As we navigate into the darkest time of the year, we want to take a moment to share appreciation and gratitude for all the bright moments and accomplishments that have made 2023 such an amazing journey. The highlights and achievements are only made possible through the special relationships shared with our clients, suppliers, and builders from whom we draw inspiration and who make our work of dreaming big possible. This year we set out an ambitious agenda to try new things and push our boundaries as designers. This list includes several notable firsts including the design of a fully-electric boat […]
A Symphony of Silence: The Electric Commuter
The genesis of Stephens Warings’ fully electric venture lies in a deep-rooted client relationship, spanning five boat projects over 20+ years. 8.5 m Isobel was motivated by the client’s need to access and maximize enjoyment of a new vacation home located on an island in a remote Maine lake. The client envisioned a mode of transport that reflected the serenity of the pristine lake environment, but with plenty of utility, performance, and reliability- essential for operating far from any marina or fuel dock. Having test-driven traditional ICE-propelled boats and disliking the noise, exhaust, and appearance of high-profile outboard motors, the […]
Amped on Electric Boats
14 years ago we launched an innovative custom design– the hybrid diesel/electric-runabout, Zogo. The 29-footer built by French & Webb, features a solar canopy and is equipped with a seven-kilowatt generator/motor integrated onto a 110-horsepower diesel engine from Steyr Diesel of Austria. At full throttle under the 110 hp diesel, the hull reaches 17 kts. Cutting-edge for the time, in the decade-plus that has transpired, systems technology for electric boat design has progressed significantly. As Stephens Waring embarks on a more contemporary electric boat project, (introducing Isobel), we’re sharing some of the exciting developments we’re integrating into our current designs […]
5 Qualities for the Perfect Daysailer
When it comes to the quality of sailing life, bigger is not always better. What really counts is getting time on the water, comfort, convenience, and having fun. And for many, the daysailer provides the perfect panacea to the landlocked blues. Unlike many of the larger boats we design, daysailers provide a lot of advantages when it comes to maintenance, ease-of-operations, and access to smaller bodies of water including lakes, near-shore waterways, and shallow bays. Daysailers are known for their simplicity and ease of use — generally single-masted and have a simple rigging system, making these small boats relatively […]
Experience the “World’s Most Beautiful Regatta”.
Celebrating its 7th anniversary this July, the Camden Classics Cup Regatta unfolds in one of the most breathtaking coastal settings in the world, the picturesque Penobscot Bay in Camden, Maine. Located just 18 miles down along the coast from our studio in Belfast, its crystal-clear waters, rocky shores, and scenic islands, provides a stunning backdrop for the well-earned title of the “World’s Most Beautiful” regatta. With its rich nautical history and stunning natural beauty, this annual gathering has become a celebrated tradition, drawing sailors and spectators alike to experience the thrill of world-class yacht racing and immerse themselves in the […]
Sailing Back To Zingara’s Roots
Since we took ownership of our sweet little Spirit of Tradition yacht, Zingara has brought much joy to us on the water – the boat is great fit to our seasonal agenda. Hosting clients aboard is a great way to build relations and Zingara is a solid and beautiful platform. We enjoy a few regatta events each year and this gives the SWD design team something to chew on; the company team-building is good fun and something to look forward to. And, owning a boat as business partners is a helpful way to manage time aboard during busy seasonal schedules, […]
25M Restomod that Delivers Double the Fun
It’s not every day we get to throttle up into the red (redlining) with imagination, creativity, and problem solving skills going into a single project. The past year we’ve been designing and engineering the Resto-Mod of a 25M Powercat, designed in the late 1990’s, and has required all our RPM to fuel the ride. For our clients this yacht captures a fresh balance of style, safety, and performance. Physical Dimensions and Particulars LOA 25.1 m / 82.35 ft BOA 11m / 36.09 ft Draft: 1.5m / 4.92 ft Disp: 55T Fuel: 18,300 L / 4800 g. Cabins: 2 guest, […]
A Deep Dive into the Super Daysailer
Super Daysailer combines gracious comfort, style, and utility to day sailing adventures. The sleek design is host to a spacious protected cockpit and comfortable overnighting make it an ideal choice for anyone looking to venture further than most daysailers. This beautiful vessel is a light displacement hull built upon substantial waterline and beam, making a beautifully stylish hull that promises great performance. The centerpiece of this design is the partially enclosed cockpit created by a hard-top dodger with all-glass surround– the space is flexible, further blending outdoors with a hassle-free creature-comfort experience on the water. Below deck, a simple day-sailing […]