Christensen Yachts For Sale

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT Christensen Yachts

What is Christensen Yachts?

Christensen Yachts is an American luxury-yacht brand best known for large composite motor yachts and tri-deck superyachts. Christensen developed custom and semi-custom yachts from approximately 115 to 164 feet, combining long-range cruising capability with expansive guest accommodations, professional crew areas and highly personalized interiors. The builder became especially respected for its American craftsmanship, substantial fiberglass construction and extensive use of in-house woodworking, stonework, metal fabrication and upholstery.

Who founded Christensen Yachts, when was it founded and where were its yachts built?

Contractor and yacht owner Dave Christensen founded Christensen Shipyards in the mid-1980s in Vancouver, Washington. Christensen reportedly decided to build his own yacht after being unable to find an American-built vessel that met his expectations for strength, finish quality and reliability. The resulting yacht led to the creation of a commercial shipyard, commonly dated to 1985, with production beginning from the company’s facility on the Columbia River. Christensen built its yachts at a 180,000-square-foot climate-controlled shipyard in Vancouver. The company later developed plans for a much larger facility on Tellico Lake in Tennessee, but its Vancouver property was acquired by commercial shipbuilder Vigor in 2019. The 50-meter Jackpot was the final yacht completed at the Washington facility.

Is Christensen Yachts still in business and building new yachts?

Prospective buyers should treat Christensen primarily as a pre-owned yacht brand unless current new-build operations are independently verified. Public information is inconsistent: the official Christensen website remains online and describes new construction, yet it still promotes hulls with projected 2018 and 2019 launch dates and lists the former Vancouver facility. Industry reporting confirms that Vigor took over that property in 2019 and that Jackpot was the final completed Christensen built there. A current Northrop & Johnson builder profile says the company may have closed its doors in 2020. A buyer considering any yacht represented as a new, unfinished or factory-supported Christensen should obtain written verification of the contracting entity, construction facility, workforce, ownership of the molds and hull, warranty backing, project financing and delivery schedule. The active and well-established market today is for completed, pre-owned Christensen motor yachts.

What types and sizes of yachts did Christensen build?

Christensen specialized in custom and semi-custom luxury motor yachts ranging from approximately 115 to 164 feet, or 35 to 50 meters. Most are fiberglass tri-deck or raised-pilothouse yachts with displacement or semi-displacement hulls, twin diesel engines, multiple guest staterooms and separate professional crew accommodations. Northrop & Johnson reports that Christensen delivered 44 yachts across this size range during roughly three decades of production. Common features include main-deck owner’s suites, full-beam VIP cabins, formal dining rooms, sky lounges, elevators, sundeck spas, large swim platforms and extensive tender and water-toy storage. Individual layouts vary considerably because owners could personalize interior arrangements, wood species, stone, furnishings and entertainment areas.

How are Christensen Yachts constructed?

Christensen is best known for vacuum-infused fiberglass-composite hulls and superstructures. The shipyard used series molds for several hull lengths but allowed each yacht’s accommodations and finishes to be extensively customized. Christensen promoted composite construction for its strength-to-weight ratio, insulation, resistance to corrosion and ability to reduce onboard noise and vibration. The 50-meter Christensen specification identifies vacuum-infused composite construction for both the hull and superstructure, along with ABS and MCA compliance. Christensen also performed unusually extensive work in-house, including naval architecture, cabinetry, metalwork, stone fabrication, upholstery, electrical installation and many mechanical systems.

How does Christensen compare with Westport, Delta Marine, Trinity, Feadship and Heesen?

Christensen occupied a premium position between American semi-custom yacht builders and the major international custom-superyacht shipyards. Buyers may compare a Christensen with a Westport, Trinity, Delta Marine, Palmer Johnson, Heesen or selected Feadship, depending on the yacht’s size, age and level of customization. Compared with a higher-volume builder such as Westport, Christensen generally offered more freedom over interiors and owner-specific details. Compared with a fully bespoke Northern European yard, Christensen used proven composite hull molds to control engineering costs, construction time and technical risk. Its strongest distinctions were American construction, fiberglass expertise, six-stateroom layouts and the amount of finishing work completed within the shipyard. This is a market-positioning assessment based on Christensen’s construction process, fleet and specifications.

What are the most popular Christensen Yacht models?

The Christensen 115, 157, 160 and 164 series are among the brand’s best-known size categories. The pre-owned market also frequently uses broader descriptions such as Christensen Tri-Deck, Raised Pilothouse, Custom Motor Yacht and Cockpit Motor Yacht because individual yachts were heavily personalized and did not always carry standardized model names. Recognizable Christensen yachts include Party Girl, Lady Joy, Casino Royale, Primadonna, Odessa, Remember When, Silver Lining, D’Natalin IV, Chasseur and Jackpot. The official Christensen fleet gallery highlights many of these later builds, while the 157- and 160-foot platforms became particularly successful in the brokerage and charter markets.

What are the Christensen 157 and Christensen 160/164 series?

