For nearly 40 years Christensen Shipyards has been building superbly crafted and ruggedly reliable luxury yachts for the global superyacht market. One of three remaining major shipbuilding companies remaining in the United States, Christensen Shipyards prides itself in offering Old World craftsmanship and New World technology to discerning superyacht buyers.
While the facility in Vancouver WA, located directly across the Columbia River from Portland, OR, can build yachts from 35 (110’) to 50 (164’) meters in length, the majority of its production for the last decade has been at the upper end of its production capacity, reflecting the strong upward trend in the global luxury yacht market. Christensen is preparing a new facility, a 250,000 square foot boat shed capable of building a dozen 50M to 68M yachts at the same time, located in Lake Tellico, TN.
Its current two 50M builds, Hulls 38 and 42, are of equal length but are entirely different in their finish. Hull 38 is a high-volume yacht of 580 gross tons, which will launch the summer of 2018. She is a traditionally finished vessel featuring high-gloss black walnut raised paneling cabinetry with vast expanses of fine marble and onyx floors, entryways and bathrooms. By comparison, Hull 42 is 499 gross tons and built to international commercial yacht standards to enable her to charter VAT-free in European waters. She, like Hull 38, are in search of owners and unless a client selects a different interior will be finished in a clean, contemporary style with flat panels of lightly-bleached, fine-grained sycamore. She will also feature elaborate stonework with beautiful inlays.
Christensen is unique among the finer shipyards in the world in that all the boat-building crafts, including, cabinetry, stone, stainless steel bending and polishing, and even upholstery, are done completely in-house, along with mechanical trades, engineering and naval architecture. “Christensen prides itself on being a company of boatbuilders,” says Jim Gilbert, president. “We believe our 115 employees are equal to those of any yacht builder in the world. Our men and women take great pride in their work and in the extraordinary historical tradition of American shipbuilding.”
All Christensen yachts are built to the exacting certification standards of the American Bureau of Shipbuilding and offer 15-knot speed and a 4000nm cruising range, capable of crossing the Atlantic or Pacific without refueling. Unlike many shipyards which saddle clients with substantial up-charges during the course of a 24-27 month build period, Christensen provides a virtually unlimited selection of woods and stone for a set initial price, and delivers its boats in sail-away condition, including tender, mooring lines, anchor and chain and custom-made deck cushions and covers.
For more information please feel free to visit www.christensenyachts or contact the shipyard at: jim.gilbert.csl@gmail.com.
