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The 25 Greatest Superyachts of the Past 100 Years

Yacht design and technology—from steam engines to hydrogen fuel cells—have changed dramatically over the last century. these 25 standout vessels have been at the forefront of that revolution., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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A Century of Sea Change

Yachts have seen remarkable transformations in design and technology in the last 100 years. The lengths and shapes have changed decade by decade, from the mini-ocean liners of the 1920s to a more glamorous, fuller shape by the 1950s, eventually giving way to the layered wedding-cake construction that was so popular until about a decade ago. Now, just about anything goes, judging from the list below, with yachts boasting vertical bows being the most popular.

Technology also changed over the years, from steam engines to diesel to a growing list of hybrid diesel-electric powerplants. In the next five years, expect to see the first generation of superyachts with hydrogen- or methanol-powered fuel cells. What really hasn’t changed in the last century are owners’ desires to create superyachts that are unique, often clashing with the accepted design norms of the time.

Here are the 25 greatest superyachts from the last 100 years.

'Delphine' (257 Feet 9 Inches) 1923, U.S.A.

Delphine is the original 1920s oceangoing queen. American automobile magnate Horace Dodge commissioned the vessel, rumored to have once hosted former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, and Michigan shipbuilding company Great Lakes Engineering Works built it in 1921. At 258 feet, Delphine remains the largest yacht ever built in the U.S. that is still in operation. She is also the largest active steam-driven yacht in existence. The two original 1,500 hp steam engines were re-equipped with two modern water-tube boilers during a 2003 refit, which provide 18 metric tons of steam per hour. Surviving a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II, several fires, and multiple owners, Delphine is today fully restored to her 1920s glory, including original teak on the main deck and a revived Tiffany-designed interior.

'Talitha' (247 Feet) 1929, Germany

Talitha is one of the world’s first superyachts with an exceptional pedigree. F. Krupp built the vessel, which was originally penned by naval architects Cox & Stevens (leading designers of their day), in Kiel, Germany. First known as Reveler , Talitha was delivered in 1929 to Russell Algar, chairman of the Packard Car Company. A string of high-profile owners ensued, including John Paul Getty Jr. in the 1930s, son of one of the richest men in the world at the time. Getty commissioned an exterior and interior redesign by late superyacht designer Jon Bannenberg and, in 1993, a full reconstruction was completed at the Devonport shipyard in Plymouth, U.K. Regular refits since, including a 1999 newly installed wheelhouse, has made Talitha successful as a popular charter yacht.

' Malahne' (164 feet) 1937/2015, UK

Originally designed and built for the owner of renowned J-Class yacht Velsheda , classic motor yacht  Malahne enjoys a period interior designed by Scottish designer Guy Oliver (best known for styling London’s 10 Downing Street and Claridge’s). Original Art Deco features include Baccarat crystal, Willer porcelain, Georg Jensen silverware, and a lamp by 1930s designer Edgar Brandt. The yacht was once used as the production headquarters for Lawrence of Arabia and had luminaries such as Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra walking the teak decks. In 2015, it underwent an extensive restoration at British shipyard Pendennis, which focused on maintaining its old-world glamour, including the yacht’s 25-foot custom-built Cockwells varnished Brazilian mahogany high-speed tender.

'Savarona' (446 Feet 9 Inches) 1931, Germany

Launched in 1931, Savarona was built for an heiress, enjoyed by royalty, and starred on the big screen. Built by Blohm & Voss for Emily Roebling Cadwalader, granddaughter of Brooklyn Bridge engineer John Roebling, 446-foot Savarona was featured in the German science-fiction film Gold . The Turkish government bought the vessel in 1938 and leased to Turkish businessman Kahraman Sadıkoğlu in 1989, who spent $45 million refurbishing the yacht. The original steam turbine engines were replaced with modern Caterpillar diesels, but the original 282-foot gold-trimmed staircase remains. Today, Savarona is the official presidential yacht of the Republic of Turkey.

