Because of its luxury features, high-end finishes and attention to detail, the Zeelander Z44 and Z55 have been called mini-superyachts. Some say the art deco movement inspired their curvy lines. Others compare them to elegant New York commuter yachts from the early 20th century. Now, the Dutch builder’s latest and largest model, the Z72, is drawing a new comparison. The company says the boat is akin to the Porsche 911, a sports car that has managed to hang onto its rich past while continuously adapting for the future.
“The yard asked the designers to take inspiration from what Porsche has done to renew the 911—innovate without upsetting,” says Zeelander Sales Manager Leonardo van den Berg. The analogy is not unwarranted. The Z72’s curves, metallic paint job and yards of fine leather upholstery are not unlike those of a Porsche.
The Z72 is also clearly born of the Z44 and Z55. Zeelander wanted its new flagship to be bigger while retaining the brand’s distinctive look and giving owners more of the things they crave. More interior volume? Check. The Z72 has twice as much space as the Z55. More speed? Yup. Three 725-hp Volvo Penta IPS drives are standard, and with optional 1,000-hp engines, the Z72 will exceed 40 knots, according to Zeelander. More music? There are speakers everywhere, including the swim platform. Like the Z44 and Z55, the Z72 has low-decibel cruising. And unless skippers crank up the stereo, they don’t have to get rocked: Seakeeper gyrostabilizers are available.
The Z72 has three en suite staterooms plus crew quarters. As on the Z44 and Z55, guest rooms have large hull windows to brighten the interiors. The master stateroom has a skylight.
Topside, the boat has a sunroof and panoramic windows that give everyone a 360-degree view while seated. Abaft the helm is a dining area, followed by a galley. In the cockpit, there’s a bar with stools; this space can be open to the interior, or a glass wall at the after end of the salon can be raised to seal off the interior from the cockpit.
Just about everything curves on this boat, including most of the glass. Zeelander has always wanted its boats to present a different view from every angle, and Dutch designer Cor D. Rover, who also helped conceive the Z44, worked with Zeelander’s designers to evolve that concept.
The Z72 has a garage on the starboard side that holds an 11-foot tender (it’s included in the price of the mothership). And, by eliminating the crew quarters on the port side, the garage can extend across the Z72’s nearly 20-foot beam. That option raises an interesting question about what might be carried on board: A Porsche 911 is 15 feet long and about 6 feet wide.
This article originally appeared in the September 2019 issue.
