Zeelander 8 Review (2024 Edition) by Aquaholic

On Deck

At the stern, the beach club transforms with a neat bit of Zeelander trickery. The whole transom rotates to create that smooth wraparound line that’s become their signature. When it’s open, you get a walkway into the sea, a generous sunbed that turns into a bench, and a passerelle that slides out for boarding. From the back, the shape is pure sculpture, a bit like a Porsche Speedster with a wake.

The hull is painted in Porsche Rhodium Silver metallic, the superstructure in a diamond white pearl. But that’s just this owner’s choice. Every Zeelander is a blank canvas, from colour to layout. Want more sunpads or a different saloon setup? They’ll build it exactly how you want it.

The aft deck table drops to form one huge sunbathing platform, and an electric awning glides out from the trailing edge of the hardtop for shade. What looks like varnished wood isn’t as it’s a hand-painted composite, giving the same warmth and grain with none of the upkeep. Even the stainless fittings carry that same faux-wood detailing.

Up forward, the foredeck is set up for long afternoons at anchor. The table lowers to make a sunpad or lifts for dining, all powered by smooth hydraulic controls. The anchor and deck gear are tucked neatly into the bow, while removable bimini poles create a shaded space when you need it. Every line curves and flows with no flat surfaces, no harsh angles, and that’s what gives the Zeelander 8 its unmistakable silhouette.

Step through the saloon doors and it’s clear how much thought has gone into keeping this boat simple and quiet. The aft bar hides storage for glassware and can be fitted with a grill or ice maker. This owner went for a rise-and-fall TV and, just to show off, a temperature-controlled wine cellar under the floor.

The galley runs along the starboard side and is equipped with a fridge, freezer, dishwasher, induction hob, wine cooler, and bin chute all built in. Every finish is chosen by the owner, from the cabinetry to the flooring, so no two Zeelander interiors ever look quite the same.

The dinette in the middle is trimmed in quilted leather, and above it sits a vast sliding glass roof. Touch a button and it closes almost silently. Zeelander yachts are known for their sound insulation ad even at high speed the noise levels are astonishingly low. The helm ahead is pure simplicity: triple Garmin screens, IPS joystick control, clean ergonomics, and that familiar Zeelander curve running through every panel.

Owner's Cabin

The full-beam owner’s cabin sits midships and feels more like a small apartment than a cabin. The mix of soft fabrics and textured surfaces gives it an easy warmth, helped by natural light from the large side windows. Storage is everywhere: deep drawers beneath the bed, wardrobes on either side, and a dressing table with lined compartments for watches and jewellery.

The ensuite can be left open or closed with sliding pocket doors. Inside is a rainfall shower, twin basins, and beautifully finished fittings.  

Guest Accommodation

Two double guest cabins sit forward, both finished in Macassar wood. Each has its own ensuite bathroom with separate shower, along with fitted wardrobes and AV equipment. Large hull windows bring in plenty of light, though at the Monaco show it was moored tight against another yacht, so you had to imagine the view.

The second guest cabin mirrors the first, but as always, layout and finish are up to the owner. Some go for lighter woods, others for more fabric panels or alternative textures. Zeelander will do almost anything you can think of, provided it fits and makes sense.

Crew Accommodation

For a 24.4m sports yacht, the crew setup is impressive. There’s a captain’s cabin with ensuite and a separate twin-bunk cabin with its own bathroom. There’s also a small galley-style mess with a sink, fridge, and hob. Laundry gear is fitted behind panels – washer one side, dryer the other.

You can get to this area from the lower companionway or via the foredeck hatch, so crew can move discreetly without passing through guest spaces. Some owners skip crew entirely and have this converted to an extra guest suite, which works surprisingly well.

The engine room itself is immaculate. Every Zeelander 8 runs on four Volvo Penta IPS drives. This hull has the 900hp IPS 1200s, but you can step up to the IPS 1350s at 1000hp each. That’s 4000 horsepower in total, giving mid-30-knot cruising or around 40 knots flat out with the bigger engines.

At 32 knots with the 1350s, range sits around 630 nautical miles, which is roughly double what you’d expect from a boat this size. Drop back to 7 knots and she’ll stretch to about 2,700 nautical miles. Access is superb, with space to move around all four engines and hydraulic lifts for the entire floor section. Two Seakeeper gyro stabilisers and twin generators come standard, which is rare in an 80-footer.

Behind the guest spaces sits a neatly engineered tender garage, opening from the side so it doesn’t interfere with the beach club. It takes a Williams SportJet 435 on rollers, though it’s designed for a 4m tender. Deflate the bow and it fits perfectly. There’s still room inside for SeaBobs and e-foils, all powered by hydraulic rams that lift the hatch.

The Zeelander 8 sits firmly in the premium bracket, and it doesn’t try to hide it. This is a hand-built yacht, built to the owner’s exact brief, and that level of personalisation is what drives its cost. The finish, materials and mechanical spec all reflect the same philosophy, which is pay more, but get something exceptional.

In price and position, it competes with boats like the Nautor Swan Arrow and the VanDutch 75. The Swan leans toward long-range luxury cruising, the VanDutch toward sharp, minimalist dayboating.  

It’s also easier to live with than it first appears. The painted composite exterior means there’s a lot less varnish work to worry about, and Volvo Penta’s IPS system makes handling easier even for an owner-operator. Zeelander covers the yacht with a one-year warranty that includes hull structure and systems, supported by Volvo’s global network for drivetrain service. Extended care packages are available, and the yard keeps close ties with owners for maintenance, refit or upgrades.

The Zeelander 8 feels like a piece of design you could spend all day admiring. In Monaco it was surrounded by superyachts twice its size, but it still drew the crowd.  For anyone who wants a yacht that blends classic curves with modern engineering and can touch 40 knots doing it, this 24.4m Zeelander is one to remember.