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The VanDutch 55 is a 55-foot dayboat that was produced by the Netherlands-based boat-building firm VanDutch between the years of 2013 and 2017. A stealthy Frank Mulder design with a monolithic form, super-sleek lines and an ultra-contemporary flare makes this one of the most modern-looking vessels out on the water today. Lounge spaces are modern, too, presenting a cool, minimalist appeal perfect for sophisticated relaxation, while powerful engines and a proprietary, Kevlar-reinforced hull with an axe-style bow entry deliver cutting-edge performance. Winner of the prize for “Best Design” in its class at the 2013 World Yacht Trophies held in Cannes, this VanDutch Yacht was a smash hit with discerning clients around the world, too.
Compact enough to be used as the luxury tender for a megayacht, yet capacious enough for long weekend cruising, the VanDutch 55 elevates industry standards in the dayboat class. To stern there is a full-beam bathing platform with a transom shower and a swim ladder, while a single step-up leads to a vast, triple-width rear sunpad in the block-stitched Silvertex upholstery of your choice. The sunpad shares a headrest with an aft-sofa in the Esthec-lined cockpit, where you will also discover a bespoke coffee table with nine cupholders and two L-shaped sofas inspired by the very best of Mid-Century European design.
At the front of the cockpit, you will find a pair of forward-facing twin sofas, one that hides hidden storage under the cushions and another that faces the port-side helm station. The flat dashboard boasts a pair of Simrad multi-function touchscreens, throttles, an electric steering wheel, bow and stern thruster controls, joystick handling, a Volvo QL Interceptor Trim system and a hand-held Raymarine VHF radio, not to mention music controls linked to an integrated stereo speaker system with optional subwoofers. All of this is placed behind a curved, wrap-around windscreen for protection from spray, while a pop-up electric Bimini can be quickly assembled for shade.
A glazed companionway door leads down to an elegant and modern lower-deck living space with a pair of skylights, teak-effect flooring, Corian surfaces and metallic accents. There’s an open galley down here, with a sink, a two-zone induction hob, a microwave oven and a fridge-freezer unit, while directly across from this sits a comfortable sofa. By the bow there is a semi-open cabin with a queen bed and plenty of storage, while to aft there is a twin room and an enclosed main head with metallic fixtures and a shower.
A superb performer out on the open water, the VanDutch 55 breaks the 37-knot barrier with ease thanks to a pair of Volvo 900HP diesel V-drives. Competitive cruising speeds will leave other boats in this class far behind as you make use of a 660-gallon fuel tank to embark on ambitious island-hopping adventures along the Florida Keys or off Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
