Builder Spotlight | Moonen Yachts
Builder Spotlight | Moonen Yachts
Recently, we sat down with Victor Caminada, Commercial Director of Moonen Yachts to learn more about this Dutch shipbuilder. Victor shared his insights about the future of Moonen and what we can expect in the coming months.
What are the origins of Moonen Yachts?
The company was originally founded by Mr. Rien Moonen 41 years ago in its current location, just off the Meuse River in the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. However, Moonen was acquired in 2019 by Australian investors Louise and Matthew Baxter, who are both avid yachters. The Baxters are very committed owners and with no other shareholders or third-party financing, we are a totally self-sufficient successful operation.
How have your designs evolved over the decades?
In terms of product, we have always been focused on building Dutch-style steel-hulled yachts, specializing in premium semi-custom builds. Our first new model under the Baxters’ leadership was YN202 – a 34-meter Moonen 110 built on spec. YN202 is an ideal yacht for a U.S. East Coast buyer.
What is Moonen’s design philosophy?
Our designs are not outspoken, actually quite timeless but with exceptional modernization beneath the surface. Right now, we’ve started construction on our next Martinique, YN205, for delivery in April 2025. It features a timeless and elegant exterior crafted by the award-winning Dutch designer René van der Velden, while the talented young team at Hollander Yacht Design developed three stunning interior concepts. Ultimately, the buyer will be free to add their customizations.
What makes Moonen unique in the yacht market?
We aim to be the best sub 500 gross tonnes builder in the world in terms of comfort, quality, and finish on board. Also, we have a standard 2-year full warranty from bow to stern, this is a level of coverage that is unheard of in our industry.
How many vessels do you build each year?
Since its founding, Moonen Yachts has delivered roughly 80 completed vessels – or two yachts per year. The hard build time for each Moonen superyacht is around two years and involves a team of 100-120 professionals. We do build on spec, such as YN202 and YN205, but ultimately Moonen’s goal is to deliver a premium semi-custom build, so the buyer can put their personal touch on the interior design and final details.
Do you have any builds that stand apart?
YN200, now known as BOTTI, features some extraordinary customizations. At the client’s request, we made significant structural modifications that included stretching the sundeck a full eight feet. For COCOON, a recently delivered Martinique, we expanded the swim platform by an additional 1.5 meters (4 ft, 11 inches), bringing her total length to 37.8 meters (124 ft). We also added a fully integrated hydraulic swim platform at the owner’s request, which enables a smooth water entry from the stern, ideal for scuba diving.
Are you happy with your production numbers or do you have expansion goals?
We are very happy. Moonen Yachts is great at what we do and we’re not chasing numbers or growth. Soon, our portfolio will include a new 40-meter (147 ft) model, but overall we are not focused on expanding but to even further increase our quality and service.
Tell us about your buyers. Where are you growing? Where would you like to grow?
Our buyers are very diverse, from Europe and Scandinavia to Middle Eastern royalty and American entrepreneurs. What they have in common is their passion for a premium yachting experience. Our clients do not buy our yachts to charter. These are personal vessels customized for the private enjoyment of their owners. Also, they are not first-time yacht owners. Our buyers enjoy the hands-on creative process and come to Moonen because they want something larger and more personalized with the continued support of the yard and shareholder.
What does your current lineup look like?
Our two current platforms are the Moonen 110 and the 38M Martinique, with a new 40-meter (147 ft) model on the way. At this moment we have five builds underway, including the seventh Martinique.
Are there any launch dates or reveals we should be watching for?
We’ve just started engineering the new 40-meter (147 ft) model, so right now there is no delivery date, design, or price to speak of. But what I can say is that Moonen can offer clients a fixed price and delivery date 2-3 years out. This is something our competitors find very hard to match. At other shipyards, clients experience constant price movement right up to the day of closing or even during construction. This is a key advantage to choosing Moonen Yachts.
*photo credits: Moonen Yachts