The Christensen 157 is a 47.85-meter tri-deck superyacht known for its six-stateroom layout, composite construction and approximately 4,300-nautical-mile range. Published specifications describe a 29.5-foot beam, 499-gross-ton volume, accommodation for 12 guests and quarters for approximately 10 crew members. Multiple examples were built, helping make the 157 one of Christensen’s most recognizable semi-custom platforms. The later 160- and 164-foot yachts increased length, interior volume and owner-customization opportunities. Carte Blanche was the first yacht from the popular 160 series, while Silver Lining, Chasseur and Jackpot are among the best-known yachts close to 164 feet. Christensen’s published 50-meter specification describes six guest staterooms, accommodations for 10 crew, a 12-knot cruising speed and more than 4,000 nautical miles of range.

Are Christensen Yachts considered good-quality and capable of long-range cruising?

A properly maintained Christensen is generally regarded as a high-quality, ocean-going luxury yacht. The brand’s reputation is built on substantial composite construction, in-house craftsmanship, six-stateroom interiors, large machinery spaces and specifications intended for extended cruising. Christensen’s 157- and 164-foot platforms publish ranges of approximately 4,000 to 4,300 nautical miles at economical speeds. The condition of a specific pre-owned Christensen is more important than the builder’s reputation alone. Older composite yachts can develop moisture intrusion, laminate damage, paint problems, leaking windows, aging tanks and outdated hotel systems. Engine maintenance, generator hours, stabilizer service, class records and the quality of previous refits should all be evaluated before purchase.

Can a Christensen Yacht be owner-operated, and how many guests and crew can it accommodate?

Christensen Yachts are professionally crewed superyachts rather than owner-operated recreational boats. Even the smaller 115-foot models contain complex propulsion, electrical, hydraulic, climate-control, safety and guest-service systems. A captain, engineer, deck crew and interior crew are normally required to operate and maintain one properly. Many 157- to 164-foot Christensens accommodate approximately 12 guests in six staterooms and carry nine or 10 crew members. Individual yachts may have additional Pullman berths, children’s cabins or caregiver accommodations, but commercial charter regulations commonly limit the number of overnight charter guests.

How do Christensen Yacht owners use their yachts?

Christensen owners use their yachts for private family vacations, luxury charter, entertaining and extended coastal or international cruising. Typical itineraries include Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, New England and the Mediterranean, depending on the yacht’s location, class status and cruising program. Large sundecks, spas, beach clubs, swim platforms and tender storage allow owners and charter guests to enjoy diving, fishing, Jet Skis, Seabobs, kayaks, paddleboards and other watersports. Yachts such as Chasseur, Casino Royale and Carte Blanche have also operated in the luxury-charter market, where their six-cabin layouts, professional crews and extensive entertainment spaces are particularly valuable.

Are Christensen Yachts suitable for cruising the Great Lakes?

A Christensen can cruise the Great Lakes, but ownership requires extensive logistical planning. The region offers enough water and major-yacht infrastructure for large motor yachts, yet a buyer must evaluate the individual yacht’s draft, air draft, beam, fuel requirements and route into or out of the lakes. A representative 164-foot Christensen has an approximately 29-foot-6-inch beam and an estimated eight-foot full-load draft. Practical considerations include deep-water dockage, bridge and lock clearances, crew housing, fuel delivery, winterization and access to a yard capable of hauling or servicing a 115- to 164-foot composite yacht. Some owners may keep the yacht in the Great Lakes during summer and relocate it to Florida, the Bahamas or Caribbean for winter. JBYS’s seven Great Lakes offices and two Florida locations can help coordinate the regional brokerage and ownership aspects, although a captain, route specialist and superyacht-management team should also be involved.

What awards has Christensen Yachts received?

The most recent major model-specific Christensen recognition was earned by the 49-meter Chasseur in 2017. Chasseur won Best Power Yacht from 40 to 65 Meters at the International Superyacht Society Awards and received the Judges’ Special Award for Achievement at the 2017 World Superyacht Awards. The special award recognized both the yacht’s quality and the difficult circumstances surrounding its construction. Earlier Christensen honors include a 2010 Robb Report Best of the Best award and a ShowBoats Design Award for Odessa, along with recognition for yachts such as Lady Joy, Primadonna and Marathon. Because no recent production launches have been publicly documented after Jackpot, current Christensen recognition is driven more by the continued sale, charter and refit of its existing fleet than by new-model awards.

Why should I use Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales to purchase a Christensen Yacht?

A Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales yacht broker can represent a buyer throughout the search, evaluation, negotiation and closing of a pre-owned or centrally listed Christensen. A JBYS broker can identify suitable yachts, communicate with the listing brokerage, compare asking prices, collect maintenance and refit records and help assemble qualified composite surveyors, diesel technicians, maritime attorneys, insurance specialists and yacht-management professionals. JBYS has more than 50 years of company heritage, over 1,050 years of combined team experience and nine locations across Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Florida. The company’s MLS access also allows its brokers to assist clients with vessels represented by outside firms while coordinating financing, insurance, documentation and delivery. Christensen is not shown among JBYS’s authorized new-boat brands, so JBYS should primarily be viewed as a buyer’s broker for pre-owned and brokerage-listed Christensen Yachts.