'Shemara' (212 Feet, 2 Inches) 1938, Great Britain

Within a year of being built in 1938, 212-foot Shemara was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and used throughout World War II as a training vessel for anti-submarine warfare. Following the end of its service, the superyacht returned to her owner Bernard Docker, who entertained high society aboard its decks. Later in life, Shemara endured long periods of neglect until current owner Charles Dunstone acquired her in 2010, starting the long road back to refurbishment. Alongside much of the original teak and steel exterior features, Shemara is now fitted with a Rolls-Royce diesel-electric system, including two electrically driven azimuthing pods and a bow thruster.

'Christina O' (325 Feet) 1943/1954

Possibly one of the most eminent superyachts of all time, 325-foot Christina O didn’t begin life in the spotlight. Built in 1943 by Canadian Vickers, the vessel served as a frigate in World War II until 1954 when Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis bought it as war surplus for a mere $34,000. He spent $4 million on the refurbishment and then entertained the world’s elite on board, from Maria Callas and Grace Kelly to Jack and Jackie Kennedy, prior to Onassis marrying Jackie. Named after Aristotle’s daughter, Christina O enjoys a bronze-edged swimming pool with a mosaic dance floor that rises at the push of a button. The stools in Ari’s Bar retain the original leather upholstery.

'V2V' (ex-Carinthia VI) (137 feet, 7 inches) 1973, Germany

The first major yacht designed by Jon Bannenberg and a breakthrough build for German shipyard Lürssen, Carinthia VI is a star of the decades, commissioned by supermarket magnate Helmut Horten as the sixth yacht in his Carinthia fleet. However, Carinthia V was in fact the original version but sadly hit an uncharted rock on her maiden cruise in the Mediterranean and sank. Horten ordered an almost identical replacement (this time with extra watertight bulkheads) and used Carinthia VI until his death in 1987. In 2016, the yacht suffered severe damage in a fire. Its new owner then bought the yacht, undergoing an extensive rebuild in Turkey to its original Bannenberg lines that was completed in 2023 when the yacht was renamed V2V.

'La Sultana' (214 Feet 56 Inches) 1962, Bulgaria

A Bulgarian passenger ferry turned Soviet spy vessel, 214.5-foot La Sultana has a checkered past. Built in 1962 for operations in the Black Sea, it was absorbed into the Russian fleet during the Cold War and sent to the North Atlantic for unofficial reconnaissance on the United States and United Kingdom. In 2015, La Sultana  completed a seven-year refit, which saw the addition of a raised bow, seven guest cabins across six decks, and a diesel engine installed to drive the original propeller. Several spying instruments were also discovered, including a radioactivity detector and thick aluminum insulation across the entire boat. The original push button steering controls are still in operation.

'Highlander' (164 Feet) 1986, Netherlands

American media mogul Malcolm Forbes commissioned the 164-foot Highlander , built by Feadship to a Jon Bannenberg design with De Voogt naval architecture, in 1986. The yacht’s historic guest list reads like a who’s who of Hollywood stars, from Elizabeth Taylor to Robert De Niro. Two bathrooms in the master suite are offset by six guest cabins. Those lucky enough to charter this piece of yachting history also have use of Forbes’s original cigarette boat, now re-painted in jet black with a bold red stripe.

'Tatoosh' (303 feet) 2000, Germany

Built by Nobiskrug for cellular pioneer Craig McCaw, the 303-foot Tatoosh was more famously owned by the late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, who bought the yacht off McCaw in 2001. Penned by German designer Claus Kusch—with input over the years from Jon Bannenberg, Terence Disdale, Martin Francis, and Stefano Pastrovich— Tatoosh is arguably one of the foremost explorer yachts of the modern age. The vessel was conceived to be a world cruiser with all the toys and entertainment that a yacht could carry. Alongside two helicopter landing pads, it has 11 staterooms for 19 guests, a heated swimming pool with a lifting floor, a cinema, and a dive center with a nitrox refilling station for deeper dives.

