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eightAFTERThe first debut of the 151 series by Northern Marine,

this JQB-designed vessel was constructed with the

revolutionary resin-infusion process, resulting in a most

voluminous yacht overflowing with understated elegance.

Words by Tim Pawsey; photos by Steve Cridland.

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To step aboard After Eight is to be instantly cosseted by a sense of warmth and understated, classic elegance. Not, perhaps, such an unusual occurrence in the world of increasingly ingenious yacht design, but the launch of Northern Marine’s tri-deck marks an impressive debut of the new 151 series, with five more hulls currently on the drawing board.

The Anacortes, Washington builder (which has developed its reputation on expedition-style vessels) partnered with noted Seattle-based designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett to come up with a vessel that makes superb use of the company’s revolutionary res-in-infusion process, granting a sense of added space to its already capacious, 30ft 9in beam.

After Eight represents the largest single-piece hull built to date by Northern Marine’s trailblazing resin-infusion process, which offers considerable advantages. The vacuum infusion allows the designer to specify larger and lighter parts by avoiding additional resin in places where it isn’t needed. In more conventional builds, gravity will bring the resin down and pool it in recesses, creating inefficient strength-to-weight ratios.

That sense of added space is immediately apparent in the star-board main foyer, graced by a cashew rose and honey onyx inlay marble floor. The feel is clean and uncluttered, with good sightlines fore and aft. From here, easy access is gained to all quarters by an elegant 90-degree stairwell (wrought iron detail and a full-height mirrored wall gives the illusion of even more depth) as well as by a full-size elevator that serves all four levels – including the sun deck, where a fully enclosed station may be used even in inclement weather. This is a vessel that celebrates its accessibility: corridors and companionways on all public areas are easily wheelchair navigable. In fact, says the designer, whether a client has a family member or might themselves at some time require a wheelchair, the potential for extra space makes the allowance for wheelchair access a natural consideration. But the mere inclusion of extra width doors (all 36 inches), more spacious decks, and the added elevator volume makes AccEssibiliTy is cElEbRATEd wiTh widE wAlkwAys And lARgE windows.

Sporting one of the world’s largest single-piece vacuum-infused hulls gives After Eight considerable advantages, most notably her extremely voluminous interior.

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ThE skyloungE And iTs opEn AFT dEck is A Fluid indooR/ouTdooR spAcE ThAT will sEE plEnTy oF usE.

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a luxury statement in itself. “We went for the widest boat we could achieve,” says Barnett. “Not only is it considerate, it also makes the entire vessel more comfortable for all guests aboard.” And the crew also benefits, in that side decks are wider to the tune of 3 feet – and much easier to bring a 24in-diameter fender over the side.

That sense of space is consistent throughout the vessel, but es-pecially in the dining room and main saloon. Here, Northern Ma-rine’s cabinetry skills also become readily apparent as the rich, red-brown luster of kewazinga and makore woods frame and enhance the full-beam saloon. Conversation areas are comfortably relaxed, defined by the grouping of an Edward Ferrell sofa and matching low-backed overstuffed armchairs.

Barnett and his design team – interior project design manager Erica Lichty and modeler Frank Woll – were determined to create a comfortable and casual interior. “We wanted to convey a nauti-cal elegance that would appeal to customers searching for relief from all the decorated interiors that seem to be so pervasive in the industry,” says the designer. “So many of these boats are over deco-rated, over detailed and with more elaboration than one would ever have in their own home,” he adds.

Use of neutral fabrics further highlight the wood, while color and interest throughout come courtesy of well-chosen art. Pewter sconces and lamps by Visual Comfort provide subtle lighting ef-fects, with matching pewter shelf railing.

The absence of the now standard flatscreen TV and entertain-ment center only adds to the intimate and genteel feel of the area, which is easily closed off from the dining room (perhaps while the crew is setting the table for dinner) by a pair of complementary sliding paneled doors. The resulting cozy space is graced by an eight-to-ten-seat high gloss table with an inlaid double border.

