Interview with Juliana Miguel of Silent Yachts about the Process of Creating a Yacht

Hello and welcome to this episode of Conscious Design. I'm your host, Ian Peterman, and author of the book Conscious Design. And I have with me today Juliana Miguel, head designer of Silent Yachts. Welcome to the show.

Hi, Ian. Thank you very much.

Yeah, so I'm excited to dive into the yacht design part, but first I wanted to Have you shared a little— how did you get into— you're a designer, so that means many things usually. So how did you get focused into eco and sustainability? And then, you know, now here we are, you're working on eco-friendly yachts.

Okay, um, I'm an interior designer, um, as my first degree, and since the first day of school the coordinator of the university, he was explaining us what an interior designer does and how all the other areas that we could work. And he mentioned boats. And from day one, I knew I wanted to work with boats. It has always been my passion, and I blame my parents for that.

Nice.

And I knew since that day, this is what I wanted to do. After the graduation, I started looking for master's to do in yacht design, and the best one that I found was in Italy, where I am now. So I left Brazil to do this master's in Italy, and indeed this was my passion. I started working with several big companies, also private yachts and also cruise ship industry. And when COVID, uh, start, I lost my job in the cruise industry.

And yeah, they took it, they took a beating.

Yeah, but I don't think it was, uh, a bad thing because in that time I found Silent Yachts. Uh, in that time I was also questioning a lot my profession because we talk about big boats, big yachts, and all the diesel, all the pollution. And I was questioning a lot my profession on that time. And then I saw Silent-Yachts, and for me that was perfect. I could combine my passion of my job, the designing boats, with, uh, this eco-friendly, uh, boats that we have.

Amazing. So you joined, you joined Silent Yachts, and they started, they started a while ago, um, but they're still relatively, relatively new from my understanding. Can you share a little bit about, about them and kind of their, their journey to get pretty cool, pretty cool yachts out here?

Sure. So the company, uh, started, uh, more or less 12 years ago with the first project. Michael and Heike Kohler, they are the founders of Silent Yachts, and they developed the first catamaran 100% solar panel, um, with engines, electric engines. And after that, it was a smaller catamaran, and after that they built a second one, the 64, that we still have today. in Mallorca. And this was the first catamaran that also crossed the Atlantic only with electric engines.

Amazing!

Yeah, um, we— after the 64, we have the 55 project done a few years back. And after that, we start— the company starts getting bigger and bigger. And today we have 3 models, 60, 80, and 120 feet.

That's pretty big. That's awesome. That is awesome. So obviously there is a huge focus on the solar and electric engine. Those are really huge components of making Making a boat green of any size. But one of the other things, and we talked a little bit about this initially, is the materials that go into it. There's a lot of different materials that go into building a yacht beyond just the motor and some solar panels. So through this journey, can you talk a little bit like what has that process been as— because you guys are not just focused on let's make it solar, you're focused on let's make it actually eco-friendly, which means— Those materials that you're using have to actually be eco-friendly too, and not the cheapest or whatever standard materials have been for the last decades. So how's that process and what does that look like for you, especially on the interior design?

Yeah, so for the materials on the interior, we do work with companies eco-friendly or companies who are becoming eco-friendly in the next few years. And it's very important for us to have these companies as partners. So from the floor to the sink, for example, we work with eco-friendly companies. So the fabrics, I'm always looking for more suppliers with eco-friendly options, solutions, less water on the dyeing process of these fabrics, or recyclable plastic for fake leathers, or even also other base for the fake leathers. And this is a, a huge research that we do every day, for sure, having more and more suppliers that can help us to develop these boats more and more eco-friendly, not only from the engines, of course, but also on the interior.

Awesome. And you guys, as you're doing this, because you mentioned both really eco-friendly right now, but also future, and that we talked a little bit about your strategy, but can you go over that strategy of why you're You know, because you might— somebody might think, well, they're not eco-friendly right now, why, why would you work with them? But you guys are looking at that long-term goal.

Exactly. It's very difficult to go 100% eco-friendly today. It's all the companies, they need to adapt and change their production. So it's not an easy process. So the materials also for the naval industry, It's not every company that we can use. We need to use specific companies, specific brands, because of all the regulations that we need to follow. So even if today they are not 100%, but they are working to achieve this, these are good suppliers already because they are thinking on the future. So it's very important. It's not only okay today, but what they are going to do tomorrow.

Right. And you mentioned a few criteria. You're looking at reduced water, you know, so you're not just looking at the raw material, but you're also looking at the manufacturing process that goes into producing, producing the material. Is there certain criteria that you guys, you know, do you have a target goal of a percentage of the yacht being 100% eco or 80%? Like, is there, is there a map that you guys are really aiming for that you're trying to hit in a certain time? Or how are you thinking about things in that term?