'Al Salamah' (456 Feet 10 Inches) 1999, Germany

At the time of its construction in 1999, 456-foot Al Salamah was the third largest yacht in the world. The build began at German yard HDW in Kiel but was completed by Lürssen in Bremen, the only yacht builder at the time capable of meeting the owner’s demanding timeline. Al Salamah was commissioned by the late Saudi Arabian crown prince Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz. Estimated to be worth in the region of $200 million and accommodating 36 guests, the ample amenities include a cinema, a fully equipped onboard hospital, two full-time beauticians, a business center, and a spa.

'H' (ex-NEOM) (311 feet) 2000, Netherlands

Delivered in 2000, the 311-foot  H   remained the largest Oceanco yet built and the largest yacht built in Holland until the delivery of Kaos (ex- Jubilee ) in 2017. Originally named Al Mirqab , the vessel was a highly private yacht under the ownership of the Qatar royal family before ex-politician and co-owner of Formula One Force India team Vijay Vittal Mallya took ownership in 2006. The Maltese government seized the lavishly outfitted yacht, which includes a helipad large enough for a twin-engine helicopter, Elton John’s baby grand piano, a full medical suite, and triple engines each delivering 10,000 hp, in 2017 over unpaid maritime bills. NEOM was auctioned off to her current owner in 2018.

'Rising Sun' (453 Feet) 2004, Germany

Built for Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison in 2004 and currently owned by business mogul David Geffen, Lürssen’s Rising Sun is another Jon Bannenberg success story, completed two years after the designer’s death. Even with her 453-foot length and 7,841-gross tonnes volume, Rising Sun achieves an impressive top speed of 28 knots. The owners were impressed enough with the speed to build a suspended, tube-like walkway so visitors can see the four MTU 20V 8000 M90 diesel engines providing the power. A bank of full-height curved windows run along the entire length of the superstructure, flooding the interior with natural light and giving the yacht a striking exterior profile.

'Motor Yacht A' (390 feet, 4 inches) 2008, Germany

Few yachts divide opinion like M/Y A . Designed by Philippe Starck, engineered by naval architect Martin Francis, and built by Blohm + Voss, the yacht is rumored to have cost in the region of $300 million to bring to life. Characterized by its head-turning reverse bow and vertical superstructure, the vessel is a private floating fortress where guests’ access to the water is restricted to the stern. It boasts a cathedral-like tender garage and three swimming pools; it’s also the predecessor to the even more controversial S/Y A , which emerged nine years later and briefly held the place of world’s largest sailing yacht before being displaced by Koru.

'Dubai' (531 Feet 5 Inches) 2006, Germany

Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei first commissioned Dubai in 1995 to be built in collaboration by German shipyards Blohm + Voss and Lürssen. But the superyacht was not completed until 2001 by Platinum Yachts when current owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, took over the project. British studio Winch Design crafted the exterior, and the vessel is reported to have cost in the region of $400 million to build. Dubai  was the largest yacht in the world until 2010, when she was replaced by Roman Abramovich’s 533-foot Eclipse . Dubai ’s amenities, spread across eight decks, include a helipad, two 33-foot chase boats, a squash court, and 20 Jet Skis.

'Savannah' (273 feet, 11 inches) 2015, Netherlands

Savannah is renowned for being the first hybrid yacht on water, with fuel savings of up to 30 percent. It blends a single diesel engine with three gensets, batteries, a propeller, and an azimuting pioneering electro-mechanical propulsion platform. Built by Feadship, the yacht’s 41-foot beam was such a tight fit for the Dutch canals during delivery that the builder wrapped her in protective film and used plywood on the sides to serve as fenders. With its interior and exterior designed by Cristina Gherardi Benardeau, the yacht was also ahead of its time, with a corridor of double-height video walls, a floating superstructure, and an underwater Nemo lounge.

