All things that glitter are not gold; some are the silver-hulled beauty of the high seas, W Yacht. A stellar example of Dutch shipyard Feadship’s expertise is the 188-footer built in the Netherlands by Feadship and delivered in 2013. It was known as Larisa at the time of the launch, but a new owner brought along a new identity, a new look, and a new vibe which made the luxury vessel stand out.
W now dons a striking new metallic silver hull and underwent a major interior overhaul without stripping the original boat of all the features that typically characterise a classic Feadship build. “After buying W in 2019, I set out to not only refit my newly acquired Feadship to my specific requirements but also to renew her in every possible respect while ensuring that she remained 100% a Feadship,” stated her experienced owner, David MacNeil. Let’s explore the ship in detail below.
W, for wow, wonderful, and wondrous!
Superyachts are all super. They are tools that guarantee a good time away from prying eyes and done-to-death onshore destinations. It took the able hands and minds of Feadship a mere 10 months to transform the ship from Larisa to the full pedigree W. The new avatar was highlighted with the addition of a massive Jacuzzi on the sun deck and several upgrades to the interior layout.
The stateroom on the lower deck was split to make room for two opulent and cozy guest suites. She can accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, with 12 crew members. It wouldn’t be wrong to dub motoryacht W a summer superyacht owing to its vibrant interiors penned by Bannenberg & Rowell.
Ample color, vibrant touches, and wooden flooring give the four decks a very resort-like milieu. An oversized sundeck with a large hot tub, plentiful loungers, and a cocktail bar is the ideal spot to spend idle days.
For those who don’t wish to spend their days lazing, the swim platform transforms into W’s inflatable pop-up dock with jet ski parking and standing room. W’s most impressive feature is its arsenal of tenders and toys. From a giant water slide with a climbing wall, an oversized inflatable party cabana, three tenders, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, sea bobs, laser sailboats, and wakeboards, there is nothing one would miss.
Who owns the W superyacht?
Businessman and risk-taker David MacNeil started WeatherTech out of his home in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, in 1989. His multimillion-dollar company sold car mats after he was dissatisfied with the quality of existing automotive floor mats. The 55-year-old business owner turned his enterprise into a success by 2018 with $400 million a year in sales, with profits soaring upward of $100 million. He was among the first few to defy the odds by running a company solely based in America and to make a mark splurging $4 million for a 2014 Super Bowl ad. “It was an evolutionary step and an investment in our future in branding the WeatherTech name and getting it out to all of America,” said MacNeil. “And it helped us get across a message that is near and dear to me: the importance of U.S. manufacturing, our industrial infrastructure, using American raw materials, and hiring American workers.”
The company boasts over 1,600 employees and distributes to over 84 countries worldwide. MacNeil has a net worth of $1 billion per Superyachtfan. The portal also revealed the businessman is known for his extensive collection of rare cars and exotic models from Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes, and a remarkable collection of American muscle cars. The WeatherTech founder recently sold his oceanfront Fort Lauderdale mansion for a record $40M.