Generosity of space and tasteful understatement are the hall-marks of the forward, full-beam master suite, which is entered through the owner’s study. A king-size bed is finished with a padded low-profile headboard. All bed linens are by Cloud Nine

With its antique brown granite counters and hardwood floors, the galley is akin to a gourmet cafe. Equally outfitted is the crew mess, featuring plenty of workspace.

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A coRnER bAR Adds chARm To ThE spAcious Full-bEAm skyloungE.

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with bedspreads and pillows on a cream base. A settee by Edward Ferrell offers a starboard window side seating area for daytime escape or reading, while a large vanity occupies the port side. A full entertainment system with a big screen television occupies a forward wall that backs on to a superbly spacious master head.

The luxurious bathroom is book-ended by a pair of walk-in, ce-dar-lined closets, capable of hanging a considerable wardrobe. Twin Kohler oval sinks with pewter fixtures set in in cashew rose marble are framed by a full wall mirror with pewter sconces and teardrop lamps. The matching marble floor is tastefully detailed with a Brec-cia Paradiso inlaid border, also picked up on the wall behind a full-size Jacuzzi, as well as in the wheelchair-accessible shower.

If After Eight’s guest accommodations are generously spacious, the design team at JQB was equally thoughtful in granting the crew plenty of room in which to work. The gourmet galley, which would make any seagoing professional chef happy, centers on a full-size island with a profusion of antique brown granite counters, along with full Miele ranges, Sub-Zero fridge and a walk-in pantry and sink overlooking port windows. A separate workstation with a flatscreen and two stools is the perfect spot at which to indulge in a late night snack. In fact, with its rich finish of chatoba hardwood floors, the room feels more like a high-end cafe than a galley. Quarters for eight crew in four double berths are reached on

the forward lower deck via a convenient straight stairway from the main galley. The living area includes a small kitchen with a micro-wave, TV, an oversized walk-in fridge and freezer, and double sets of stacked washers and dryers. This vessel is seriously equipped for long-range cruising – and won’t have to pull into port to do laun-dry! The captain’s very spacious double accommodations and head is located aft of the wheelhouse (conveniently close to the central stair and elevator), while the chief engineer’s quarters are aft to port, with adjacent tool room and access to lazarette storage.

A sealed escape door allows crew easy midships secret access to mirrored port and starboard guest suites, each with queen-size beds. The rooms, spacious with good headroom, feature heads and showers finished in cashew rose marble with a Breccia Paradiso inlay. A focalpoint of the guest foyer is its central alcove and su-perbly detailed floor with concentric circular inlays by Seattle mas-ter stoneworker Jeff Homchick. Two VIP suites are slightly more elaborate, with king-size beds and heads with dual vanities. All guest staterooms feature lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller (seen in the White House) and grace lights around the pedestals.

Easily reached from the central stairwell or elevator, the pilot-house makes for an impressive command center, dominated by three Stidd chairs, with a comfortable raised white leather banquette and granite table behind, that can easily accommodate five. Sightlines for both skipper and guests are impressive, with an easy 180-degree sweep, thanks to extensive glass in a dozen wraparound panes. A portside separate communications center doubles a convenient separate workspace, while an innovative solution to chart storage uses concealed drawers that retract into the fascia and underneath the upper deck bulkhead, leaving more space in which to work.

In the design’s early stages Barnett and Northern Marine can-vassed many past owners about what they desire in a vessel. Dave Mahalko, VP of Sales and Marketing for Northern Marine, shared his insights, “Meeting with potential customers and hearing them talk about where they spent time was very revealing. Many sug-gested they didn’t use the more formal saloons, choosing instead to

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Northern Marine’s wood-working and cabinetry skills are apparent throughout, as is exquisite stonework by Jeff Homchick.

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A sEAlEd EscApE dooR givEs cREw EAsy, sEcRET AccEss To ThE guEsT suiTEs.

