Case Study - Alpha Z 33 - Floating Art
December 2009: Though now some years in the coming we are pleased to announce that Europe will now play host to the boat that is the Alpha Z 33.
Conc
eived in the early 1990's and built between 1996 and 1998, this was the vision of one man, Jeffrey F Jones, CEO of AlphaZ Motorboats Ltd. Inc. of Sarasota FL, aided and supported by the best minds/skills he could muster, most notably Michael Peters (Michael Peters Yacht Design Inc.) as Naval Architect, Steven R Van Dam as hull builder, Steve Eickert as custom engine designer/builder and of course Caroline his wife, amoungst others..
With a replacement cost today of USD 2.4 million, the 33 foot wooden gentlemans runabout was originally placed on the market in 2003. The prospect of a European buyer led to the boat subsequently being assessed for CE marking back in 2005, under Module A, for the builder and this certification remains in place today.
Fast forward to 2009 when an English buyer is found in Monaco. Well, where else?
Gablemarine was sele
cted to complete the CE marking process (rectification of non-conformities for EU import and completion of documentation) and to arrange and project manage the transportation from the US to Monaco, via the UK.
Gablemarine partnered with Peters & May for the sea shipping from Brunswick to Southampton, utilising the direct service provided by the Wallenius Wilhelmsen shipping line. Onward road transport was arranged with Boat-Loads Ltd a specialist boat haulier operating out of Southampton, used successfully by Gablemarine in the past.
Insurance cover was provided by London based Velos Insurance 
Services, arranged through Gablemarine.
In Monaco, as befits her beauty and uniqueness, AlphaZ will be housed at the exclusive RIVA Garage, a true cat amoungst the pidgeons. Alpha Z will be registered in Monaco and Gablemarine has introduced Monaco based Arrow Yacht Services to facilitate this.
So what's so special about Alpha Z? For us this is just THE most beautiful boat, a true work of art that would be as at home in a museum or art gallery as on the water. Not just beautiful to behold she is capable of 100mph (87 knots) too. Her list of innovations in component design as well as form is just astonishing.
Sublime from all angles it's no wonder that both design and consumer press loved her in print. And if thats not enough think on this. For many of us getting close to AlphaZ is as close as we'll ever get to a Playboy spread. Yes, she was in a 2003 edition, stood on end (as right) to the cheeky title of 'Want a Woodie?'. Quite simply, stunning. Monaco, are you in for a thrill......