Echo Yachts x Misha Merzliakov Unveil New Customizable SP30 Catamaran Concept

In collaboration with Misha Merzliakov Yacht Design, Australian superyacht builder Echo Yachts have unveiled the SP30 concept, a fully customizable 101ft catamaran.

A year ago, Australian superyacht builder Echo Yachts and yacht designer Misha Merzliakov revealed a new range of fast 27-meter catamaran motor yachts and shadow vessels.

Now coinciding with this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), Echo Yachts and Misha Merzliakov Yacht Design (MMYD) have once again collaborated to reveal an even larger 31m catamaran concept known as the “SP30”.

Echo Yachts, who have already won several prizes for build’s like their 84m M/Y White Rabbit Trimaran, are Australia’s largest builder of custom superyachts and yacht support vessels. They originally first reached out to Misha Merzliakov Yacht Design to design a 45m catamaran for a confidential client.

Impressed with the results, Echo Yachts enlisted Misha to create a range of 27m catamarans for their “Design Collection” and decided to follow up on the back of the two previous successful projects with the 31m “SP30” Catamaran.

“With this latest project I was given ‘carte blanche.’ It was a case of do whatever you like and I thought, Wow, let’s do a catamaran that looks very cool and slender”, shared Misha Merzliakov. “When I say slender though, you have to have a bit of restraint because there’s the temptation to pack it full of things just because you can do that with a catamaran, whereas I wanted to show some restraint and make it look sexier. Think sports car, supercar and hypercar; there’s a lot of lines in there that you’ll go ‘ok it looks like it means business.'”

“This design came out of COVID creativity. I have drawn a lot of boats in the last six months because of lockdown, and my creative headspace was probably in the best it has ever been”

When considering the initial concept for the SP30 Catamaran, Misha Merzliakov was adamant the layout be kept simple and functional, ensuring it would be possible to keep crewing requirements to a minimum and operational costs minimized for the owners regardless of the layout.

While intended to be foremost functional, the SP30 Catamaran is also designed to be fully customizable, allowing owners the flexibility of a layout to best suit their use of the vessel. This could range from a weekend entertainer configured with wide-open spaces for hosting guests onboard, through to an explorer catamaran requiring more storage space and crew accommodation.

“The entertainer layout is designed with more open spaces for larger groups of people,” explains Misha Merzliakov. “Rather than a small intimate group, you’re catering for groups of people in the lounge, guests gathering through the main deck and standing up near the bar, including a few more over at the dining table. Guest numbers can swell quickly and it could easily cater for that.”

“For exploration use, I would probably change the layout because it’s more likely going to be used by a smaller group (even only just the owner sometimes) and they’re going for longer journeys so there is more emphasis on storage. An explorer client might need more workspace or an office space. The cabins also could take on a different persona, especially with explorers, because the crew tends to be with you longer. Regarding the galley side of things, you would consider increasing the refrigeration and freezers capacity. The catamaran can be built fit for purpose, it can go either way.”

In terms of exterior design, Misha experimented with four different profile designs before settling on a reverse bow profile for the SP30 Catamaran. Featuring a masculine automotive-inspired exterior, the reverse bow gives a sleek profile appearance and maximizes the waterline length for optimal performance.

Internally, the catamarans wide 13.3m beam is more closely associated with superyachts in the 60m+ range, allowing for extremely spacious open living and dining areas, which designer Misha Merzliakov has enhanced through the deliberate use of a casual yet elegant interior.

Placing a specific emphasis on the above deck areas for living and entertaining, Misha Merzliakov’s signature use of clever ambient lighting creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the living areas as guests experience the transition of day into night aboard the yacht.

Created with an expansive aft deck, the SP30 Catamaran also allows for a range of water toys, including two jet skis and an Extender EXT640 6.4m IDRO tender to be stored aboard. A hydraulically lowering swim platform located on the centerline also doubles to effortlessly launch and retrieve the tender and provide guests with safe access to the water for swimming, diving, and other water sport activities.

When asked about his favorite feature of the SP30 design, Misha shared, “I like the look of the distant profile and exterior of this catamaran on the horizon. If I judge that I’ve done the right thing with a design, then I look forward to seeing it skating along the horizon. The irony is it’s a very small object in the landscape from a photo composition point of view, yet it still captures your attention.”