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Paragon 94 Motor Yacht
by Armando Eason
Years of Enjoyment are Built In
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Scott Robinson spent many years as a professional delivery captain and yacht commissioner. He saw what knowledgeable yacht owners wanted and needed, and he kept a mental checklist. When it came time to build his line of yachts, he compiled the ideas and design features and embarked on his journey to create a high-end yacht, one that fit his vision of what buyers in the rarified air of big yachts would want - space shuttle-type ceramic tiles over the props to eliminate prop noise and interior wood that is cut and fine-tuned outside the yacht and stained and finished in a controlled environment, `a la the Italian method.
But at Paragon Yachts it`s about more than the latest materials and 21st century technology, and the 94-foot motoryacht shows that. Robinson said he wanted to build yachts "with years of enjoyment planned for both owner and crew." That can`t be accomplished solely on "dock appeal." It comes from thinking about the vessel as a whole; from overhearing someone say, "When I build my next yacht..." or "Why didn`t I add this or that when I ordered my yacht?" and acting on those sentiments; from actually coming up with answers to the questions so many people ask, creating solutions to the problems yacht owners face; from a personal knowledge of each vessel that carries the company name. When a new design is in the testing process, Robinson will sleep and eat aboard for several days while under way. This way he can see what works and what should be tweaked.
That`s just one of the extra steps Robinson takes, however. Paragon uses U.S. components in its boats, despite the fact the vessels are built overseas. The electronics, the stainless steel parts, the fixtures, etc., are all U.S.-made and then shipped to the yard for installation in the yacht. That way, California-based Paragon knows it is getting the best parts and the boat is ready when it arrives in the U.S. It`s commissioned when it gets here. The owner can put it in the water and go.
A boat this size is going to spend a lot of time at sea, and its owners are probably going to host friends and family. Robinson has them covered. When it comes time to entertain and dine, space to do so is abundant, on more than one level.
The flybridge is as good a place to start as any. Why? Can you say Jacuzzi? It sits to starboard under the arch, just forward of the two dinghies and a Nautical Structures 2,200-pound davit. To port is a Viking barbecue, a sink, a bar with stools and a U-Line refrigerator. And if the captain is also one of the hosts, he won`t feel excluded, because all of this is a couple of strides behind twin helm chairs and right past two more seating areas.
Aft on the main deck is a covered outdoor area with a table that can accommodate up to 12 people for cocktails or dinner with a view. When it`s time to move inside, entrance to the spacious main salon is gained via a hidden foot switch - step on it and the glass doors open automatically. A full bar and entertainment center are to starboard, and a plush sofa sits opposite them. The mahogany table in the elegant dining area seats eight and takes advantage of the huge windows that let in natural light and make the already large space seem even bigger. Rich wood gives the salon a warm and inviting atmosphere, creating an environment for socializing. The chef-worthy galley - SubZero, Fisher & Paykel, Viking and GE appliances, marble counters, hidden storage, stainless steel - makes it easy to prepare haute cuisine for everyone. A pilothouse divider that raises and lowers at a finger`s touch will set the galley apart from the rest of the boat.
When it`s time to turn in and charge up for another day at sea, nobody is going to complain about the quarters. The full-beam master stateroom offers his and hers bathrooms - with a large, shared, glass-walled shower - and a 9-foot walk-in cedar-lined closet. The plush sofa, end tables and vanity make the owner`s quarters fit for a king and queen. The pop-up entertainment center lets the king and queen enjoy in-room music and movies ("Titanic" and "Poseidon Adventure," by chance?). A hidden Brinks combination safe will keep valuables secure.
The guest quarters are no less elegant than the master. Both VIP staterooms offer cedar-lined closets, queen-size beds, green granite countertops and beautiful wood throughout. And both have a huge shower in their respective private bathrooms.
The captain`s quarters has wood-lined walls and bulkheads and is well outfitted with gauges and meters to monitor the yacht`s condition at all times. There is also another Brinks safe to store important papers and other sensitive data.
