X Express
Holterman is ready to deliver the first X-65, the latest steel yacht in its Xtreme range of cruisers.
05 September 2024
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Holterman Shipyard is preparing to deliver the first X-65 model, designed for an owner who plans to cruise extensively. The yacht was recently made available for viewing at the Hiswa Te Water boat show in Lelystad, Netherlands, which ran from 28 August to 1 September 2024.
The X-65 was designed by Bernd Weel Design. The model, part of Holterman’s Xtreme range, has steel construction, spacious storage, and a double-height lower saloon with an office area. The yacht was customised to meet the needs of a European client who intends to cruise Northern European waters and the Norwegian fjords.
“The client, like our other clients at Holterman, came to us with a specific brief for a specific yacht,” begins Bernd Weel, principal of Bernd Weel Design.
“He liked the Xtreme lines and the design of the boats, and he asked us to draw a yacht specifically made for his needs that also carried the design cues of the other Xtreme models.”
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That DNA is evident in various aspects of the yacht’s design—the long glass recess in the hull is very similar to the one found on the X-78, as is the superstructure, and the line of the top of the bulwark is similar across all Xtreme models.
Weel also notes that the client’s specific requests influenced the interior layout. This resulted in a split-level living area with an aft galley, a dining area, and a lower saloon that can be converted into an additional sleeping space.
“The owner really wanted that lofty lower saloon area where he could have an office for work—the plan was that he could work while cruising and, as a result, extend his trips and cruises on the boat,” Weel says.
The X-65 is built for serious cruising, with a steel round-bilge hull that ensures stability and comfort, particularly suited for Northern European waters.
That cruising capability is matched with design considerations essential for longer-term cruising, including the need for ample storage. To this end, the X-65 offers this a huge aft garage. “That’s something she borrows from her larger siblings – I was actually really surprised when I saw the garage for the first time in real life, because there’s a lot of volume in the back,” says Weel. “It means you can really put a lot of gear and equipment there, from big water toys, bicycles or electric scooters to an extra fridge or freezer for extended cruising. I think it’s a real USP of this model.”
Aft of the cockpit, a large hydraulic swimming platform not only serves as a beach club – complete with bench sofa hidden in the transom door – and an easy access point for the water, but also as a stow point and launch platform for a large tender.
“The aft cockpit has a pretty cool set-up,” Weel says. “On a lot of models, there’s a U-shaped sofa at the stern and you end up looking forward into the saloon. On the X-65 we have two L-shaped sofas to the sides with very social tables which means you look aft and out over the water. And along with a transverse aft sofa, you can have a really big group of people here.”
The yacht’s design fits with the aesthetic and functional standards of the Xtreme range, by combining modern lines with practical features. Large windows throughout the yacht provide enhanced visibility and natural light.
“The design is modern and sits perfectly among her siblings in the Xtreme range, and the fact that this model, like the others in the range, was born from a client request makes me really proud,” Weel says. “It’s confirmation that we’re doing something right, and that’s a great feeling – just like cruising on the X-65.”
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