I stood at the wheel of a Zeelander 44 and took in the wind-against-tide setup. The waves were stacked, seemingly near vertical, and time between the walls of water was brief. Too brief. It wasn’t the best day for a boat ride, unless you were testing a boat. And I was.
This midsize—yet mighty—express cruiser leaned into the sea state and just handled it. The boat didn’t care.
That was more than a decade ago, and I can still recall how that little ship performed during the sea trial. Flash-forward to today. This Dutch yachtbuilder—and its model lineup—has grown considerably. For example: the flagship Zeelander 8, more than 30-plus feet bigger than the vessel I ran. If the Zeelander 8 performs like its predecessor, this yacht should make a formidable cruiser, sea be damned.
In addition to sporting broad shoulders—with a linemanlike 22-foot beam—and a high freeboard from bow to stern, the Zeelander 8 can run. Powered with quad Volvo Penta IPS diesels (1200s or 1350s are available), this yacht reportedly has a 40-knot top hop with the larger engines. Cruising in the mid-20-knot range, the Zeelander 8 makes about 510 nautical miles, plenty for extended family voyages.
To accommodate the brood, this vessel has three staterooms. The full-beam owner’s space is amidships with a caulk-free teak sole and plush flourishes, such as a velvet padded headboard for the king-size berth. There are also white leather panels accented by macassar wood. Hullside windows flanking the room bring in natural light. A vanity is to starboard with an en suite head to port, including his-and-hers sinks and a walk-in shower with a bench seat. A steam room is available. Frosted sliding-glass doors offer privacy.
Two en suite guest staterooms are forward to port and starboard. They have double berths, but other arrangements are possible. Each stateroom also has natural light from a brace of hullside windows.
The forepeak real estate has a two-cabin crew area with separate access, or the area can be incorporated into the guest spaces.
The salon is surrounded by nearly 360 degrees of glass. A helm station is forward and to port with dual captain’s chairs. Abaft the helm is a U-shaped dining area with double-stitched leather seating and a sunroof above it. Another seating area, also to port, is abaft the dining table. This seating area connects to the cockpit and bar via a drop-down window. The galley runs along the starboard side, but can be set up in a myriad of ways.
The Zeelander 8 has the lines and luxury reminiscent of Gatsby-era commuter yachts. There’s also a thoroughly modern sensibility. Add the semicustom flexibility and high performance, and it may offer the best of all worlds.
The Little Things
Guests may not immediately notice the svelte mullions on the Zeelander 8, but they will immediately feel the perception of increased volume and the open-air vibe inside the boat’s salon.
Siblings
For owners who like Zeelander’s design and performance but are seeking something smaller, there are three other models starting at 48 feet length overall. All of the models offer the same level of personalization as the flagship.
Side Door
Instead of eating up transom garage space to stow the jet tender, the Zeelander 8’s tender gets a cozy cutaway in the yacht’s portside hull.
Take the next step: zeelander.com