'Maltese Falcon' (289 Feet) 2006, Turkey

The legendary Maltese Falcon broke the mold of yacht design when launched in 2006. Perini Navi’s 289-foot, three-masted schooner was the result of its adventurous owner, the late Tom Perkins, and naval architect Gerard Dykstra’s radical design idea. The show-stopping Dynarig concept, now coined the Falcon Rig, catapulted Maltese Falcon to becoming the world’s most instantly recognized yacht, not to mention one of the most complex and largest sailing vessels ever built. The contemporary, computer-controlled sail system is based on freestanding carbon masts and yard-arms into which the sails furl. This system allows for easy sailing in all sea conditions. Famous charterers include Tom Hanks, Hugh Jackman, and Google cofounder Larry Page.

'Eclipse' (533 Feet) 2009, Germany

Aside from stealing the title of world’s largest yacht from 531-foot Dubai by a mere 1.5 feet, Eclipse is an exercise in amenities. Delivered to her owner Roman Abramovich in 2009, the vessel features a 52-foot swimming pool within an extensive beach club, two helipads, and a helicopter hangar under the foredeck. The 533-foot yacht is powered by a diesel-electric system driving azimuthing pods, one of the first of its kind. Eclipse retained the title of world’s largest yacht until the arrival of 590.5-foot Azzam in 2013. Designed inside and out by Terence Disdale, Eclipse took five years to build and is reported to have cost in the region of $590 million.

'Chopi Chopi' (262 Feet) 2013, Italy

Tasked with an experienced owner’s brief for a private yacht on which to spend long family holidays, CRN delivered with  Chopi Chopi . The largest yacht built by CRN at the time of her 2013 launch, the 262-foot Chopi Chopi remains the Italian yard’s flagship. A 656-square-foot owner’s suite with private terrace is complemented by a helipad capable of landing a three-ton helicopter. The interior ceiling heights are in excess of seven feet. But the focus of the design is on comfortable outdoor living, realized by a large beach club with an adjoining sauna, hammam, and spa with a treatment room.

'Azzam' (590 Feet) 2013, Germany

At a whopping 590-foot, Azzam has held the title of world’s largest yacht since her launch in 2013. Azzam was built by German yard Lürssen in a record three years for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the current President of the United Arab Emirates. Alongside a 95-foot main saloon, Azzam carries a submarine and its own missile defense system. Two gas turbines and two diesel engines propel the yacht through the water more than 32 knots.

'Black Pearl' (350 Feet) 2018, Netherlands

Delivered by Oceanco in 2018, the 350-foot Black Pearl is only the second yacht in the world to be fitted with Dykstra’s DynaRig carbon masts and sailing system. Its eye-catching black sails span 9,514 square feet and can be set in a record seven minutes with the push of a button. The hybrid propulsion system combines wind power with two electric propulsion motors, and its controllable pitch propellers generate enough energy to support the yacht’s hotel load. A waste heat-recovery system is just one of the onboard features that helps to realize the owner’s vision of a “zero-impact” yacht.

'Excellence' (262 Feet) 2019, Germany

Built for an experienced serial owner, American automobile magnate Herb Chambers, the Winch-designed 262-foot Excellence was delivered in 2019. The vessel takes its design inspiration from Motor Yacht A , which Chambers at first didn’t care for but then began to love. The piercing reverse bow (that mimics the beak of an American eagle) and triple-height glass-fronted atrium give it curb appeal but has also led to the yacht being likened to a spaceship. Driven by the desire to have a connection to the outdoors, the design rests upon a symbiotic relation between the indoors and out and was ultimately successful, partially due to the use hundreds of square feet of curved, mirrored glass panels.

'Koru' (417 feet) 2023, Netherlands

Oceanco’s 417-foot Koru , commissioned by Jeff Bezos, is a three-masted, black-hulled schooner with a bowsprit, classic lines, and white superstructure. Reportedly costing $450 million to build and accompanied by a 246-foot custom Damen support yacht  Wingman , the new vessel is the world’s largest sailing yacht (knocking S/Y A off the top spot). Koru also holds the title of the largest superyacht ever built in the Netherlands and the tallest sailing yacht in the world, with masts that measure over 230 feet.

