35m STELLAMAR Shows the Engineering Behind Italian Explorer Yachts

Beyond a boat-show silhouette

Cantiere delle Marche's STELLAMAR provides a detailed example of the modern steel-hulled explorer yacht at a time when buyers are comparing very different 35-metre propositions during the 2026 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Built in 2023 as an RJ 115, the 35-metre yacht combines an expedition-oriented structure with a less utilitarian guest experience than the term explorer might suggest. The Italian shipyard's own technical and fleet records provide unusually useful insight into this balancing act.

STELLAMAR has already been covered as part of the exhibition's wider 2026 programme, so the fresh question is not whether her name appears in a show line-up. It is how the yacht's design solves recurring owner problems: making long passages manageable, preserving privacy when entertaining and accommodating substantial technical equipment without turning the living areas into an afterthought. Those topics explain the significance of her design well beyond a single exhibition.

A true displacement hull built for distance

The RJ 115 is constructed with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, a combination widely used in expedition-oriented yachting for its structural properties and flexible arrangement of upper spaces. Cantiere delle Marche gives the model a length overall of 35 metres and beam of 7.50 metres, with a full-load draft specified around 2.41 metres in current model data. The numbers suggest a yacht that accepts meaningful draft in pursuit of ocean-going capability rather than chasing access to the shallowest anchorage.

STELLAMAR's original yard material describes a full-displacement hull and an intended long-distance cruising programme. Such a vessel is conceived to move steadily and safely for extended periods rather than sprint between bays. That design philosophy has consequences across the yacht, from fuel storage and stabilisation to crew provisions and the extent of sheltered access around the decks when the sea is less cooperative.

The 5,500-nautical-mile design brief

Perhaps the clearest statement of purpose is the builder's reported 5,500-nautical-mile range at an economical speed around nine knots. The propulsion specification identifies twin Caterpillar C18 ACERT engines with 533 kilowatts each, while the model's published maximum speed is approximately 13.5 knots. These are figures for a patient passage-making style, where maintaining reliable systems and sensible reserves usually matters more than making a fast arrival.

The published model specification lists fuel capacity of about 45,530 litres, while earlier STELLAMAR-specific material rounded the figure to about 45,000 litres. Both refer to the same broad capacity class, but any live voyage plan should use the actual yacht's tank plan and verified consumption data. Owners should also examine the role of generators, stabilisers, hotel loads and service intervals in the total endurance calculation, not simply divide fuel volume by a headline range.

A clever response to tender stowage

One of STELLAMAR's distinctive features is the arrangement of an almost invisible crane integrated into the sundeck overhang. Cantiere delle Marche says it handles a tender and water toys, then disappears into the structure when no longer needed. That detail reflects a wider explorer-yacht challenge: equipment must be available, safe to deploy and robust enough for regular use, yet should not permanently dominate the areas where guests relax.

Proper tender handling involves more than hiding machinery. Owners and captains should consider lifting capacity, deck access, wind limits, maintenance routes, recovery in choppy conditions and the handling of equipment after a wet return. A visually discreet arrangement can be a real advantage when the engineering behind it is straightforward, but a beautiful mechanism is only as successful as the ease with which the crew can operate it repeatedly.

Accommodation with genuine privacy

The yard describes four lower-deck guest suites and a main-deck owner's stateroom, providing accommodation for ten guests with provision for two further berths in the model documentation. Seven crew can be accommodated separately in four cabins. Positioning the owner's accommodation forward on the main deck supports privacy, while the lower guest layout keeps the main living and exterior dining areas available to the whole party without unnecessary traffic past bedroom doors.

Francesco Paszkowski worked on the exterior and interior design, with Margherita Casprini also credited on the interiors. The builder describes natural tones and restrained decoration, an approach that sits comfortably beside the practical ambition of the vessel. For an owner spending long periods aboard, carefully planned storage, protected walkways and logical circulation may provide more enduring luxury than a succession of decorative statements.

Outdoor space linked to the sea

STELLAMAR's exterior architecture uses large areas of glazing and transparent elements in the bulwarks to preserve views out over the water. The open stern and multiple decks create distinct places to sit, dine and observe the landscape, which can matter greatly when an itinerary involves remote anchorages rather than a timetable of marinas. A successful explorer makes the destination part of the experience even when guests remain comfortably aboard.

Generous outdoor accommodation also creates practical obligations. Shade, wind protection, drainage and secure movement between levels are particularly important on a vessel designed to travel beyond fair-weather coastal waters. Visitors studying the yacht should look for places where guests can enjoy the exterior while the crew retain clear working routes. These less conspicuous choices are a strong measure of whether the superyacht is truly equipped for extended independent cruising.

The explorer owner's real checklist

Technical credibility should be tested through the yacht's actual records: class documentation, hull and machinery surveys, generator hours, stabiliser servicing, safety systems and maintenance of handling equipment. The builder's specifications identify zero-speed stabilisation and manoeuvring systems, but each needs regular inspection and skilled use. As with any established vessel, a current condition assessment has greater value than a specification sheet that may date from commissioning.

STELLAMAR demonstrates that true long-range ambition can coexist with elegant Italian design when each part serves a coherent operating plan. Her 35-metre size, steel-and-aluminium construction, long-range figures and carefully integrated tender system give buyers specific questions to take to the shipyard or representative. The source material here comes from Cantiere delle Marche's own fleet and technical publications; equipment, performance and availability should be independently confirmed for any proposed transaction.