Designer Comments: Marco Polo
Conventional wisdom has it that large motor yachts typically have a twin-screw configuration. Conventional wisdom also has it that the world’s large commercial vessels (where reliability and fuel-efficiency are vital) typically have a single-screw configuration.
The Ron Holland Design team took a closer look at this paradox and concluded that they could create a high quality 45m motor yacht with all the performance and handling characteristics of “conventional” designs, yet offering a fuel-saving of some 34 litres per hour.
Marco Polo and her sister-presently under construction have an easily-driven, seaworthy hull shapes with the large single screw set between twin rudders. Another interesting innovation on these vessels is the retractable pump-jet thruster at the forward end of the hull. This acts as both bow-thruster and emergency secondary propulsion system, capable of producing 6 knots boat speed in a 20 knot headwind. Further safety advantages of this approach are; the complete separation of independant power plants in the event of engine room emergency, and exceptional manoeuvrability when berthing.
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