We took a side trip to visit President Yachts, which is located on Jiangjun Boat Harbor in Southern Taiwan. Founder Eddie Yeh, who was a pioneer in the Taiwanese boatbuilding industry when he opened his doors more than 40 years ago, built this facility seven years ago on a deep harbor. Not only does the facility include a large shed able to handle construction of several large yachts, the shipyard includes comfortable and spacious conference space and two huge apartments for build captains. Yeh moved there to build large yachts. He has a tendency to think large, and that is evident in the yachts he has launched to date. The President 107, launched a few years ago, is a tri-deck with enormous volume (and an impressive top speed of 24 knots). Yeh is following her with a huge 115-foot tri-deck, currently about 80 percent complete, that has seven feet of headroom throughout. Double doors open onto a spacious owner’s suite with ensuite bathroom and a walk-in closet. The main deck has a roomy salon, formal dining area and a country kitchen. The enclosed pilothouse deck features a captain’s cabin, second possible owner’s stateroom with private deck, and the vast sun deck has room for a bar, Jacuzzi and a helm station with plenty of seating. Being built to RINA class, this fiberglass yacht is expected to have a top speed of 23.5 knots. Also built and awaiting a client is the hull of the largest President yacht to date, a 130-foot tri-deck yacht.

While the American market has proven a bit slower than he’d want it to be, Yeh has not remained idle. Over the years, his shipyard has built boats of all sizes and shape. The first President yacht was a 41-footer and since he has built multiple 30-footers for the Japanese market, as well as a number of boats in the 75-foot range. He also has worked with Rhode Island-based designer Ted Hood who designed a 66-foot expedition-style yacht, built and delivered two years ago to an Italian client. Peter Kehoe & Associates currently represents President Yachts on the US East Coast.

For more information, visit peterkehoe.com or presidentyachts.com

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