Zeelander 5 And WiLder 60: 2 Swanky New Cruisers
Two swanky cruisers launch in Europe but expect to see them on this side of the Atlantic soon.
August 29, 2024
Europe is heating up with new introductions ahead of fall boat shows including two head-turners from the Netherlands and Italy. Let’s check out the Zeelander 5 and the WiLder 60 both of which are sure to draw crowds on both sides of the pond.
Zeelander 5
Above: A 2025 Zeelander 5 Yacht for sale on YachtWorld. Image by Zeelander Yachts.
Who hasn’t seen a Zeelander at the dock and stopped to gawk? These retro designs flow like water from bow to stern and as the company insists, “You don’t buy a Zeelander. You collect it.”
The new 48-footer is curvier than the company’s previous designs and is as voluptuous as Jessica Rabbit. In fact, this new design is downright round with a high bow and square hull portlights. There are few straight lines on this curvaceous platform with its S-shaped sheerline and round tartnsom. The exterior abounds in polished stainless steel accents and offers a fairly monochromatic aesthetic with metallic paint which on the first hull was blue. Zeelander considers this model an evolutionary design.
Performance And Highlights
The top speed is 40 knots with a choice of propulsion including twin or triple Volvo Penta IPS 650 drives and a joystick. However, performance focus is less on speed and more on noise control with a push toward whisper quiet operation. A double bench seat at the helm makes room for the driver and her companion while twin MFDs on the dash are the heartbeat of the ship’s systems. An aft steering station on starboard is available.
Cockpit Layouts
The cockpit is configurable to suit different tastes but basically there’s an aft-facing, L-shaped settee which looks out onto the wake as well as back to the round transom seat. Zeelander’s signature transom is reminiscent of an opening rumble seat and pivots out and down to form an extended swim platform that’s long enough to accommodate twin chaise loungers. Integrated hydraulic steps can be deployed for easy water access.
Amenities And Accommodations
The swoopy hardtop has an electric sliding sunroof and covers the interior deck salon which has a third settee as well as a galley that runs along the starboard side. This galley is functional although Zeelander admits that their clientele may entertain aboard but chooses to dine out. Below, the master is aft with an athwartships bed facing out onto the hull ports for a welcoming view when you first wake up. The bow holds a second cabin that may be configured with twin beds. A muted greige color scheme ties together hidden lighting and mirror surfaces. This model is designed for day boating and posh cocktail hours but there’s no reason you couldn’t weekend this boat with friends or family.
Key Takeaways: Exclusive & Scarce
The Zeelander 5 will have a limited annual production run and nothing promotes exclusivity like scarcity. She has a commanding presence on the water which is perfect for those who don’t want to simply arrive, but rather yearn to make an entrance.
WiLder 60 by Wider
Above: 2024 WiLder 60 by Wider. Photo via Exclusive Yachts in Monaco.
Italian superyacht builder Wider has introduced a new tender/cruiser/chase boat. Their WiLder 60 (and yes, that’s the preferred presentation of the name, with a capital "L" added) is all aluminum and has multiple personalities depending how you envision using it. You can choose to chase something with it or ferry beautiful people to secluded beaches near Corsica. But when not a tender, this model makes a superb primary yacht all on its own.
Design Overview
The seductive newcomer was designed entirely in-house in Fano, Italy. It leans heavily on supercar aesthetics and is capable of 40 knots. The company uses lots of flouncy language in their marketing including “desire”, “distraction” and “bespoke” but despite this puffery, the boat speaks for itself and lives up to a few superlatives as well.
On Deck
On deck, the WiLder is sleek and luxurious as if an Axopar and a superyacht had a baby. The profile is downright knife-like. The foredeck holds a lounge with two rows of facing seating ahead of an enormous triple sunbed. The windshield angles back at a rakish angle and extends up and aft to form the roof of the hardtop complete with a centerline sunroof. Wide side decks run along both sides of this symmetrical design and three gradual steps bring you down to the aft cockpit level where you’ll find another massive sunpad behind an athwartships dinette. A generous swim platform extends the living space and provides lots of room to play at the waterline or to don diving gear.
Performance And Dimensions
The design is 62’ 2” LOA with a 17’ 10” beam, a draft of 3’ 7”, and a hefty 34-ton displacement. Propulsion includes twin MAN V8 1300 hp diesels with ZF gearboxes. Presumably all is customizable on the WiLder 60 from the interior to the engines but so far, the only motors spec’d are as mentioned above. Top speed is 40 knots with a cruising speed of 35 knots at which the range settles in around 240 nautical miles.
Helm Controls & Features
A bow and stern thruster are included of course, as is the joystick which is up and to the left of the wheel. Initially, this seems like odd placement but it makes perfect sense when you realize that when maneuvering in reverse, you’ll lock the wheel, turn and face aft and operate the joystick with your right hand. Triple Garmin screens adorn the dash above and the helm itself is to starboard along with its twin bucket chairs.
Accommodations
Below, the standard layout has the master suite forward with a large centerline bed, an ensuite head with a stall shower, and all kinds of shiny surfaces, indirect lighting and muted colors. Two more cabins are aft with a shared head. In the middle is a salon with an L-shaped settee facing a compact galley. The salon and aft cabins are somewhat customizable.
Takeaways: Elegant Debauchery
Wider’s marketing team exercised their vocabulary with expressions like “elegant debauchery” and “lust for life series” but their mind-bending terms may not be far off the mark given their targeted clientele. As for price? Well, if you have to ask…. Actually, we’re not sure of the price yet but it’s possible this hot day boat will make the Fort Lauderdale show so stay tuned and get your checkbook ready.
