The Lone Wolf: A VanDutch 30 with Stern Drives
The VanDutch 30 was manufactured with diesel engines and V-drives until 2018.
HOW THIS CLASSIC GOT PROPULSION FROM THE FUTURE
5.20.24 - I’ve got an interesting story that makes me think of that famous Carl Sagan quote, “You have to know the past to understand the present.” I.e. you have to know the depths of VanDutch history to know how rare this boat is.
Pictured is VanDutch 30 hull #054, and it seems no different than the others. Strong, stealth profile line. Dynamic windshield shape. 3-cushion aft sun pad. The list goes on. But did you know it’s got stern drives? And did you know VanDutch didn’t use stern drives in this model until 2022 when the VD30 got two feet longer and was reintroduced as the VanDutch 32? So are we looking at a time traveling boat?!? Someone call Carl Sagan.
Since its introduction in 2013, the VanDutch 30 was propelled by diesel engines with V-drives. Was that selection of drivetrain overkill? Probably. Unfortunately for the alternative propulsion pipe-dreamers, VanDutch was a shaft-driven company and would prioritize dependability over performance. Always. Even if it meant a heavier, more complex engine room. But little-does-the-public know, a duo of stern drive VD30’s quietly came off the line in 2018, just as VanDutch’s American production concluded. One went to Europe (hull #053), and one went to Vancouver, Canada, to see out its days as a lone wolf.
I flew to Vancouver in October 2022 for a sea trial of hull #054, to see for myself what the differences were. Above the water, conditions were miserable. 42 with freezing rain, which felt like frozen bullets at 30 knots. But the water itself? Like a lake. The stagnant inlet made it so easy to identify important nuances that would define the differences. The acceleration, top speed and handling were effects I’d never felt on a first-gen VanDutch. It was clear the boat was lighter, the wheel more responsive, and the drives able to blast a bit more torque into the takeoff.
If you’ve passed on VanDutch wishing for better performance, I may have your ticket to happiness. The pictured VanDutch, fit with stern drives, a fresh coat of paint, and a custom stainless steel super yacht tow hitch, is now available at $339,000.
Learn more about this VanDutch 30? Visit the Yacht Listing page.
Want to speak to someone about purchasing? Inquire here.
