About Us

About MPYD

Since its founding in 1981 as a one-man design firm specializing in high-speed boats, Michael Peters Yacht Design has set the standards for style, performance and quality. The company’s philosophy is based on Michael Peters’ fundamental belief that all design should exemplify the fusion of art and science.

The intense competition of international racing demands measurable, quantifiable performance that allows no loss of focus or deviation from the goal. While it was raceboats that first brought Michael Peters onto the international stage, these same exacting standards apply to the performance and aesthetic criteria that drive the design of every boat that bears the name of Michael Peters Yacht Design.

With degrees in naval architecture, marine engineering and yacht design, the MPYD team melds advanced technology and engineering with the purest art form of clean, efficient design. The industry has recognized the firm’s work repeatedly with numerous awards and trophies. Throughout the last 40 years, over 40,000 boats have been built to the more than 500 designs produced by MPYD.

Some firms excel at style, others performance. Michael Peters Yacht Design enjoys the unique ability to standout in both.

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Meet the Crew

Our team of naval architects, engineers and designers.


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Our History

Unparalleled Performance


CAMPUS BY THE SEA

1967

Mike spent his summers at Campus by the Sea, on Catalina Island. Shown here with a black sea bass at age 14.

Begins drawing boats

1968

Michael Peters begins drawing boats.

DESIREE

1970

Mike builds his first powerboat; a 15’ Plywood Skiff named ‘Desiree.’

Squaw for Avalon

1971

Becomes caretaker at Campus By the Sea, designs and builds 14’ workboat ‘Squaw’ for Avalon commercial dive operation.

HULL DESIGN PATENT

1975

Mike presents his ‘Internally Vented Continuous Chine Stepped Hull’ design to the USC School of Architecture as his final project. He drops out of USC after third year to pursue patent.

Stepped hull prototype

1977

Builds his first 19’ stepped hull prototype ‘Maelstrom’.

HALTER MARINE

1978

Mike begins working as a Naval Architect at Halter Marine in New Orleans. Projects include: Sportfish Boats, Surface Effects Ships, Patrol Boats and Cigarette Boats.

U.S. and Foreign Patents Awarded

1980

U.S. and Foreign Patents awarded for “Internally Vented Continuous Chine Stepped hull”.

MAELSTROM MARINE DESIGN

1981

On October 1, 1981, Mike establishes Maelstrom Marine Design, Inc. in Sarasota, Florida.

Sets world record

1984

First Maelstrom offshore racing catamaran ‘Innovation’ sets world record at 131 mph.

AWARD-WIN

1986

Maelstrom 41 ‘Apache’ wins the 1986 US1 National Offshore Racing Championship.

Kiekhaefer Award-Win

1990

Michael Peters receives 1990 Kiekhaefer Award for ‘Innovation in Offshore Racing’.

MPYD AWARD-WIN

1991

41’ CUV ‘Fresh and Clean’ wins the 1991 UIM Class | Offshore World Championship, the first MPYD World Championship.

Advance in technology

1991

39’ Tencara ‘Iceberg’ built using advanced Carbon/Epoxy composite technology.

TENCARA IN ITALY

1993

MPYD and acclaimed ‘Visual Futurist,’ Syd Mead, created the 125’ ‘Difinitive,’ a concept design for Tencara in Italy. The ‘Difinitive’ heralded a new age in superyacht design, forecasting emerging trends and technologies.

Showboats Award-Win

1995

117’ MY ‘Lady Tiffany’ wins Showboats Award.

ALPHA Z

1996

MPYD designs the award winning 33’ Van Dam ‘Alpha Z.’

Another Showboats Award-Win

1996

71’ ‘Plumduff’ wins Showboats Award.

BREAKING BARRIERS

2005

The 43’ Tenara ‘Callan Marine’ posts 209 MPH, becoming the first Offshore Boat in history to break the 200 MPH barrier.

Superyacht Design Award-Win

2005

84’ ‘Jariya’ wins International Superyacht Design Award.

AWARD-WIN

2011

MPYD designs the Cheoy Lee ‘Alpha’ Series, awarded with the 2012 World Yachts Award.

U.S. patents awarded

2012

U.S. patents awarded for ‘Stepped ‘V’ Ventilated Tunnel’ (SVVT) hull.

US NAVY CONTRACT

2014

MPYD is awarded the contract to design 61’ U.S. Navy Combatant Craft Medium (CCM).

20th World Championship win

2016

41’ ‘Victory Team’ wins 2016 UIM Class I World Championship –the 20th World Championship win for MPYD designs.

Our Mission

While MPYD raceboats have made history and have established a worldwide reputation for Michael Peters Yacht Design, the company’s philosophy—to improve the performance and efficiency of every boat—permeates every project in the portfolio. Every custom yacht and series production boat has been designed to outperform its predecessor and to push the limits of engineering, style and function. Regardless of the boat’s purpose, each carries the same high quality standards that define Michael Peters Yacht Design.

Michael Peters Yacht Design

Uncompromising Style • Unparalleled Performance • Unequalled Quality