Vicem sees strong US growth
Gary Smith, US director of the Turkish yard, is bullish about their market for downeasters, sportfishers, classics and Vulcan range superyachts, saying enquiries are “off the chart”.…
Vicem, the Turkish builder of yachts from 20 to 46m, with a strong presence in the US market, recently announced the sale and delivery of two more of their product to American shores. Though below the 30m threshold, these two sales demonstrate continued and growing success for a builder that continues to attract experienced buyers looking for superyacht quality finish.
After owner-requested customisation work was done in Turkey—including the addition of zero-speed stabilisers—the Vicem 97 arrived in Florida in March and went in to Lauderdale Marine Center for a final two week period of commissioning. A Vicem 77 was also delivered to Florida this Spring.
“We’ve been really pleased with the levels of enquiry, and of course, all of the sales we’ve made in 2013-14,” says Gary Smith, US director for Vicem. “In 2009-10 the enquiries were near zero… Now, they’re off the charts. We’re keeping very busy at the moment quoting new builds and meeting with clients.”
Smith is in the enviable position of selling a product that tends to attract seasoned clients who already know what they want. “Our clients have done their research: A typical client is an older gentleman who has had seven to ten boats in his life and he comes in with about as much knowledge about the factory as I have. They come to Vicem because they know the fit and finish of the interior is second to none.”
While Vicem is well known for it’s traditional downeaster and classic cruiser style interiors in heavy woods with radius corners, the yard has also turned out a couple of radically different interior designs. The 32.5m Vicem 107 Moni ,which launched last year has a contemporary interior using traditional woods, while the yard’s first 151 Vulcan has an interior by Art Line that won it international recognition on the awards circuit.
Interior of Vicem's most recent 151, featuring an Art Line interior.
Smith says along with a 46m 151 that’s already started and ready to sell at a discounted price of US$26 million, the yard is now busily working on a new stock model at 82’. “Now that the yard has shown it can deliver these Vulcan yachts successfully, we’ll build more of them when we get an order. I think within the not-too-distant future you’ll hear an order come out of us on the plus-30m side.”
Sales of superyachts to American clients appear to be on the rise according to sources across the industry, though builders in the US seem to be delivering only a fraction of them. Yards like Vicem that have a strong, dedicated US presence driving sales to foreign manufacturers combine a price advantage with top shelf finishing, while Northern European yards continue to compete for American clients on reputation for superior quality, if not price. We’ll follow up with these findings in a coming feature of The Superyacht Report.
After owner-requested customisation work was done in Turkey—including the addition of zero-speed stabilisers—the Vicem 97 arrived in Florida in March and went in to Lauderdale Marine Center for a final two week period of commissioning. A Vicem 77 was also delivered to Florida this Spring.
“We’ve been really pleased with the levels of enquiry, and of course, all of the sales we’ve made in 2013-14,” says Gary Smith, US director for Vicem. “In 2009-10 the enquiries were near zero… Now, they’re off the charts. We’re keeping very busy at the moment quoting new builds and meeting with clients.”
Smith is in the enviable position of selling a product that tends to attract seasoned clients who already know what they want. “Our clients have done their research: A typical client is an older gentleman who has had seven to ten boats in his life and he comes in with about as much knowledge about the factory as I have. They come to Vicem because they know the fit and finish of the interior is second to none.”
While Vicem is well known for it’s traditional downeaster and classic cruiser style interiors in heavy woods with radius corners, the yard has also turned out a couple of radically different interior designs. The 32.5m Vicem 107 Moni ,which launched last year has a contemporary interior using traditional woods, while the yard’s first 151 Vulcan has an interior by Art Line that won it international recognition on the awards circuit.
Interior of Vicem's most recent 151, featuring an Art Line interior.
Sales of superyachts to American clients appear to be on the rise according to sources across the industry, though builders in the US seem to be delivering only a fraction of them. Yards like Vicem that have a strong, dedicated US presence driving sales to foreign manufacturers combine a price advantage with top shelf finishing, while Northern European yards continue to compete for American clients on reputation for superior quality, if not price. We’ll follow up with these findings in a coming feature of The Superyacht Report.
Vicem's most recent sale to a US client - a 29m Vicem 97.
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