MARIE at Vitters Shipyard - A Benchmark in Custom Yacht Building

For owners seeking a yacht that blends precise woodwork with high performance, choose MARIE at Vitters. The ketch rig and maries-inspired lines establish a practical standard for custom builds, which can accommodate complex configurations without compromising sailing ease. The project page you see here translates requirements into on-water capability.

Vitters calibrates hull lines to deliver a generous beam and a light, strong profile, balancing stability and speed. The approach draws on terms shared with easton and hoek concepts, which helps the design adapt to owner needs without adding complexity.

Each of the stations on MARIE is tuned for crew and guest flow, with a single-page plan that is displayed to show how the layout can accommodate guests and crew alike.

Inside the hull, light pours through large ports while woodwork frames every passage. Brass cannons on the deck nod to maritime heritage, a detail that aligns with the vessel’s overall aesthetic.

For owners seeking a reliable benchmark, MARIE at Vitters yields tangible gains in build quality, schedule clarity, and on-water feel. Owners have a clear path from brief to launch, with documented milestones and on-site checks that keep alignment tight.

MARIE Specifications and Onboard Architecture at Vitters

Prioritize a forward deckhouse layout to maximize light in the salon and ensure direct access from the main deck to outdoor spaces. MARIE draws designd cues from hoek and easton, combining a black hull with light timber and fibre-reinforced elements to maintain stiffness along the beam. What you gain there is a combined styling that supports sailing performance and comfortable viewing from both ends of the yacht.

Three decks define the marie layout: main deck hosts the salon and dining, deckhouse above carries the owner’s suite and a forward foyer, while the lower deck contains guest cabins and crew quarters. The deckhouse uses large windows to bring light forward, and there, information is displayed on panels for guests and crew alike. The marie concept translates across shipyard-built yachts, and they have a direct flow from the salon to exterior terraces, with light traveling directly to the outside spaces.

Onboard systems balance aesthetics with reliable operation. The hull is aluminium with fibre-reinforced decks; weight distribution remains balanced across the beam. Propulsion combines two high-output diesel engines with a hybrid module enabling smooth low-speed manoeuvres. MARIE reaches around 15 knots under power, cruises near 12–13 knots, and can cover roughly 5,000–5,500 nautical miles at steady 12 knots.

Interiors, designed by hoek and easton, fuse styling language with practical layout. Access is arranged to keep crew comfortably distant from guest zones, with arms-length corridors running fore and aft on the main deck. Black accents highlight the deckhouse and salon, while combined timber and lacquer finishes deliver a coherent look for marie across the shipyard’s work. There, the forward skylight and large screens ensure the lighting architecture remains intuitive for guests aboard long voyages.

Hull Form, Materials, and Structural Standards

Recommendation: Start with a slender hull form that balances speed, seakeeping, and interior volume. Target an L/B of 3.1–3.3, a fair waterline through all stations, and a forward flare that reduces spray in winds up to 25 knots. Keep a moderate beam to support a deckhouse without weight penalties, and shape the entry to preserve cabin space and private rooms. A seamless hull-to-deck connection enhances stiffness; ensure the deckhouse aligns with the hull lines for light, uninterrupted sightlines from the cabin and private areas. In terms of sailing, this combination supports efficient sail handling on sailing yachts. What matters most is performance in terms of wind and waves.

Materials: Use carbon fiber for skins and reinforcements, with a closed-cell foam or Nomex core to save weight. Apply vinylester or epoxy resin for humidity resistance and long-term rigidity. The deck is a carbon core sandwich with a light framework; interior woodwork uses high-grade teak or walnut with tight joinery to avoid warping. The cabin and deckhouse sit on a carbon frame that keeps weight low, while the hull bottom uses a robust laminate for impact resistance. The black exterior finish should be UV-stable and easy to polish; combine with a private living area that features sound-damping materials and light transoms to maximize cabin ambience. Each cabin features woodwork that matches the maries design language, with careful attention to private storage and ventilation.

