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Nadan changes hands, the enduring Art Deco appeal of a yacht from another era

The 46-metre Burger Boat superyacht Nadan changes hands after being offered for sale at a last known asking price of $13.995 million

Nadan has been sold, combining a blue classic hull, 1920s Art Deco interiors and the distinctive design language of Burger Boat

A dark blue hull, white superstructure and a stern that seems to belong to another chapter of yachting history. Nadan has never tried to blend into the contemporary superyacht fleet and, seventeen years after her launch, she remains an interesting demonstration of how looking deliberately backwards can sometimes create something that ages remarkably well.

The 46.1-metre superyacht built by Burger Boat Company was sold in August 2026. Will Noftsinger and Paolo Ameglio of Denison Yachting introduced the buyer, while Dirk Johnson of Edmiston represented the seller. Nadan was in Fort Lauderdale at the time of the transaction and her last known asking price was $13.995 million. The final sale price has not been disclosed.

A yacht launched in 2009 with the spirit of the 1920s

Originally delivered in 2009 as Sycara IV, Nadan was conceived around a philosophy very different from the sharp and increasingly assertive profiles found across much of today’s superyacht fleet.

Her blue hull, contrasting white superstructure and distinctive fantail stern recall the elegance of early twentieth-century cruising yachts. Naval architecture is associated with Bruce King Yacht Design, while Burger Boat created her exterior profile. The quality of the underlying project was also recognised when Sycara IV received a naval architecture award at the 2010 ShowBoats Design Awards.

The Art Deco story continues inside

Stepping indoors makes the historical inspiration even clearer. Ken Freivokh Design created an interior influenced by the Art Deco movement of the 1920s, combining decorative woods and crafted details in an atmosphere far removed from the minimalism that dominates many contemporary yacht interiors.

Raised Madrona burl wall panels are paired with Macassar ebony detailing, while the main saloon includes a curved bar with bespoke stools, generous sofas and a separate dining area. Lalique glass doors connect this space to the veranda outside, creating a relationship with the sea without compromising the character of the interior.

Four staterooms and an owner’s suite on the main deck

With an internal volume of 271 GT and a beam of approximately 8.1 metres, Nadan provides four owner and guest staterooms. The owner’s suite is positioned on the main deck, with a VIP suite, double cabin and twin cabin located below. Specialist sources list accommodation for up to nine guests depending on configuration.

Much of life aboard, however, naturally moves outside. The sundeck includes a seven-person spa pool, sit-up bar, alfresco dining area and forward sunpads. On the main deck aft, two opposing U-shaped sofas create another social space, while seating on the fantail stern reinforces the yacht’s unmistakably traditional personality.

Refits added new spaces without erasing the original character

Updating a yacht with such a distinct visual identity poses an interesting challenge. Modernisation needs to improve life on board without removing the details that made the yacht distinctive in the first place.

Nadan underwent an extensive refit in 2019 that included the addition of a new skylounge, followed by further work in 2021.

The additional lounge introduced another panoramic social area while retaining materials consistent with the rest of the yacht. Mahogany panelling, teak-and-holly flooring and large windows expanded the available living space while preserving the atmosphere established by the original design.

Sometimes cruising slowly is part of the idea

Built entirely in aluminium, Nadan is powered by two Caterpillar C18 diesel engines producing around 600 hp each. Performance is deliberately restrained compared with many modern yachts, with cruising speeds around 12 to 13 knots and a top speed of approximately 14 knots.

Her cruising credentials become more interesting when looking beyond speed. A draft of approximately 1.8 metres makes destinations such as the Bahamas particularly accessible, while removable elements in her upper structure can reduce bridge clearance for navigating certain inland waterways. Zero-speed stabilisation further improves comfort while spending time at anchor.

A sale that highlights the value of being different

Age inevitably matters in the brokerage market, yet some yachts seem to follow a slightly different relationship with time. Nadan arguably belongs among them.

She does not attempt to look like a recently launched model, nor does she disguise her historical references. Instead, much of her appeal comes precisely from that identity, with later technology and refit work incorporated without replacing the original atmosphere.

Her 2026 sale therefore closes one commercial chapter and starts another for a yacht whose strongest defence against ageing may simply be that she never tried to follow fashion in the first place.

13 Agosto 2026
© Redazione MED Yachting
Nadan changes hands, the enduring Art Deco appeal of a yacht from another era
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