Scrap Metal Catamaran - Check Out the 55-Foot Sailing Yacht Made from Junk

Actor-turned-environmentalist Daniel Roesner is redefining yachting with a one-of-a-kind, circular performance catamaran.

When German Daniel Roesner isn’t in front of the camera or working behind it, his passion for sailing has led him to designing an eco-conscious boat with unique details.

His latest project, dubbed the Hu’chu 55, is more than a high-performance sailing catamaran. It’s a floating template for sustainable living and circular design.

It's also made of scrap.

The 55-foot multi-hull, developed in collaboration with Hamburg-based naval architecture firm iYacht GmbH, attempts to answer a simple question: what happens when you design a yacht not just to cruise, but to care?

“I am not an engineer or scientist, but someone who truly fell in love with the water and the planet he lives on,” said Roesner in statement when the boat launched.

“The design and engineering office iYacht acted as a filter for my imagination. While some of my ideas were challenged technically, for most of them iYacht confirmed the feasibility and even enabled me to go one step further.”

The result is the Hu’chu 55 — a purpose-built catamaran that somehow blends Roesner's love for adventure with creative production, eco-conscious manufacturing, and sustainability in its operation.

A Catamaran With a Conscience

According to Roesner and iYacht, "circularity" isn’t just a buzzword for the Hu’chu 55 — it’s the foundation for the boat's identity. The materials that comprise the boat were specfically chosen not just for performance, but for their afterlife.

The most groundbreaking detail is the custom aluminum alloy in the hull, developed in partnership with a leading aluminum manufacturer. The hull utilizes over 90% recycled scrap and not a single kilogram of primary metal, meaning none of the metal was manufactured specifically for the Hu'chu 55.

By doing so, the alloy reduces the carbon footprint to less than 2 kg CO₂ per kg of aluminum — about 1/8th the industry norm. Some of the recycled feedstock includes old license plates, cosmetic cans, shredded road signs, and even construction debris.

The boat’s interior and exterior design reflects the same ethos. Natural fibers, recycled cork, and reclaimed wood were chosen for their environmental integrity and ability to complete the boat without using primary sourcing. The bare-metal hull gives the boat a rugged, explorer-ready look, while the earthy browns and blacks of the interior create a tactile environment that defies conventional yacht aesthetics.

Engineered for Exploration

Despite its bold environmental stance, the Hu’chu 55 doesn’t skimp on performance. The yacht carries an LOA of 17.61 m (57'8") with an 8.66 m (28'4") beam and carries a max speed of 20 knots. She also has room for 10 passengers.

“We have designed and engineered a dozen multihulls in recent years,” says Udo A. Hafner, CEO of iYacht GmbH. “But the Hu’chu 55 represents a significant leap forward in terms of sustainability and circularity. Daniel had a very ambitious vision, and we guided him in turning it into a feasible project.”

The catamaran’s sail plan includes three forestays — a self-tacking staysail, an overlapping Genoa, and a flying code or gennaker — for optimal adaptability. The mast is also set further aft to ease handling on the mainsail and to enhance the foresail area.

There's power, too, courtesy of two electric motors that provide silent vibration-free propulsion when winds are low. Both units are powered by over 100 kWh of onboard battery capacity and can be recharged via solar panels or hydrogeneration, the latter using the motion of the boat to spin the propellers to generate electricity through electromagnetic induction.

Even the solar panels do double duty. They are connected to the hot water system in order to stay cooler and more efficient while offsetting the other energy needs onboard. A massive 700 liter (185 gal) water tank provides ample freshwater for the boat's needs.

Designed for Life Off the Grid

Roesner plans to use the vessel for ocean-based filmmaking, research, and low-impact living. As for living onboard, he's added even more elements that were heretofore unseen on a high-end yacht. The catamaran’s off-grid systems include vegetable-growing setups and a water treatment system using renewable energy.

In following with the sustainability ethos, Roasner has also taken a new approach to some common boating amenities. Most notably, the vessel has no air conditioning. Instead, it employs insulated glass, intelligent shading, and natural ventilation to maintain comfort without the high energy costs. This was a non-negotiable for Roesner, who insisted on “living with the environment, not in spite of it.”

What's up with the name, you might be asking? “Hu” is the abbreviation for where he grew up, Hunsrueck in Germany, a land where the production of natural materials such as wood, flax, linen, and hemp has a long and historic tradition. 

“Chu” refers to a spot north of Malibu where he really got in touch with the ocean and discovered one of his passions: surfing. This area used to belong to the Chumash Indians, a native tribe that has a strong spiritual bond with their environment and especially the ocean, a connection that resonates in “Hu’chu“.

As for Roesner, he sees Hu'chu as more than simply a boat. It's a vessel that connect him with nature, but it's also the cornerstone for bringing like-minded people together.

“I have a large circle of friends consisting of divers, free divers, scientists and underwater filmmakers. I would like to collaborate with them to implement various projects on topics such as environmental protection, research and adventure. I also hope to work with various universities. The boat is going to be a platform for sustainable research, adventure, film and circular living." #news #culture #weirdboats