Nicholas Scherb grew up boating, so it wasn’t long before his career as a financial analyst for IBM brought him back to the water, where he quickly rose from deckhand to captain. Since he and Mike Carlson launched 26 North Yachts in 2011, Nick has visited more than 50 shipyards across the world and developed an extremely well-rounded understanding of yachts, from design and construction to operation and maintenance. Here are some of his insights into the process of building a custom yacht.
WHAT MANUFACTURERS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH 26 NORTH YACHTS? “Our company can work with any builder, but we like to visit the manufacturers’ shipyards and get very hands-on with every project. Most brokers don’t do that. Our focus is really on connecting the buyer’s needs and vision with the right shipyard.” WHY SHOULD SOMEONE USE A BROKER VS. GOING DIRECTLY TO THE BUILDER? “Going directly to a builder is an option, but as a broker, I know about yacht-makers all over the world. Rather than focusing on the one builder you have in mind, you can bring me your ideas and I’ll connect you with the right builder, which might be someone you’ve never considered – or even heard of. I’ve been to some really small, dirty yards that produce incredible results. Plus, not every builder is right for every project. As your broker, I’m able to protect your interests. We handpick your team, keep the process running smoothly and ensure that your vessel is being built correctly.” WHAT IS THE AVERAGE COST OF A NEW YACHT? “There’s no cut-and-dry answer to that. It really depends on the boat design, materials, components, who’s building it, where it’s being built, and other factors. The typical metric we use is cost-per-gross ton, but shipyards don’t love that because value is so specific to each vessel.” WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES TO A NEW BUILD? “The obvious upside is that you get exactly what you want. However, you pay a premium and you must wait for the boat to be built. The fastest semi-custom boats take about 18-24 months, but you’ll be waiting 3-4 years for a custom yacht over 50 meters. This usually isn’t the right path for first-time buyers. Typical new- build yacht clients have already owned a few boats, know exactly what they want and are willing to wait for their dream vessel.”
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN APPROACHING A NEW BUILD? “First, analyze your W’s: Who are the passengers? What do you want to do with it? Where do you want to go? When do you want to use the boat? Then you need to think about how much you want to spend and how long you’re willing to wait. Answering these questions will help you hone in on length, number of state rooms, equipment, style, water toys and other considerations.” HOW DO YOU SELECT A BOATYARD? “That’s where 26 North Yachts brings a lot of value. I know the shipyards inside and out, and we act like a general contractor, helping clients put together a dream team. Not all boatyards are right for every build. I was blown away when I visited Horizon Yachts in Taiwan. It’s an incredible operation. Over in the Netherlands, you have yards like Hakvoort, which is a small family business that essentially supports an entire town. Then you go to Lürssen and it’s a massive operation that builds half the German navy. Choosing your shipyard is probably the most important decision, and part of that decision is emotional. You must feel a sense of trust and confidence.”
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Q & A W I T H N I C H O L A S S C H E R B , C O - F O U N D E R O F 2 6 N O R T H Y A C H T S
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