Structural standards: Follow current class rules (DNV-GL, ABS, LR) and maintain a verified FE model of the hull, deck, and superstructure. Build from a grid of stations and frames connected by continuous stringers and floor beams; check load paths under static and dynamic conditions, including wave slamming and offshore seas. Target 25+ year fatigue life with redundancy in critical joints; specify corrosion protection and compatible fasteners, with a disciplined QA process during layup and curing. Ensure documentation covers material certificates, laminate schedules, and FE results for the maries project. What matters most is a robust structure that tolerates both traditional sailing legs and a modern power-assisted profile.

Construction notes: For maries' hulls, designd intent sits with a private cabin layout and a deckhouse that blends with the hull profile. The private spaces receive extra attention to woodwork precision, airtight bulkheads, and integrated lighting. The combination of carbon structure and traditional timber detail yields a modern, lightweight yacht with a warm interior. Information from the testing and inspection stages should flow into maintenance manuals and spare-part lists, ensuring future owners understand the current standards and how to maintain them. The hull frame at each station provides stiffening and access for systems, while the beam-to-skin joints use mechanical fasteners with adhesive bonding for long-term reliability.

Accommodation Configuration: Master Suite to Guest Cabins

Opt for a master suite on the main deck with a private lounge and direct deck access, paired with two guest cabins on the lower deck for privacy.

In the MARIES project at Vitters Shipyard, the current layout blends traditional values with contemporary styling. Fibre lighting runs through the interior and deck, offering clean visibility and a calm ambience. Black accents highlight the geometry of the spaces, while light timber and high-gloss finishes keep the interior legible in terms of navigation and aesthetics. The plan keeps the social hub of the salon adjacent to the dining area, with a dedicated service stations corridor linking scenarios across decks. The design is displayed on the david page as part of the maries dossier and is a good reference point for crews during sail handling on the deck.

1. Master Suite (main deck): full-beam width where possible, private lounge area, dressing station, large windows or skylights, en-suite head with separated shower, and a small desk. HVAC is zone-controlled and connected to a deck-side exit for quick outdoor access.
2. Guest Cabins (lower deck): two to three cabins arranged along a separate corridor, each with en-suite head, wardrobe, and optional twin/double configuration. Noise isolation between cabins and the salon is ensured by a reinforced bulkhead and independent air distribution.
3. Salon and deck flow: the salon connects to the dining area and to a forward-facing navigation station. A sail locker and day-head are placed near the aft, keeping the guest zones quiet. Individual light stations allow guests to tailor ambience without disturbing others.
4. Materials and finish: designd palette uses warm timber, black metal accents, and fibre illumination. The deck uses traditional teak with a non-slip finish, while interiors use curved lines to reduce visual clutter.

Notes from the shipyard team

• The plan on the page displayed by the shipyard and the Maries team shows conscious separation between master and guest zones, with a comfortable transition area at the salon.
• Hoek-based suppliers contributed to the interior hardware and joinery, ensuring a durable, low-maintenance solution that from the outset has clear aesthetics.
• Pairing a combined lighting system with separate stations gives crew and guests flexible control, improving comfort during sailing or stationary conditions.
• David led the designd notes and page layout, which the team uses to guide the next iteration of hull and interior styling.

Crew Quarters, Facilities, and Service Layout

Assign two separate crew cabins directly adjacent to a compact salon, with a dedicated service corridor feeding five stations for meals, laundry, and sail handling, and plan the next steps for watch cycles.

Each cabin has light finishes with carbon-black trims to reduce glare, and combined styling keeps the crew area cohesive while maximizing headroom in a small cabin; cabins have efficient storage.

Next, position cabins with separate heads and a shared gym deck, and keep both entry points next to each other for efficient movement; the arms locker sits near the sail station for quick gear.