'Obsidian' (417 feet) 2023, Netherlands

Feadship’s 2023 delivery Obsidian has the appearance of a spaceship. But the boat’s technically advanced propulsion package, described as having a 90 percent reduction in total CO2 emissions, is what places it on this list, carrying the Dutch builder one step closer to its goal of achieving a zero-emission superyacht by 2030. The hybrid diesel-electric system is designed into a single-floor engine room creating additional interior space for owners, guests, and crew. With no drive shafts or rudders, the steering is done through a pair of electric Veth contrarotating thrusters. The diesel generators will also run on HVO, a second-generation biodiesel that manufacturers describe as a net-zero CO2 fuel. A low profile, horizontal styling features, and clean exterior shapes are a preamble for the yacht’s interior, which includes an underwater observation area—known as the Aqua Lounge.

'Luminance' (417 feet) 2023, Germany

Delivered in late 2023, Lürssen’s eighth largest build, Luminance , ranks as the 12th largest yacht in the world and is the 30th yacht built by the German shipyard with an exterior design by Espen Øino. The six-deck behemoth is one of the most significant yachts to be launched this year, with an internal volume of 9,000 GT, a beam of 66 feet, and an interior by Francois Zuretti. The gigayacht features two helipads, two Jacuzzis, a large swimming pool, and a distinctive stretched bow.

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The Rise of the J Class Sailing Yacht

J Class yachts drew gasps of admiration in their 1930s heyday. Eighty years on, they still do .

Nearly 20 years ago, I remember crunching along the shingle to Hurst Castle, jutting far out into the Western Solent, for a glimpse of three huge sailing boats as they fought the ebb tide. It was 2001, the 150th anniversary of the America’s Cup , and the three yachts were Endeavour , Shamrock V and Velsheda – the last of the original J Class. I stood with hundreds of others transfixed as the boats hammered past into the Solent on their way home to Cowes.

Built to contest the America’s Cups of the 1930s, these Js were designed by legends such as Charles Nicholson , Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens . Their names were bywords for romance and luxury; their owners celebrities.

But such is their capacity to entrance, these 36-metre to 43-metre sloops, with their giddy overhangs fore and aft, have actually grown in number since 2001. Today the fleet numbers nine yachts, with a further two on the drawing board. And, if you’d been lucky enough to be in Bermuda in mid-June 2017, you would have seen seven of these magnificent boats vying in the America’s Cup J Class Regatta. “The class has grown because of its incredible history of racing and the America’s Cup – and the sheer beauty of the boats,” Velsheda’s owner Ronald de Waal says. “Sailing on one is an incredible experience and the racing is equally exciting.”

And yet despite its resurgence, the J Class story owes as much to mud berths and rusting hulls as it does to regattas and billionaires. The US fleet was scrapped for materials after the outbreak of the Second World War, but three heavily built British Js survived. As America’s Cup challengers, they had to cross the Atlantic Ocean on their own bottoms to take part. Velsheda spent entire decades holed up on the Hamble, Endeavour was rescued from the scrapyard, while the wooden-hulled Shamrock V was cruised in the Med.

The tide turned fair again for the J Class only as recently as 1984, when American sailor Elizabeth Meyer bought the hulk of Endeavour and set about restoring her. “Elizabeth is very much the catalyst for the revival of the J Class with the renovation of Endeavour in 1984,” Philip Lotz, commodore of the New York Yacht Club, said in 2017. “Her vision and inspiration… got restoration going not only for the J Class but for all classic yachts.”

Meyer was nearly overwhelmed by the task; it took just two years to make Endeavour seaworthy enough for towing to the Royal Huisman  yard in the Netherlands. She famously said that 98 per cent of her net worth was tied up in Endeavour by the time she sailed again in 1989.

Meyer was also the person responsible for refitting Shamrock V in 1989 and that summer, the first J racing of the modern era captivated spectators from Maine to Maryland. At first it was an amateur affair, with crews recruited by skipper Gary Jobson. “We sent forms out to 200 sailors he knew and we ended up with 600 replies,” Meyer recalls. “Sailors were Xeroxing copies and sending them back to us. I told Gary, ‘Well, we will just have to run a lot of regattas.’”

