Heritage
Vripack is built upon an inherited sense of identity: the values, culture, and achievements handed down by those who have gone before.
For over six decades, we have embodied a quiet confidence born of our Dutch roots, a nation defined by its mastery of the seas and timeless dedication to craft. That spirit of ingenuity and understated excellence shapes everything we do, from a deep respect for the water to a love of design and an unwavering drive to innovate.
Rooted in the vision of our founder, Dick Boon, our story is one of passion and progress, passed from one generation of creators to the next.
The Legacy of a Visionary
Vripack’s story begins with Dick Boon, sailor, innovator, and founder.
Even as a boy, Dick’s fascination with boats was undeniable, spending hours sketching hulls and learning to sail on a vegetable barge in Sneek.
By his early twenties, he was already refining the designs of senior draftsmen at the Amsterdam Drydock Company and creating better boats for his sailing school. When he found the region’s oldest shipyard didn’t match his ambition,
he struck out on his own.
In 1961, Dick opened Vripack and began crafting yachts that were as functional as they were beautiful, launching a philosophy that still guides us today: to design every element under one roof, always keeping the owner’s experience at heart.
Designs That define generations
From the pioneering Doggersbank series, which earned Dick Boon the title “Father of the Expedition Yacht,” to the legendary research vessel Turmoil – now known as Pioneer – and her record-breaking voyages through the unforgiving Northwest Passage, Vripack has continuously set the standard for seaworthiness, durability, and innovation.
With a portfolio exceeding 8,000 projects, spanning commercial vessels, yacht tenders, and groundbreaking superyachts, Vripack exemplifies versatility and holistic design. Each creation reflects a seamless blend of function and beauty, proving that great design transcends time and trends.
This heritage is not merely a chapter in our past; it is the very foundation of our future. It fuels every breakthrough, every curve, and every detail we bring to life — from the timeless expedition yachts that defined Vripack’s legacy to iconic recent masterpieces like Special One, the world’s largest sportfish superyacht. In every design, the spirit of craftsmanship and innovation continues to thrive.
Milestones through time
Our journey of innovation, craftsmanship, and timeless design that spans over six decades. Explore the defining moments that have shaped Vripack’s legacy, from its pioneering beginnings to today’s cutting-edge achievements.
1960s
Foundations of a Vision
1961: Design No. 1
A 21-foot wooden sailing dayboat for the First Frisian Sailing School. This project marked the official beginning of the studio’s design journey and became Dick Boon’s first design.
1965: First exhibition at HISWA boat show, Amsterdam
Vripack showcased two steel-hulled boats, gaining its first taste of public recognition and signalling its arrival on the Dutch yachting scene.
1970s
Innovation Takes Shape
1977: Doggersbank 1525 MY
The first Doggersbank built in composite materials, and the first round-bilge motor yacht designed to the Low Displacement Length (LDL) principle, marking a major innovation in efficiency and performance.
1980s
A Decade of Firsts
1982: EXPEDITION SAILING YACHT, THE STORMYBANK CLIPPER 68’
Designed and built for an English lord, Ashly St. Mary was equipped with a kits-wishbone rig. In January 1983, she set sail for the north of Greenland, on an expedition that would take her within 580 nautical miles of the North Pole, earning her a place in the record books as the first recorded sailing yacht in history to sail that far north.
1984: SPORT FISHING VESSEL, THE 65-FOOT ALL-ALUMINIUM FIRST LIGHT
During one of his many trips to the United States, Dick Boon received a commission to design and build a 65-foot all-aluminium Sport-fishing vessel. First Light was built at the Kuipers yard in the Netherlands, and sailed on her own keel to the US.
1985: AN INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH: THE DOGGERSBANK OFFSHORE NO. 1
Designed and built for an American family, the steel-aluminium Doggersbank Offshore marked Vripack’s international breakthrough. Vripack would go on to create a whole series of the Offshore, all of which would be renowned for their sturdy appearance, exceptional seakeeping performance and comprehensive technical specifications.