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LOA: 150ft 8in (46m)LWL: 135ft 2in (41m)Beam: 30ft 9in (9m)Draft: 6ft 6in (2m)Displacement: 230 tons (half load)Engines: 2 x caterpillar 3512bPropellers: michigan propeller Five-bladeSpeed (max/cruise): 21/18 knotsFuel capacity: 15,000 gallonsRange: 3,000nm @ 12 knots Bow thruster: AbT Trac dual prop 24inStabilizers: AbT 4-fin w/ zero-speed stabilization Generators: 2 x onan 99kw Watermakers: 2 x 1600gpd sea Recovery Aqua whisperFreshwater capacity: 1,800 gallonsGrey/black water capacity: 600/800 gallons Sewage system: headhunter Tidal waveFire-control system: kidde Fm200/Fog Type system Security system: nightwatchMonitoring system: nightwatch Air-conditioning: dometic Stonework: Jeff homchickCommunication/navigation electronics: FurunoEntertainment system: Audio sourceOwner and guests: 10 Crew: 12 Tenders: 19ft/15ft nautica RibsTender-launching system: nautical structures Passerelle: nautical structures Paint: AwlgripConstruction: vacuum infused FRpClassification: Abs/mcAOwner’s project manager: peter kehoe Naval architecture: george RoddenExterior styling: Jonathan Quinn barnettInterior design: Jonathan Quinn barnett Broker: n/ACharter broker: n/APrice guide: not availableBuilder/Year:northern marine co., llc/2007 3116 v placeAnacortes, wA 98221Tel: (360) 299-8400Email: dmahalko@northernmarine.com www.northernmarine.com

relax in the usually less formal upper deck skylounges with their ease of outside deck access.” When the vessel’s significant high bulkheads pose a challenge for docking, twin exterior control stations concealed under flip covers are well sited right outside the pilothouse doors.

With its corner bar, dayhead and spacious full-beam layout, After Eight’s skylounge opens right onto a generous, open aft deck area with a portside wet bar, fridge and eight-seat table under the shade of the sun deck canopy. It’s a fluid, indoor/outdoor space that should indeed get plenty of use. Similarly, the spacious aft main deck offers the ability to walk behind the seating area that allows guests to be comfortably seated and undisturbed by crew who need to access the lazarette or engine room.

That same sense of space and openness rules the sun deck – reached by an aft staircase as well as by the elevator – which features a central horseshoe bar, five fixed stools, and a barbecue under the communications arch, as well as a dayhead and a capacious, aft, open seating area with teak deck chairs. However, the best view on the vessel is left to the occupants of the hot tub, which secures a commanding position overlooking the bow.

“We are currently planning to offer the option of a touch-down helipad to our upcom-ing builds by adding an extended aft sun deck,” says Mahalko. Much of the extra space on the sun deck is gained by the fact that the 15 and 19ft Nautica tenders are stored on the bow deck, sheltered by the high bulwarks in recesses that have space below to accom-modate toys such as jet-skis. A single, port-mounted extending Nautical Structures davit handles all launching and lifting needs for the vessel.

The underlying theme of elegant simplicity that underscores this vessel is precisely the sense for which Northern Marine and the JQB design team were striving. “Often I find these yachts have beautiful characteristics above and below the waterline,” says Barnett, who again points to the new resin-infusion process as fundamental in offering the chance for a radical shift in style. “From a design point of view, we can draw shapes with lot more dynamic detail. Certainly, because of the impregnation process, far more intricate cuts and detail are possible. In the exterior design, there was an intentional effort to create con-fident and bold shapes that weren’t watered down or radius blended, or with additional detail added where not necessary. We’re starting to see those kinds of shapes across the board: much cleaner—less fussy and overtly stylized surfaces.”

With After Eight as its highly successful protoype, three years in the development, North-ern Marine’s 151 series looks set to redefine the classic megayacht character and style. o

spEcs

The resin-infusion process also allows for more dynamic detailing in the hull shape – and After Eight’s confident lines are a testament to this.

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