The Zeelander Z55: When you know, you just know…

When it comes to finding pure enjoyment the water, yachting connoisseurs are a tough crowd to please. There is a yacht builder, however, that has been unassumingly making a name for itself on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to its beautiful sports cruisers that blend classic good looks with pure performance. The result is an authentically fun experience with no holds barred. At state-of-the-art Dutch facilities, Zeelander builds a select number of yachts between 44 and 72 feet (13.4m and 21.9m) for a devoted clientele, and its 55-feet (17m) model is one of its most popular for good reason.

The second yacht to emerge from the Zeelander stable, the Z55’s length was carefully chosen as the optimum size for cruising without a captain and for easily finding a berth. Its instantly recognizable exterior is the result of a successful partnership between Zeelander and award-winning Dutch designer Cor D. Rover, which skillfully updates the classic sports cruiser style into a cool, contemporary performance yacht.

The Z55 is a compact superyacht in every possible sense; everywhere you look are exceptional details for a yacht in this size category, thanks to a talented squad of designers and engineers that are usually found working on much larger luxury yacht projects. And when you trust in professionals who deliver the best to the most discerning of clients, you can rely on them understanding the importance of personalization on a yacht.

All Zeelander’s interiors are custom made, with a full range of materials and wood finishes on offer as well as the opportunity to bring your own interior designer onboard for the project. Have a vision for a sleek and stylish minimalist machine? No problem. Looking for a family-friendly day cruiser that can accommodate all your family’s generations at once? Zeelander instinctively knows what to deliver. With 67 molds used to create the Z55’s interior superstructure, the level of detail and complexity is clear.

The secret to Z55’s spaciousness is its ample width, which gives it 100% more volume than its Z44 little sister. The huge, lust-worthy stern cockpit is the jewel in the Z55’s crown, featuring a large dining table with wraparound seating that makes it the perfect vantage point to enjoy throughout the day and well into the evening. The adjacent cockpit bar, with its three plush leather stools, directly connects to the well-appointed galley via a curved window that disappears at the push of a button. The cockpit leads aft onto the yacht’s extendable swim platform to create the feeling of a beach club, complemented by flanking fold-down balconies that expand the deck space and amplify the sensation of closeness to the water (they also serve as a convenient way to board and disembark via a tender or dock).

No matter where you are onboard, you will always feel connected to the rest of your group thanks to the main deck’s smartly designed, step-free layout; the flow is seamless, from the stern cockpit and bar to the galley, saloon and wheelhouse. The uniquely-designed interior space also boasts 360-degree views through generous windows, inviting in the natural beauty of the surrounding waterscape. The two pilot chairs swivel to join the seating at the generous dining table, which is flooded with natural light by the skylight overhead.

On the lower deck, three comfortable cabins offer accommodation for up to six guests. The full-beam master suite amidships is a jaw-dropping 16 feet (five meters) wide, with a full wall of storage on offer as well as a beautiful ensuite bathroom. A spacious VIP ensuite cabin is found at the bow, while a third cabin features two bunks. Zeelander paid close attention to minimizing noise and vibration on the Z55 so as not to hinder the experience of being on the water; outstanding insulation reduces noise to the absolute minimum, while the master suite is buffered from the engine room by the tender garage.

Not only does it look the part, Z55 is an impressive seagoing machine that delivers the ultimate smooth ride thanks to its GRP core infused vinyl ester glass fiber construction with a deep-V hull. Intrepid yachtsmen can efficiently cruise up to 400 nautical miles on a single tank of fuel, with outstanding maneuverability, courtesy of the fuel-efficient Twin Volvo Penta IPS engines, which take the Z55 up to 40 knots in even choppiest of waters. Joystick steering, dynamic positioning, cruise control, stabilizers and automatic trimming are the deluxe cherry on top of what is a beautiful driving experience. And although the Z55 is completely Dutch built, all its parts are available in the USA.

Put simply, the Z55 is the sports cruiser of choice for those who have impossibly high expectations of their yacht and who are never prepared to compromise.