Well, we have already boats being done with all the interior recyclable, eco-friendly materials.

So amazing.

Yes. The only items that we still don't have— there are a few items, of course, that they are not, for example, the lamps, but these are items that the companies are still developing new technologies or processes to reduce CO2, for example, on the production.

Okay.

And our goal is in the future to have every single thing eco-friendly for sure on our boats. But this is also something that goes together with the development of new technologies.

Got it. And you're obviously— the interior, I feel like, would be easier material-wise. Is it? But is that true? Is the exterior materials versus interiors one easier right now? Are there more companies making eco-friendly materials in one area, or is it—

No, not—

Is it kind of both?

Yeah, yeah, because talking about the fabrics, for example, basically all our suppliers, eco-friendly, they have interior and exterior. Um, so it's more or less, yeah, it's the same thing for interior or exterior. Got it.

Well, that's good. There's not a huge, a huge gap between, between the two areas. Um, what, what else are you guys looking at, right? The materials, you're looking at the solar power. Is there any other areas that you guys are focusing on to make these, these yachts as eco-friendly as possible?

Well, for now, we, uh, it's the interior and of course the solar panels. There are some studies today for recyclable fiberglass. So basically they take old parts of fiberglass and they do, they can reuse this, but still it's quite new. So there we still need to wait for some more studies.

Right.

And maybe in a few years from now we will use also this kind of fiberglass for our boats. But there is— it's still very in the beginning.

Right, that I probably not see trialed or anything like that yet.

Yeah, there is a small boat, a sailing boat, very, very small, done with this recyclable fiberglass, but it's completely different, the structure, so we cannot compare today this small project and our boats because, yeah, the sizes are completely different. And in this case, you need to take also into consideration structure and weight. So, right, we still need a few more years.

Yeah, a small sailboat weighs quite a bit differently than, than a 120-foot catamaran.

Yeah, for sure.

Is there— in picking, right, there's, there's many different kinds of boats that you can you can make. Is there a particular reason why catamaran was chosen as, as the vehicle to create an eco yacht out of?

Yeah, basically because of the space. On the catamaran, you have much more space than a monohull. So you have basically 2 hulls and the center part, so the ceiling also gets much bigger, so therefore you have more space also for the solar panels. It's much more comfortable also. You have all this extra living area than a monohull. So I think catamarans are the perfect solution for the solar panels.

Got it. Yeah, I love, I love catamarans. I think they're They're great and it makes sense, but that makes a lot of sense for the solar. There's a lot more solar area that you can utilize for it. And you guys have as well, you don't have any sailing version per se, but you guys utilize some wind. I think you guys have, I forget what it's called. Yeah, it's a kite. That actually works quite well. For pulling as well. And is that, is that part of how crossing the ocean was able to be achieved? Or because that's a long journey on some batteries.

Well, the kite we have, it was also tested on our first 6C in Mallorca. It didn't cross the Atlantic yet, but yeah, it would definitely be possible. To do it with the kite. Yeah.

That's awesome. Um, so you have— we have these, these yachts. Are you guys looking to— I believe I saw you guys are looking at tenders as well. So kind of what, what are the other areas? Because that's one of the things I noticed is that there's all— there's other eco yacht companies are coming out and developing, but everybody still sticks this gas tender on the back of, back of their eco yacht. Um, so I'm curious, I'm curious what you can share about that. I know it's earlier in development, not fully released, but we can talk about these systems.

We have this new tender, uh, being developed, and it's, uh, also electric, and the idea is To have Silent Yachts tender for our Silent Yachts boats. Of course, if a client wants to buy only the tender, it would also be possible, but, um, the design, uh, and everything was developed in-house.

Amazing, amazing. That's probably, that's probably a pretty big—

We will have— sorry.

Oh, go ahead, go ahead.

We will have 2 sizes of tender. And for the 60 and also for the 80s, and we should reveal more information quite soon now.

Perfect. Well, that'll be, that'll be great. Hopefully maybe you guys can sell it to all the other eco-yacht companies and have a nice eco-friendly tender go with, go with all of your, all the other yachts out there. Is there, is there anything else that you guys are, are looking to Band too. I know you have the 3 main catamarans out, you're working on a tender. Is there anything else that you can share that you guys are working on, that you guys are reaching for, or goals that you guys have?

Um, not that I can share very much. Uh, let's just say that we are always working, uh, on the improvement of our boats, our products, and also thinking on the future of what, um, where we want to arrive with our boats. So today I cannot share very much, but we will in the future, uh, be showing quite some great news for sure.

Fantastic. And I'm— last thing, I'm really curious about the customer base, right? So you guys Started with that prototype, 60, and you guys are growing. You have 3 whole holes to build. How has the reception been? Has there been customers coming in really excited about this? Kind of how is that end of, you know, actually selling and having people buy this?