Feeling safe at sea is a concern for anyone who takes to the water, no matter the boat`s size. Whether trouble comes from human encroachment, hazardous weather or system failure, it`s never pleasant. The Night Watch system provides the peace of mind yacht owners need. System monitors are present throughout the boat to give the captain real-time information on just about everything. The system monitors fuel, water, battery condition, navigation lights (it will tell you when one is burned out), and doors and hatches. An alarm can be set to warn the captain when it`s time to transfer fuel to the main tank from the four other fuel tanks via two Reverso 60 gpm pumps. Another useful feature is that the Night Watch will save the yacht`s systems` history, which is handy for troubleshooting any potential problems.
I stood on the dock while the yacht`s engines and generator ran, and I could hardly hear the exhaust noise (something that should satisfy the boat owner and his neighbors). The welcome hush is the work of the Soundown exhaust silencers for the mains and generators, along with the 7-inch-thick overhead and 3-inch insulated bulkheads.
Entering the engine room through brawny Freeman doors, I found a well-laid-out machinery space. Two Northern Lights generators - 30 kw and 20 kw - sit mid-line, which allows all-around access for maintenance and creates a nice spot for a tabletop work bench to be set up for necessary repairs and maintenance. These powerplants, as all the other machinery, are mounted on isolating bushings to stifle noise and vibration.
The two powerful C-32 1,550 hp Caterpillar engines are mounted up and outboard on the 13.5-degree deadrise to facilitate better control and eliminate the need for prop tunnels, another factor in the yacht`s quiet ride, and its fuel economy. There is easy access around these engines for inspection and repair, and the engine room controls are mounted out of harm`s way on the forward bulkhead. The main engines sit on rubber-design soft vibration-dampening mounts. There is a tortional coupler between the mains and the ZF 2050A gear boxes that separates the two pieces of machinery. The gear boxes are hard mounted on the full-length hull girders made from high-density foam core and bi- and unidirectional Knytex that enable an exact alignment between the prop and the gear box. This feature keeps vibration and mechanical noise from transferring throughout the boat. Important, Robinson believes, because quieter is better, and it leads to less wear and tear on the boat. It`s a little more expensive, but it`s one of those features longtime boaters will appreciate.
Just to port of the engine room door is a red light labeled Flood Plate. The plate fits on the bottom of the door jamb. If by chance you develop a water leak in the engine room and it starts to flood, this plate will prevent water from entering the crew and captain`s quarters when you open the door to make repairs, potentially saving you a great deal of money and aggravation.
Before we got under way, we unplugged the shore power cord, and all I had to do was listen for a click, which meant the generators automatically took over power duties. This system makes it effortless to switch power sources and ensures the boat has power at all times.
Handling a 100 amp shore power cord is difficult at best, and trying to find a 100 amp plug in some marinas is impossible. Paragon uses a 50 amp cord controlled by a Glendenning Cablemaster. Two Charles Marine Iso- Boost shore power systems boost the amps to 100 to feed the yacht the power it needs. While under way, the two 75 amp engine alternators keep the starting batteries up to grade. House batteries are kept charged by two 160 amp large frame engine alternators.
There are 16 Trojan L-16 6v batteries located under the crew quarters` sole. Robinson developed a proprietary system to keep the batteries full of water for ease of maintenance.
All of this sophisticated electrical supply is delivered to the boat with high-quality marine-grade wire through designated wire races. At any point in the yacht you can take the top off the race to inspect and clean, and add new wire or remove old ones.
The superstructure and decks are hand-laminated FRP utilizing a bi- and unidirectional Knytech and Cotech with Divinycell sandwich. High-quality resin and fiberglass are used and, of course, vacuum bagged for strength.
To accomplish all of this, Robinson found a yard where he could have total control of the manufacturing process. In addition, he brought a full-time surveyor to the site and employs an American Quality Control person, too. That control has paid off, as Paragon achieved and retains its ISO 9001 certification, and all vessel scantlings, construction, systems and installations meet or exceed all applicable ABYC and ABS standards.
The extra quality control and continual exceeding of applicable standards are part of Paragon`s philosophy of making a superior yacht every time. Each yacht is test run after completion and hauled again for final inspection and shipment. No boat will leave the yard until it is perfect - with a little assist from NASA engineers and master Italian woodworkers.
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This article first appeared in the March 2010 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated. |
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