The admiration that had made the J Class and their owners front-page news in the 1930s was as strong as ever. “The J Class boats seemed to be worshipped everywhere,” Meyer says, “venerated like a mix of what might be expected for a film star or something like the Eiffel Tower.”

Velsheda was next in line for a refit and the three Js raced side-by-side for the first time at Antigua Classic Week in 1998. By now the late John Williams, an American property developer, had initiated work to build a replica of the Sparkman & Stephens-designed “super-J” Ranger . Harold Vanderbilt’s original had all but dismissed the challenge posed by Sir Thomas Sopwith’s Endeavour II in the 1937 America’s Cup, and was considered among the fastest Js.

With new boats being built, ground rules were urgently needed to keep the racing fair, and so in 2000 the J Class Association was born. Its first and most important rule was to restrict new J Class yachts to existing lines plans from the 1930s – something that instantly limited their number to 22 hulls. “Not all of the original lines are interesting,” says Andre Hoek, the noted naval architect who was involved in updating the designs for the build of Lionheart , Topaz and Svea . “There are nine boats in the water, and probably only five or six more of interest.”

Then performance limits were determined to prevent extreme design. “You have to maintain the original freeboard and the rig geometry,” Jeroen de Vos, naval architect at Dykstra, explains. “And new boats have to have a functioning interior. You don’t want a situation where the old boats become obsolete.”

The only major concession has been to allow lighter hulls built from modern aluminium and other materials, instead of the original Tobin bronze or steel and timber, and the rudder shape can be modified. But most of the magic happens from the deck upwards. All the boats sport top-of-the-line carbon sails, carbon spars and hydraulics that can put up to 35 tonnes of tension into the headstay. It’s a huge contrast to the 1930s, when the 50-metre masts were prone to tumbling over the side in anything more than a force 3, so stretchy was the rigging of the day.

Regular refits keep today’s Js at the leading edge of new technology. “We have the chance to play with all of it, and the level of the other teams constantly pushes us to do more,” says Velsheda skipper Barney Henshaw Depledge.

In 2016, Southern Spars shaved an impressive 800kg off Hanuman’s rig weight by using super-thin carbon laminate and ECsix rigging. That’s the equivalent of removing 10 crew members sitting on the second spreaders. “The mast specifications nowadays are expected to be in the same ballpark as the most modern race yachts,” says Steve Wilson, senior designer and co-founder of Southern Spars.

Just as important is a clean deck plan that favours communication between the 30-plus racing crew and facilitates sail changes. “Deck layout is a huge part of it for being able to pull down headsails of 450 square metres and kites of 1,000 square metres,” de Vos adds.

Using an algorithm to predict performance, each hull is rated accordingly – but with only minute differences separating them, the Js are more akin to a one-design fleet. “The racing is very close – it’s won on seconds,” says de Vos. “Because the boats are so close, if you cross the line ahead, you’ve basically won.” This draws some of the world’s top sailors, from Volvo Ocean Race veteran Bouwe Bekking (tactician on Lionheart ) to two-time America’s Cup helmsman Ken Read (Hanuman and Topaz ) and a host of young talent.

Off the racecourse, the Js have a different appeal, with lavish panelled cabins, marble-lined bathrooms and cosy deckhouses. “The boats are quite deep in the water and therefore are very comfortable below,” de Waal says of his beloved Velsheda . “There is a lot of deck space as well. You can enjoy very relaxing and quiet moments of cruising with your family and friends.” Some of the boats charter, too, with prices starting from $65,000 (£50,000) per week.

Perhaps the last word about the J Class should go to its modern-day saviour, Elizabeth Meyer. “We love them because they are sublimely beautiful, utterly impractical and fiendishly demanding.” And that, in a nutshell, is it.

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A contemporary legend

In May 2000, Riva became part of Ferretti Group, who restored it to where it is today, at the vanguard of world boating as a recognised icon of fine Italian yachting artistry. This felicitous journey is down to the know-how of the group Engineering department and the sensibility of designer Mauro Micheli, co-founder with Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, the studio that exclusively designs the whole Riva fleet.

