classically influenced exterior design with a hull form allowing a shallow 7.7-foot draft that has been optimized to provide increased tank capacity, more accommodation space and improved powering efficiencies and seakeeping characteristics. Interior deck heights were carefully managed in the design of the composite superstructure in order to maximize the yacht’s 34-foot beam and impressive interior volume, while at the same time maintaining a low, sleek and aerodynamic profile.
“Jonathan Barnett’s exterior styling gives a fresh and forward look to a proven hull design,” says Miner. Not only does the design manage to maintain its sleek shape in profile and elevations, it provides superior glazing dimensions for unobstructed sightlines — something quite unique when considering the interior volume and open deck viewing spaces with windbreaks. “I know one might say, ‘We’ve heard all that before,’” says Barnett, “But working as a dedicated team and utilizing shared 3-dimensional computer modeling, we have maintained the elegance of a long, low yacht that is more hull in appearance than house — like many early 20th century designs — while achieving greater usable guest spaces, greater than aboard larger vessels.”
Within the voluminous interior, Barnett is creating an atmosphere of casual elegance. What he terms “new American Classicism” is defined by multiple contrasting veneers, stones with paint finishes, and an avoidance of any built-in appearance to the furnishings. Twelve guests are accommodated in six staterooms, including a bridge-deck VIP and a full-beam master suite on the main deck. Impressive crew quarters accommodate up to 12. Soaring ceilings feature prominently aboard Project 174046, and Delta’s engineering and design team worked with the designer to incorporate maximum headroom with door casings throughout allowing a 6-foot, 10-inch clearance. Yet another unique feature, Barnett says the clear height of the doors required close coordination with Delta’s engineering and design team to accommodate fire doors and self-closing mechanisms that are fully functional and discrete.
Enormous exterior deck areas maximize shade and sun, with loose furnishings allowing for multiple gathering and entertainment areas. Each deck offers dining-accessible bars, plenty of lounging areas and tables for al fresco meals with service from 10-14. From the dock, the fiberglass superstructure funnel and mast design hides the sun deck’s day head, elevator access, storage and emergency genset from view. Offering separate areas of shade and sun, this deck is highlighted by a 13-foot walk-up teak bar that services a jetted pool with a shallow mosaic-tile sunning beach section and a waterfall feature. Pocket doors separate a forward lounge seating and viewing space that features a discrete crew access service hatch with stairs leading into the pilothouse.
To ensure performance for this sleek yet voluminous vessel, Delta specified twin MTU 16V4000M73L engines of 3,860 BHP each. A 24,900 USG fuel capacity will offer long-range cruising. “I’ve always been a fan of things that go fast,” says Delta’s Marine Engineer Daniel Filonowich. “So the fact that we are installing a combined 7,720 total propulsion horsepower in this project makes it exciting but challenging to fit all of the larger supporting equipment into the vessel, as well as controlling the acoustics of all of that power.”
Project 174046 showcases many of the technical innovations for which Delta is known. Not only does she sport a beautiful aluminum hull that supports a well-engineered composite superstructure, this high-performance build presents her technical side with a state-of-the-art pilothouse featuring an all-glass touchscreen bridge console. To reduce drag and assist in turning all of that horsepower into speed, a retractable stern thruster folds up to be stowed in the hull to provide a smooth running surface.
“The owners insisted on a comfortable, family-oriented yacht, and from the outset employed a very experienced captain who is capable of making the critically important, functionally efficient decisions these projects need throughout the planning process and along every stage of development,” says Barnett of Project 174046’s Captain Mitchell Heath. “Plus he knows just when and how to let the builder’s own technical expertise and designer’s visions shine while maintaining a balance and charming way in the process. These are always challenging and extremely complex assemblies to be any part of,” says Barnett. “It’s important to the entire team that the owners enjoy the ride at every stage!”
The model of Project 174046 will be on display for the first time in Delta’s booth at the upcoming Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. Please come by to meet the Delta team and learn more about this exciting new project.