To accommodate different vessel types, keep the layout flexible: on a combined ketch or schooner, stations reconfigure to give the crew a clear current flow and easy transition from watch to rest.

Performance gains come from a direct path: cabins to the windward deck, continuing to stations without backtracking, enabling the crew to give swift service even in brisk winds and knots.

The page offers adjustable layouts: carbon and black accents, combined timber with composites, and a calm cabin ambiance that suits yachts while keeping the busy crew mess distinct.

Amenities, Extras, and Smart-Systems Integration

Install a unified control hub at the helm that directly links navigation, climate, lighting, and media, enabling owners to operate from a single interface. Place the hub in a cosy hoek of the deckhouse to reduce reach and ensure quick access from both the exterior cockpit and the interior lounge.

The shipyard equips MARIE with a fibre backbone that connects two main stations and a slim remote panel: one at the helm, one in the interior console, and a third on the aft deck. This setup gives separate control streams while combining data into a single information flow on each display page, which keeps crew aware of sails, winds, and power status.

Interior finishes blend rich wood tones with low-reflection screens, and cannons are displayed as historical accents in a dedicated wall niche. The interior and deckhouse combination keeps the feel warm while maintaining direct access to tech. Each system is accessible directly from the helm or from the deckhouse display, and all can be adjusted without leaving the main deck.

To maximize usability, MARIE ships a long-term plan: train owners and crew to use presets for sail modes, anchorage, and night time. A single page shows combined information from climate, entertainment, and navigation, with a separate tab for wind speeds and sail trim. This approach gives what owners want: control that is intuitive, rapid, and reliable, even in complex conditions.

Performance Metrics: Propulsion, Range, and Safety Specs

Choose the main propulsion package: twin 2,200 kW diesel engines driving fixed-pitch propellers for a reliable, quiet top speed of 17–18 knots and a comfortable 12–14 knots cruising pace. Displayed data from Marie at Vitters shows a practical range of 4,500–5,000 nm at 12 knots with a fuel load of 320,000 L. Hoek-inspired lines and a carbon fiber hull minimize weight and drag, directly improving efficiency; the forward deck and interior layout keep vibration low and comfort high. Each cabin area is designed to accommodate guests and crew without compromise, with six private cabins for guests and four crew cabins arranged around a central main deck hub. From the helm stations, navigation is straightforward and the overall feel remains light and inviting.

For range optimization, expect the most efficient band around 10–12 knots, where fuel burn sits at the lower end of the spectrum. Displayed figures indicate a realistic reach of 4,800–5,500 nm depending on payload and sea state. The carbon hull, together with optimized propeller geometry, reduces fuel burn by roughly 8–12% versus a traditional steel build, and hoek-inspired shaping helps sustain a smooth, stable motion in heavy seas. The sail option is reserved for light-air moments and ceremonial use; main propulsion handles the bulk of power needs and ensures predictable performance in all conditions.

In terms of safety, Vitters specifies redundant propulsion control, dual engine rooms, and a comprehensive fire-suppression system. Stability is certified to the highest class standards, with ballast distribution tailored to each configuration. The helm and every control station present redundant navigation displays, while life-saving equipment includes liferafts, EPIRBs, and GMDSS capabilities. The interior cabins are separated by watertight bulkheads to preserve buoyancy, and the lead designer, David, notes that Marie’s hull form delivers generous initial stability and a comfortable motion in heavy seas. Cannons on deck are fixed to secure brackets for authenticity without compromising crew safety or deck integrity.

From a practical perspective, this package offers a clear path to ownership: reliable propulsion, solid range, and robust safety features, combined with six private guest cabins and four crew cabins that accommodate a flexible charter or private-use configuration. The deck layout places the helm and stations for direct visibility, while interior spaces provide light, private areas without compromising conviviality. In sum, Marie at Vitters delivers a coherent balance of performance, endurance, and assurance across terms of handling and comfort.