That year also saw the launch of Aquariva, a 33-foot embodiment of the brand DNA that set the tone for the future output – a triumph of élan, innovation and exclusivity encapsulated in a product of revolutionary engineering, reliability and performance. In 2012, Ferretti Group announced a new majority shareholder: Shandong Heavy Industry Group (Weichai Group) of China, a true industrial giant, one of the world’s most important conglomerates in the automotive, commercial vehicles and construction machinery sectors. Weichai’s strength and strategic vision have enabled Riva to make yet another leap forward, with a flow of projects and resources assured for the long term. In 2014, the brand signalled its return to the megayacht sector, with the new Riva Superyachts division. The dream of creating Riva steel and alluminium displacement superyachts is very much inspired by Carlo Riva. His ambition and restless genius spurred him to reach for new horizons, with the celebrated Caravelle and Atlantic series megayachts in the ’60s and ’70s and, from 1970 to 1978, the six over-20-metre motor yachts in the Marco Polo series plus a 90- and a 100-foot Vespucci.

The Riva yard in Sarnico: the timeless atelier

The production yard in Sarnico near Bergamo opened in 1842 on Lake Iseo deep in the Franciacorta area and remains the heartbeat of the Riva story today. This is where it is all made and always has been – from the legendary wooden hulls of the past to the modern 27- to 68-foot yachts.

This was his personal brainchild, from the design to the functional amenities. Known as La Plancia (the bridge), the office stands in the middle of the work shed, its great 40-metre-wide arch borne on two pillars that also support a pair of bridge cranes, each capable of lifting craft weighing in at 20 tons. This architectural masterpiece makes a fine sight, even from the far side of the lake. A listed building, it is officially protected along with the rest of the yard as an environmental heritage treasure. The shipyard spans 36,000 sqm, about 17,000 sqm of it indoors, and boasts 10 moorings, 2 jib cranes, 4 painting cabs and a 50-ton trolley for transporting the finished yachts to the jetty and for handling shells or bulky items.

The Riva yard in La Spezia: the future is now

The La Spezia production facility is a key strategic and industrial hub. Built to extend Riva’s range and production capacity, it became operational in 2004 and is now the group’s technical, logistical and commercial centre of excellence for the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas.

With 13,000 sqm of indoor facilities. These include industrial work sheds and office blocks as well as piers and jetties with a total length of around 400 metres, serviced by a 300-ton wheeled travel-lift. Conceived to champion state-of-the-art production techniques and to build the largest models in the range – from 76- to 130-footers – it is home to the largest centre for testing, launching and delivering yachts in the whole of the Ferretti Group. Owners of yachts by all the group brands can enjoy customer-care and marina services here.

The Riva yard in Ancona: the home of the new Riva Superyachts division

Spanning almost 80,000 sqm (nearly a third of it indoors), the Ancona yard is one of the largest shipbuilding facilities anywhere in Europe. It’s home to the engineering and design team from the Riva Superyachts division, who work closely with designer Mauro Micheli and his colleagues at Officina Italiana Design.

This is where we build the Riva 50m and Riva 54m, masterpieces of advanced technology and attention to detail suffused with the spirit of the brand.

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PALMER JOHNSON Yachts – Operating Since 1918

Palmer Johnson is one of the iconic yacht builders to emerge from the Americas. The company is located in the Great Lakes region in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

The company constructs high-end performance yachts up to 81.4m, with showrooms in Fort Lauderdale and Monaco.

Once highly regarded, they built famous vessels, such as the Fortuna for the King of Spain, and the Turmoil, an explorer vessel that sailed the globe three times. 

PALMER yachts history

In 1918, Hans Johnson and Herman Gmack founded Palmer Johnson under the original name Sturgeon Bay Boat Works.

The boatyard specialized in repairing rowing boats and commercial fishing vessels in the 1920s.

In 1928, they launched their first wooden yacht and became known for building high-end wooden sailing yachts. Hans’ son, Palmer Johnson, takes over the company in the same year.

As with many companies with a 100-year history, Palmer Johnson went through hard times and prosperous times.

