Yacht design has long been shaped by convention, with technical constraints dictating what is possible on board. Lateral Naval Architects have launched Outlier: a new technical platform designed to break these conventions and unlock new design freedom in the 2000 gross tonnage (GT) market.
Challenging the 2000 GT Baseline
Most 2000 GT yachts are between 75–78m in length, with a top speed of 17 knots and a range of 5,500 nautical miles, what Lateral calls the Baseline. Traditionally, this Baseline requires double-height engine rooms that disrupt the flow of the lower deck, as well as positioning the noisiest equipment at the heart of the yacht. Tender size and beach club layouts are often constrained by watertight subdivisions. Forward living areas can also experience higher vertical accelerations compared to midship spaces, reducing comfort onboard.
Lateral asked a simple question: could we create a more efficient technical backbone, one that enhances comfort and unlocks new creative possibilities?
Introducing Outlier
Outlier represents the third generation of Lateral’s Ultra-Efficient Hull series, now optimised for the 2000 GT market. Compared to the Baseline, Outlier delivers:
16% increase in length within 85m loadline thresholds
20% reduction in power demand and 17% lower fuel consumption
20% less technical space due to smaller main machinery
With these efficiency gains Lateral asked whether it was possible to rethink the way technical space locations are distributed within key living areas onboard.
Forward Thinking: The Engine Room Reimagined
Rather than the required double-height central engine room traditional with the baseline, Outlier incorporates a forward engine room made possible by its advanced electric energy architecture. The platform adopts Lateral’s Electric Hybrid system, a setup which uses batteries as the primary means of energy delivery, enabling flexible power management, and zero local emission operation.
Placing the main machinery forward unlocks an uninterrupted lower deck layout, moves living spaces to a more comfortable midship location, and transforms the overall onboard experience thanks to a reduction in noise and vibration at the core of the platform.
Design Freedom, Elevated Experience
With its increased hull length compared to Baseline, Outlier also offers up to 40% more exterior space, giving designers unprecedented freedom to reimagine their guests journey and spatial flow around the platform. Lateral have also considered the flexibility in profile. With the possibility to re-route exhaust systems internally, the platform can accommodate a range of potential profile solutions free from design limitations.
“Outlier is more than a platform, it’s an invitation to rethink a yacht from the inside out,” said Ollie Cooper, Senior Naval Architect at Lateral Naval Architects. “It enables designers and owners to imagine spaces differently and explore new possibilities.”
To showcase this potential, Lateral partnered with Foster + Partners to create Outlier I. A bold new vision of a 2000 GT yacht, that includes features of a 5000 GT+ vessel, highlighting how this technical backbone can fundamentally reshape expectations for this market.
The new innovative concept enables better spatial connectivity, both vertically and horizontally, enhancing interactions between guests and crew and while reimagining their accommodation for greater comfort and privacy. It unlocks the potential for spacious, expansive interior spaces as well as unobstructed exterior decks, ideal for lounging or entertaining.
Building on Foster + Partners’ heritage of nautical design, the concept allows for creative, owner-driven customisation, whether for private retreats or social gatherings. Outlier I’s flexible design supports a wide range of uses, from luxury cruising to adventurous exploration in unspoiled locations.
Lateral did not want Outlier to be fixed to a single size. While it was engineered with the 2000 GT market in mind, the platform can be scaled effectively to support smaller formats, including 1500 GT and 950 GT design thresholds.
This allows Owners to take advantage of Outlier’s platform in various forms to benefit from improved efficiency and all-round user experience.
