From an amphibious catamaran the crawls across the beach to a 226-foot superyacht with a hole in its center, Italy’s Lazzarini Design is behind some of the wildest watercraft ever conceptualized, now including the new “Plectrum.”
The Rome-based design house’s latest seafaring creation is a hydrofoil, with wing-like structures that sit beneath the waterline and lift the hull out of the water as speed increases, thereby decreasing drag and creating the illusion of low-altitude flight.
Foiling systems predate the automobile and have been used on surfboards, this new all-electric yacht, and the America’s Cup AC75 racing sailboats, as Robb Report notes.
What makes the Plectrum notable is its scale. For the 243-foot, carbon fiber superyacht to achieve a targeted maximum speed of 75 knots (86 mph), Lazzarini specced three hydrogen-powered motors producing 5,000 horsepower each and a pair of 8.2-foot wide foils that partially retract into the hull when anchored.
“We like to remember that in 1964, shipbuilding was already capable of similar vessel construction,” the studio said in reference to the USS Plainview, which became the world’s largest hydrofoil at launch in in 1965. “This different superyacht configuration will allow much faster travel than conventional ships of a similar size.”
The Plectrum doesn’t pull any punches in the amenities department, either. The above 3D animation showcases its four-deck design featuring six guest cabins and one owner’s suite, helipad, beach club, pool, and two garages—one at the stern for a supercar and tender, another at amidships for water toys.
The Plectrum is still only a concept, but Lazzarini Design estimates it could be commissioned for $87 million. Click here to see more.
