US yards still competitive

Most of the headlines about mega yachts these days are about enormous and eye-catching boats of more than 300ft being built by European and Asian shipyards for the world's billionaires.

While these fantastic vessels with their anti-missile defence systems and their computer-controlled laser systems to stop snooping photographers are generally worthy of the coverage they get, traditional American shipyards are still turning out beautiful mega yachts that don't cost the same as a small country to build or run.

The Burger Boat Company, which has been building pleasure craft and US naval vessels at it yards on the Great Lakes for more than 100 years, this week sent their latest tri-deck motor yacht, the 142 ft Sea Owl, on her delivery voyage to her new owner.

Built for an American family who have owned large yachts for decades, Sea Owl is certainly very large but her style and decoration hark back to an era when yachts looked like yachts rather than discotheques.

The interior and exterior design was a collaboration between Berger Design Team, Andrew Winch Designs, Vripack and the owner -- who is a keen nature conservationist.

A series of hand-carved wooden wildlife scenes are fitted above most of the doorways aboard the yacht and multiple varieties of teak have been used to create the different hues of the wall paneling.

The yacht's hull has been painted a distinctive subtle green and the topsides in an off-white to make the vessel instantly distinguishable in a world of mainly white-hulled yachts.

Accommodation consists of a vast owners suite forward on the main deck and four large guest staterooms on the deck below. All have ensuite bathrooms with hand-laid stone floors. The master suite has walk-in his and hers wardrobes.

The crew accommodations, four double cabins and their own bathroom, are finished in the same multi-hued teak as used throughout the rest of the yacht. The captain has his own cabin, with ensuite, just aft of the wheelhouse.

Exterior spaces provide alfresco dining on two decks, a hot hub, wicker sun lounges -- with individual sun canopies -- and ample sunpads.

Mechanically the yacht has been designed to be self sufficient for long voyages. It is fitted with desalination units, fuel oil purification systems, waste treatment and oil-water seperation systems. Throughout the vessel a fog-mist sprinkler system has been installed to provide safety.

The owner says the yacht will cruise extensively and probably undertake a circumnavigation. The full displacement hull is driven by Caterpiller engines rated for maximum continuous operation and is fitted with zero-speed stabilisation to ensure no-one spills their champagne.

A large rear garage houses the tender and water toys.