Sanlorenzo 46 Steel
When we think of Italian-built yachts, we tend to think of boats that exude style at every turn. The aft edges of the superstructure overhangs receive as much attention as the book-matched wood paneling, meticulously laid marble and smartly stitched leather seating.
As much as the new flagship of Sanlorenzo, the 46 Steel, follows suit, one of her biggest selling points actually has nothing to do with what you see. In fact, it has everything to do with what most buyers won’t see. Beneath the lower deck, there’s an area Sanlorenzo calls the “under lower deck.” It’s a tunnel that runs the entire length of the yacht, starting at the engine room and continuing beneath the guest accommodations and the crew’s quarters, straight to the bow. Besides yielding access to cold-storage rooms and an extra freezer, it’s home to the laundry area and machinery spaces for the stabilizers, bow thrusters and similar equipment.
It’s quite an accomplishment for a yacht that’s just shy of 151 feet overall length. Most yachts in this size range simply don’t have a dedicated machinery/service deck. Instead, crew members walk up one set of stairs, cross out to the side decks or through the salon, then head back down below using a separate set of stairs. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with this — it’s been done for decades, after all. But Sanlorenzo saw an opportunity and designed the under lower deck with enough space for crew to walk through unimpeded.
As any megayacht shipyard or client will attest, removing obstacles for the crew makes the owner’s experience easier and more enjoyable. It’s particularly important the larger the yacht gets. The 46 Steel is the first design in a carefully planned entrance into larger megayacht territory. Indeed, the series sends a message to both clients and competitors that Sanlorenzo intends to be a strong contender.
Ask Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo’s president, what distinguishes his buyers, and he’ll explain that they’re conservative in nature, focused more on what underlies the construction, and therefore whether their investment is sound. With this in mind, Sanlorenzo decided to employ steel for the series’ hull. It may seem strange, considering that composite and aluminum dominate the marketplace for yachts of this length, and given Sanlorenzo’s experience with both of these materials. But steel is the material of choice in the larger end of the megayacht market, and the yard has no intention of staying “just” in the 46-meter/151-foot realm. (It already has a 56-meter, or 184-footer, in development.)
Clients and competitors alike pay close attention to performance. Sanlorenzo equipped the 46 Steel with a bulbous bow for better fuel consumption and stability, tank-testing the design at the prestigious Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) in Wageningen, Holland. Hull number one, christened Lammouche, is reportedly capable of a 2,000-mile range at a 15-knot cruise speed. At 12 knots, she reportedly sees that range double.
Of course, range is of no importance if owners are unable to enjoy a peaceful stay on board. Sound and vibration attenuation are important qualities at this end of the market. Sanlorenzo therefore took a “box in box” approach for construction, as many upper-end yards do. Essentially, every interior space floats, through the use of materials that absorb machinery hums and vibrations.
Even clients who are more concerned with fuel consumption and construction than fashion will expect an attractive place to relax and entertain. Sanlorenzo graced the 46 Steel with an eye-catching profile, particularly in the shape of the ports belowdecks. Large vertical ports punctuate each of the guest staterooms, making a big difference not just when you’re inside, but also when viewing the yacht from the dock. (Indeed, when Lammouche premiered at last autumn’s Monaco Yacht Show, she was docked next to a yacht with traditional round, horizontal ports. There was simply no comparison.) As for the interior, just as Sanlorenzo’s other series allow, the 46 Steel is open to owner input in layout and decor. Lammouche‘s owner selected some pretty traditional options, like four guest staterooms (two larger staterooms and two twin-berthed cabins) belowdecks and the master suite occupying the full beam on deck. But in collaborating with designer Francesco Paszkowski, the owner was also assured of a personalized layout.
A particularly good example of this personalization is on the main deck, and in turn its effect on the upper deck. Whether a yacht measures 50 feet or 150 feet, it’s pretty standard to have the salon start inside the main aft-deck doors, with the dining area forward, either open to the salon or made more private via bulkheads. When you walk aboard Lammouche, you’re struck by the size of the salon, which is far larger than most. The long windows to each side and rich-tone chestnut sole underfoot add to the effect. You can’t help but wonder whether this occurred at the expense of what lies forward … until you realize there is no dining area forward. Instead, the owner requested that it be moved up one level, perched aft of the skylounge. Curved sliding doors allow it to be an indoor-outdoor area too. Adding to that effect are opening windows in the sky lounge. There’s also a bar here, so the owner and his guests could easily spend the better part of the afternoon and evening fl owing back and forth between these spaces.
Another personalized touch aboard Lammouche is the central stairway connecting all three decks. It’s comprised of individual blocks of glass serving as the steps, which are bolted to an outer glass bulkhead (for safety, but also to permit light to enter the stairwell). Even with the attachment points, the steps have a free-standing appearance. You also feel as if you’re floating, even hovering, as you head up or descend. Overall, it’s more akin to a sculpture than a simple functional structure, an aesthetic statement in keeping with many megayachts in the 150-foot-and-up realm.
Similarly, the mirrors across from the berths in the guest staterooms aren’t just mirrors. They camouflage the televisions. Turn the remote controls on, and the television picture appears; turn them off, and the units disappear.
However, guests probably won’t spend much time in their staterooms given the alfresco advantages of Lammouche. The beach club — formed when the transom door folds down — is a big draw. Accessible from a staircase in the salon or from the aft deck, the teak-lined area is on an even level with the swim platform. Gym equipment and a head are contained inside, but the beach club also serves as a handy boarding area for PWCs, which are stowed in two garages farther forward, with the rescue tender, close to the bow. The beach club is ideal for swimmers or sun worshippers.
The 46 Steel may be Sanlorenzo’s first foray into “big guns” territory, but it amounts to more than just beautifully book-matched oak and rosewood, suspended glass stairways and a novel choice for the hull material. She’s a reflection of research into the choices that had lain before buyers, and then what could be brought to the table. As Perotti puts it, “We have made a major effort to try to understand the past two years,” in terms of global developments in technology and new marketplaces. Ultimately, the 46 Steel ensures that owners get the floating delight they want with the engineering smarts they need.
LOA: 150’11”
Beam: 30’6″
Draft: 8’6″
Displ.: 380 tons (half load)
Fuel: 11,900 gal.
Water: 4,230 gal.
Holding: 428 gal. black water, 1,056 gal. gray water
Construction: Steel
Design: Sanlorenzo
Interior Design: Francesco Paszkowski
Generators: 2 x 115 kw Northern Lights
Watermaker: Idromar, 3,698 GPD
Engines: 2 x 2,040-hp Caterpillar 3512B diesels
Speed: 17 knots max, 12 knots cruise
Range: 2,000 miles at 15 knots, 4,000 miles at 12 knots
Price: Upon request
Sanlorenzo U.S., 954-376-4794; www.sanlorenzoyacht.com