1985: FIRST TIME ‘IN THE TANK’, TESTING THE HIGH-SPEED SEAHUNTER 70’
Computer software was still a distant dream, so the hull of the high-speed Seahunder 70’ had to be resistance-tested at the TU Delft towing tank facility, with the test conducted by the internationally renowned marine hydrodynamics expert, Professor Gerritsma. The test confirmed Vripack’s calculations, but indicated a need for additional trim wedges
1990s
Engineering Goes Digital
1994: THE FIRST CNC CUTTING FILES, PRODUCING BETTER BOATS IN LESS TIME
Vripack was the first to work with CAD/CAM software, which allowed it to digitally loft a vessel’s shape in 3D and subsequently produce the code that allowed robots to cut the physical metal sheets. Turmoil’s CNC files were sent by 9600 baud modem to the American shipyard where the yacht was to be built, allowing construction to begin the very same day.
1999: MR BOON’S VERY OWN MOTOR YACHT, THE TRADITIONALLY-STYLED MARE-N
Design No. 4750: Dick Boon’s very own yacht, a traditional white motor yacht with a classic yellow funnel. Boon named Mare-N after his grandchild, and he sailed her via one of the French canal routes to the Mediterranean Sea, and all the way to his beloved Turkey.
2000s
Growing the Doggersbank Legacy
2000: EXTENDING THE BRAND. THE VOYAGER DOGGERSBANK EXPLORER, JASMIN
The studio had grown immensely by this point, and continued to amaze its clients with endlessly fresh takes on the rugged voyager. The first Doggersbank Explorer, a scaled-down version of a 280’ concept, represented an extension of the Doggersbank brand.
2000: A SIGNATURE MODEL. THE DOGGERSBANK® EXPLORER 185, NORTHERN STAR
Vripack designed this 185 foot-long Doggersbank Explorer, basing its design on the tried-and-tested blueprint from 1996. This base design had become the studio’s signature model and was tendered for construction at numerous yards around the world, before its 2000 incarnation as the Polar Star.
2010s
Solar Performance
2013: ONE DESIGN SOLAR RACER. DISCOVERING SOLAR FUEL AND POWER
At Vripack, we believe the best way for the studio to quickly learn something new is for us to challenge a small team under very tight constraints. And once again it worked, resulting in the design and in-house creation of a handful of prototype solar racing boats. The knowledge gained from the experience was subsequently poured into the creation of the first One Design Solar Racer, the V20.
2020s
Designing the Future of Superyachts
2020: LEVEN WINNER 2020 BOAT INTERNATIONAL DESIGN & INNOVATION AWARD FOR BEST NEW SERIES
Earning no less than four nominations at the 2020 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards, Vripack’s 28m LeVen 90 brought forward-thinking design home to Holland by winning the hotly contested award for Best New Series.
2021: 55M AL WAAB DELIVERED TO HER OWNER
Some interesting facts:
Longest steel & aluminium yacht below 500GT;
Unprecedented interior & exterior space for size category;
6 spacious guest suites with split-level master suite;
Volume-saving tender bay arrangement.
Interior and Exterior Design, Naval Architecture by Vripack.
2022: NEW 60 METER YACHT – A WINNING FORMULA
Dutch design studio Vripack reveals a new 60-meter go-anywhere design that reunites the build team responsible for Al Waab, with Turkish shipyard Alia Yachts responsible for the build and GCC-based SF Yachts serving as project manager and owner’s representative.
With an interior volume of 810 gross tons and generous exterior spaces, the Owner’s family will be able to enjoy extended cruises without having to return to shore for provisioning or refueling. With an Ice Class hull, there is nowhere the yacht won’t be capable of accessing.
2022: 55m Al Waab Wins Judges’ Commendation at the World Superyacht Awards 2022
Al Waab, the longest steel and aluminum yacht below 500GT in the world, wins the Judges’ Commendation at the @boatinternational 2022 World Superyacht Award for “Displacement Motor Yachts 499GT and below, 45m and above” category.
2022: Al Waab scoops triple win at 2022 Boat International Design & Innovation Awards
Scooping ‘Outstanding Exterior Design, Motor Yachts 40m to 59.9m’, ‘Best Interior Design, Motor Yachts 499GT and Below’ and ‘Best Naval Architecture, Displacement Motor Yachts’, the judges singled Al Waab out for her holistic interior, exterior and naval architecture. It’s a design approach that Vripack has long championed and places Al Waab at the forefront of yacht design.
2023: START OF PROJECT 406 – WORLD’S LARGEST SPORTFISHER
PROJECT 406 is a 52.0 m Motor Yacht, built in the Netherlands by Royal Huisman and delivered in 2023. Designed by Vripack, responsible for the naval architecture, exterior and interior design.