Vicem 75

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While maneuvering over the wake of a passing ferry, I’m reminded of a byproduct of cold-molded construction — natural insulation and a great ride. It’s no wonder that many of the top custom sport-fish builders in south Florida and North Carolina prefer cold-molded construction for designs that are intended to perform in a variety of conditions at high speeds. This building method also results in less tooling and therefore more development flexibility. Vicem uses multiple skins of laminated mahogany (from managed forests) to create the hull. The practice of laying up the wood in a multidirectional grid adds to the strength and integrity of the hull. And Vicem, based in Turkey, benefits from generations of native boatbuilders who have perfected their craft for centuries. The end result is a yacht with an easy to maintain, strong finish and noteworthy performance.

Vicem Yachts was founded in 1991, and the Vintage line, which includes the 75, now goes up to 100 feet. In 2012, the boating public will see the yard’s entry into the megayacht market with the launch of a 46-meter, a 35-meter trideck and a 32-meter raised pilothouse, all built with composites.

I tested my first Vicem nearly 10 years ago and was impressed by the flawless, old-world mahogany joinery, reminiscent of a London gentlemen’s club. So I was surprised when I stepped aboard the 75 — which features the same traditional exterior styling as all Vicems in the Vintage line — to find a thoroughly contemporary interior fit and finish. The light anigre wood is complemented by wenge accents and trim along with a dark iroko sole. The combination works, and instead of jarring the senses, the interior is soothing, providing a canvas that will not compete with the scenery beyond the salon windows.



The 75 features a lower helm station that benefits from a good line of sight forward. I would move the opening transom door to the port side to allow the helmsman to naturally look over his left shoulder and see the platform through the opened door while backing down. The helm is finished in hand-stitched leather, and the design places the engine’s analog gauges in the line of sight of the helmsman. An opening door at the helm brings in air and allows easy access to the deck. This is the station I would choose while docking, an activity aided by Side-Power bow and stern thrusters.



Two straight settees are abaft the helm. I called up all my reserve willpower in order to avoid lying down here for a snooze while offshore with the double doors open to the cockpit. A table in the salon will accommodate smaller meals, and a huge L-shape settee in the cockpit is well suited for large family gatherings.