EPOQ 36: A New Chapter for the Gentleman’s Yacht
SES Yachts, in collaboration with Ocean Independence, introduces a 36-metre displacement yacht that brings the classic gentleman’s yacht into a distinctly contemporary era.
Some yachts are designed to make an impression. Others are designed to be lived on. EPOQ 36 clearly belongs to the latter category.
Presented by Turkish shipyard SES Yachts in collaboration with Ocean Independence, EPOQ 36 marks a new chapter for a shipyard with more than five decades of experience in custom yacht building. Designed by Sturge & Toth, it is the first model in a new series that takes its inspiration from the elegance and leisurely spirit of the Belle Époque, without attempting to recreate the past.
Instead, the project translates the essence of the gentleman’s yacht into a contemporary language of clean lines, balanced proportions and understated luxury.
Designed around life at sea
The philosophy behind EPOQ 36 is less about making a visual statement and more about creating the right conditions for life on board.
Its generous exterior spaces are conceived for relaxed cruising, long lunches, entertaining family and friends, and spending time at sea without unnecessary haste. Inside, loose furniture in the main salon allows the space to adapt to different uses, while traditional timber craftsmanship is paired with contemporary fabrics and materials.
The approach also gives owners considerable scope for personalisation, including during the later stages of construction.
One of the yacht’s most distinctive details can be found on the sun deck: a glass-bottomed Jacuzzi positioned directly above the al fresco dining area. More than a striking design feature, it acts as an architectural skylight, bringing natural light and the movement of the water into the space below.
The switchable liquid-crystal glass can alternate between transparent and translucent, adding a discreet technological layer to an otherwise timeless environment.
Technology with a purpose
Technology on EPOQ 36 is never there simply for the sake of technology. The philosophy is to introduce innovation where it genuinely improves the owner’s experience.
The same thinking continues below deck. The yacht is built around a steel displacement hull, with simplicity, efficiency and reliability at the core of its engineering philosophy. Low-revving engines are intended to provide quiet and economical cruising, while the onboard systems have deliberately been kept straightforward to simplify maintenance and minimise operational complexity wherever the yacht may be cruising.
“Every design decision has been evaluated through the lens of how owners actually use their yachts,” explains designer Benjamin Toth. “The result is a vessel that offers exceptional comfort while remaining practical to own and operate for decades.”
Van Oossanen’s Fast Displacement Hull Form
At the heart of EPOQ 36 is the Fast Displacement Hull Form, developed by Van Oossanen Naval Architects.
The FDHF combines the efficiency of a displacement yacht with performance characteristics associated with semi-displacement hulls, reducing resistance across a broad range of speeds.
For owners, this translates into lower fuel consumption, improved cruising efficiency and greater confidence over longer passages.
Seakeeping is equally important. The optimised hull geometry reduces pitching and contributes to a smooth and dry ride, even when conditions become more demanding.
The objective is therefore not simply to chase headline speed, but to create a yacht capable of delivering comfortable, efficient and confident cruising over extended periods.
A new direction for SES Yachts
EPOQ 36 represents more than a new yacht. It marks an evolution in the direction of SES Yachts itself.
Founded more than 50 years ago, the family-owned Turkish shipyard is now operated by the third generation and has delivered 91 fully custom sailing and motor yachts to owners around the world. Its reputation has been built on craftsmanship, fine woodwork and long-term relationships with its clients.
With EPOQ, that heritage moves into a new semi-custom platform.
SES Yachts, Sturge & Toth, Van Oossanen Naval Architects and Ocean Independence have worked together from the earliest stages of the project, bringing design, engineering and brokerage into a single development process rather than treating them as separate disciplines.
The result is a yacht that deliberately avoids excess. EPOQ 36 places the emphasis on proportion, craftsmanship, practicality and the experience of being at sea.
Perhaps that is the most contemporary interpretation of the gentleman’s yacht: a yacht with nothing to prove, designed simply to be lived in and enjoyed.
