REDISCOVERED

DISCOVERY unveils a world first; a brand-new yacht in an upcycled hull. We talk to CEO Dan Couchman about this groundbreaking concept. What’s so unique about reDISCOVERY?

By Gael Pawson

The reDISCOVERY is the industry’s first upcycled yacht marque. This is not just your standard refit, it’s a full in-house rebuild, to a proprietary spec, using DISCOVERY’s own design, creative and production teams. This is about taking a brilliant bluewater cruiser and extending its life cycle. Ultimately, the boat leaves the shed as good as new with all the latest technologies and sustainable materials, so you’re future-proofing the boat as well. You have the assurance that this is a reDISCOVERY, that the boat’s future is assured, its residual value is protected because you have the original team with you.

Why is this such a great solution?

We’re at the semi-custom production end of the leisure market, where it’s difficult to find a true bluewater yacht which is built for purpose and for continual use. The 55 was such a great design. It really has stood the test of time thanks to that original effort by Ron Holland and Rob Doyle. Clearly they created something that was completely unique and set a new trend. The whole design was outstanding. It kept people safe and secure, but with that home from home, luxury element to it as well. Today people are looking at how they can fill their lives with meaningful experiences, and what better way to do that than out on the water? Their dreams have also shifted away from the regular cruising grounds to the wilder parts of the world. I think the DISCOVERY is the perfect vessel to deliver that. Then where else does a yacht hull go to if you don’t extend its life? It’s waste, it’s landfill, which is crazy when there’s an alternative.

So, you’re ensuring these iconic boats live on, and reducing waste?

Sustainability is a big topic in the industry and more important than ever before. We started talking about it at least 20 years ago, but I truly believe we’re in a revolution now. It’s been led quite strongly by the superyacht industry – that’s all trickling down now, so we’re adopting technologies where the R&D has effectively been funded by them. There are now much cleaner technologies, cleaner systems, cleaner build processes. We’ve now got very good bio-based resin systems, for example, that can give us the same performance. Sometimes there is a positive win as well, not just on the sustainable side, but on the performance side too. I think now is the time, not just because of those technologies and materials that have made huge advancements, especially in the last five years or so, but the consumer market is changing. I think we’re on a precipice.

How will you approach the design of a reDISCOVERY?

What we are also doing as part of the reDISCOVERY project, is inviting previous and current owners to join our community and support the evolution of the DISCOVERY designs. There’s no one better to help with the future decisions, they know where the incremental gains are. It’ll be a mix of that, plus a very experienced design team. We’ve handpicked some of the very best naval architects and designers in Europe, if not on the planet.

Can you share some of the enhancements a reDISCOVERY will enjoy?

DISCOVERY built the cabin soles with a lot of plywood. That can be replaced with the very latest lightweight composite material, which is low maintenance and will lighten the boat. We’ll also be taking weight out of the internal furniture, using materials such as hemp, flax and bio-based resins where we can. Then there will be a new sail and deck plan arrangement to get the very latest in performance and bring things up to today’s standard. Hydro generation is a great technology, combine that with solar and wind and you have a solution to be completely off grid for very long periods of time. We’re partnering with OceanVolt, who have pioneered sailboat electric propulsion for a good 15 years. We liked them because they focused clearly on sail and they have very good battery management systems, which is one of the secrets to controlling electric propulsion. The first reDISCOVERY project will have an OceanVolt system.

What about the cost benefits of reDISCOVERY?

The expectation is that a reDISCOVERY will cost around 60 per cent of a new yacht, but you’re also preserving the history of a brilliant design and reducing landfill. Greener design not only lowers emission levels, but also reduces operating costs and adds hugely to the residual resale value. So our goal is to make all our boats as sustainable as possible, in an age where the eco-conscious mindset is now clearly growing. Part of what drives me, after all the years I’ve been in the industry, is harvesting the contacts I’ve made… putting the very best ideas in materials, technologies and build processes together to make one of the best bluewater yachts that’s available. How much better to do that in an environmentally conscious way by upcycling at the same time?

And what about delivery timescales?

It depends on how much needs to be done, but it can be anything from three to nine months, depending on the extensiveness of the refit. I think what’s nice is that owners can have the new DISCOVERY 55 state-of-the art cabin, but in their old boat. It’s a bit like keyhole surgery – it’s a huge win and those owners can take pride in their new craft, their reDISCOVERY.