The clients are Most of our clients are incredibly interested in the solar panel and concept. And this, this is something, yeah, for most of the clients very important. And the concept of our boats are also very interesting for clients who want to actually live on board. So we have a lot of people who want to simply move to the boat in a few years and with the family, with kids. So, okay, it's, it's a different idea for boats now.

Right, right. So you kind of have people that are, oh, this is cool because it's solar, but then you also have people that are maybe that, maybe that part is cool, but they're really looking for something that's way more livable. And they're picking— is it because there's a catamaran versus a monohull? Is that one of, one of the draws to the liveaboard? Or—

Also.

Okay.

Also. But the, uh, idea of the, the solar panels where you, you, you have, um, you don't need to stay on the marina or charging your boat to have to recharge the batteries, for example. No, you don't need because the solar panels give you everything that you need to live on board. So, okay. You also have water makers on the boat, so you don't need to go back to the shore. So you have a full You don't need anything else but the boat and sun.

Right, right. So it's a very enclosed system where it doesn't— you don't have the same need of docking quite as often then, which means you can probably do things a little more, go explore things that you can hang out in different areas that you wouldn't be able to In a regular boat that needs fuel.

Yeah, and besides the— besides that, you don't have the smell of the diesel, so it's okay to live there, to live on board and go some trips with the family, and you don't have the smell, you don't have the noise of diesel. So this is also a huge plus.

Right. Well, yeah, especially if you're gonna live on a boat, you don't wanna have the engine noise constantly going where you're living. That sounds like a really good improvement.

Yeah.

Have it silent and not stinky.

Exactly.

That makes a lot of sense. Is there, as you've gotten people, right, your clients are buying these, are there, Features or things that they— are they helping give ideas to what you guys can build out? Is that— or how customized do you go with your clients?

So our boats, we already have our general arrangement. We have a few modifications that we can do according to the client's need. Especially on the 80, you have a little bit more of freedom because the boat is much bigger than the 60. The 120 is a different world.

Yeah.

You have of course more options on there. I talk more about the 60 because it's the project that I follow with my team. And we have a few options of cabin, of the master cabin, so the owner can choose between a bigger closet or if he needs a workspace on there, guest cabins with single beds. So there are configurations that the client can change, and of course the materials we can choose, we can change all the surfaces with different fabrics, materials, and veneers.

Right, awesome. Well, this is, this is great. I, I see you guys. I really hope you guys keep going and building more and more with more interest. And it sounds like kind of what you're building is a little bit more of a production yacht. It's not, you know, it's not a fully customized yacht. You're building something that's a little more, um, easy production. Yes, more production, more, more able to, to just build it and, and not Spend, you know, 3 years customizing it and then building it, which is a unique approach for that. There's other companies that are really customizing and it takes, you know, years to go through the process.

It takes a lot of time and also the price raises way too much.

Custom always is.

It's not affordable anymore.

Right. And you guys Especially with the 60, are you guys aiming to, you know, stay within a certain— is it price-based where you're trying to make it, you know, basically entry?

Yeah, there is a starting price on all of our boats, and then you can start choosing optionals. So we have several optionals on our list where the client can go for it or not. So it always depends for what you need your boat. And of course also how much you want to spend. Right.

Well, you can always spend more and that's the easy part. Awesome. Awesome. Well, I really appreciate you taking some time to talk about your yachts and what you're doing. It's amazing to see that there's a company out there And you guys are creating eco-friendly and really driving the supply chain, which I think is a huge strategy a lot of companies skip. And they don't— they look for, well, if you're eco-friendly now, then great, we'll talk to you, but not going, you have plans to, so let's buy stuff from you and work with you so that you can become eco-friendly, which is an amazing approach. Kudos to you guys of being willing to invest in that, in that kind of long-term work, which is really, really needed. We need more people willing to do that, especially in boat, any ocean-going water vessels regulations. I feel like those are intense to go through, just like a medical. I feel like it's the same as a medical device.

Yeah.

It's a pretty long list of codes you have to follow perfectly in order to be approved to be used.

Yeah, it's not easy. That's why we want to continue with the suppliers, even if today they are still working on this. But it's always looking to the future.

Perfect. Well, for anyone that's wanting to find you guys, work with you, or suppliers that have a new and interesting material that Uh, you guys might be able to take a look at what would be the best way of getting a hold of, hold of you guys.

Uh, you can always go onto our website and contact us, uh, there, and we will absolutely reply as soon as we get the message.

Perfect, sounds good. And we'll make sure there's a link in that for the description for everyone to click on. Amazing. Well, thank you so much for your time, Juliana. I appreciate it.

Thank you for your time.