The BD56 is an elegant, original and refined sailboat, described as the "SUV" of the seas by its shipyard and which presents the combined advantages of the sail and the engine. A first example is already in production and the hull construction is already completed. Tia Simo, naval architect and partner manager at BYDGroup, naval architect and designer of the BD56 bring more details about the sailing boat, after receiving many questions in the last months.
BD56 engines
The BD56 has very specific propulsion needs that conventional sailboats and motor yachts do not have. While developing the project, the BYDGroup team found that commercially available inboard propulsion systems were ineffective for the BD56's particular design. For a high-speed design, high thrust thrusters are required, but they are not available in a folding/raised version to reduce drag under sail. Retractable thrusters are another possible solution, but they are technically complex and have reliability issues, as well as being very expensive due to a customization requirement.
BDYGroup needed the most efficient and practical propulsion system available on the market with a very precise specification:
- Reliability
- Easy to use and maintain
- Sufficient power to weight ratio
- Means to reduce the drag of the submerged appendages: shafts, spacer and propeller, the most important criterion.
The shipyard has therefore naturally favored outboard motors. Moreover, the possibility of changing the thrust angle (by playing with the trim) allows even more efficiency than an inboard engine. Given the low weight of the outboard engines, and despite its weight placed a little high, the position of the center of gravity to balance the hull with the power delivered from the transom is equivalent to that of a classic inboard configuration.
The engines, fixed to the transom of the boat, are hidden under a gnrad hood, well ventilated and with enough space to be lifted out of the water when sailing. The boat can be powered by a single engine (200 HP and 11.5 knots max) or by two engines (2 x 350 HP and 21 knots max announced).
Why choose outboard motors?
- Easy to install and maintain
- Easy maneuverability thanks to the joystick (in dual engine)
- High reliability
- Parts and maintenance available worldwide
- Ease of lifting motors out of the water to eliminate additional resistance
- Weight reduction
- No need for a complex engine shim
- Electrical control system for maneuvers
Although Mercury engines are offered by the shipyard, for the initial version, the shipyard offers the owner the possibility to choose his own brand of engine: Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki Marine, Evinrude...
Computer Fluid Dynamics Testing, center of gravity, results, reliability, performanceâeuros¦
In order to validate this design, BDYGroup and BD Yachts invested time and resources in advanced computing and forecasting technologies to analyze the boat's performance, both under power and under sail. Naval architects Tia Simó and Raul Gonzalo designed more than 20 models and configurations that were tested in a virtual hull tank, where real and different conditions were simulated.
For the calculations, BDYGroup worked with a specialized team that worked on the Volvo Ocean Race and the America's Cup.
Prices and delivery
The BD56 is a custom-made yacht, built according to the owners' requests and in several configurations, with multiple colors and finishes. For this reason, the shipyard cannot give an official price. A BD56 full option with warranty and maintenance would cost around 2.2 million euros. The delivery time for the first unit is 15 months.