The WWII period was a particularly good time for business for Palmer Johnson as they built over forty 45-foot air-sea rescue boats and four “T” class freighters.

In 1956, the shipbuilding company was sold and renamed after the founder’s son, Palmer Johnson.

Throughout the 1960s and into the next four decades, Palmer Johnson was at the forefront of innovative yacht construction using aluminum. 

The company delivered FIREBIRD just a few short years after this shift to aluminum yacht construction. FIREBIRD was the world’s largest aluminum sailing yacht at the time of her launch, a 25.6m ketch.

FORTUNA soon surpassed this record in 1979. FORTUNA was King Juan Carlos of Spain’s 30.5m yacht.

FORTUNA held the title of the fastest yacht globally for over a decade as she could reach the incredible top speed of 46 knots, which was unheard of at the time.

Celebrating its 80th anniversary, Palmer Johnson launched LA BARONESSA, a 59.5m all-aluminum yacht, the largest in the USA, in 1998.

In 2003, Timur Mohamed bought the stagnant Palmer Johnson Yachts after purchasing his 120-foot yacht, the Cover Drive, from the shipbuilders.

The English businessman purchased it as the company had experienced several unproductive years.

In 2004, the company burst back onto the shipbuilding scene when it introduced its popular SportYacht series under its new owner’s direction.

The series featured exterior and interior designs from Nuvolari Lenard, the major yacht design company renowned worldwide.

In 2012, Palmer Johnson introduced the new carbon-fiber SuperSport performance. The SuperSport was a new carbon fiber performance model.

Unfortunately, this series was launched in a different economic climate and didn’t reach the success of their SportYacht series. 

Notable launches

Palmer Johnson has several other notable launches besides its most iconic launches like the FORTUNA and LA BARONESSA.

In 2007, the 41.5m PJ 135 SportYacht Dragon was launched. The superyacht rose to international acclaim with a maximum speed of 30 knots. 

Although Palmer Johnson struggled to keep traction in the yacht market after 2012, an ongoing project in partnership with Bugatti is a point of interest for yacht fans.

A contract for thirty of the new PJ 48 Niniette and PJ 63 Niniette Open Sport series yachts has been signed, which amounts to EUR 40M for the yacht building company.

Palmer Johnson has a rich history in yacht building, with over 100 years of innovative yacht building that will hopefully continue with the new Niniette model.

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CODECASA Yachts – Operating Since 1825

OCEANCO Shipyard – Yachts By Oceanco

AMELS Yachts – Operating Since 1918

BLOHM and VOSS Yachts – Operating Since 1877

The origins

One family at the helm of the brand.

Giuseppe Balducci was born in Limite sull’Arno, a nautical town in Tuscany. He began his career working in a historic shipyard in Viareggio, but his entrepreneurial spirit and his talent soon spurred him to look for more. This is how the Overmarine Group was born.

THE ORIGINS OF THE NAME

The Balducci family founded Mangusta in 1985, choosing a symbolic name for the company. At the time, the leading brand in open yachts was Cobra by Tecnomarine: the new company was therefore named after the mongoose, the only animal that can fight and defeat cobras. Mangusta clearly set out to challenge the status quo.

AN ICON IS BORN

The company launched the Mangusta 80. Up until that moment, “open” yachts had never reached 80 feet in length, which meant buyers had always been forced to compromise between speed and space, sportiness and comfort. Mangusta built a large, high-performance sports yacht that was also exceptionally comfortable and pleasant to live in. It was a huge success, which left its mark in history and made the brand known all over the world. It was the beginning of Maxi Open yachts! Over the years, models grew even bigger. Their streamlined, sporty lines make them timeless classics – true icons in their field. 

THE LAUNCH OF THE OPEN LINE'S FLAGSHIP

In 2007, the Italian boat builder set themselves a new challenge: creating one of the largest open yachts in the world, over 50 metres in length. To achieve this ambitious goal, they approached Stefano Righini, a leading designer in this segment, establishing a long, fruitful cooperation. That was how the Mangusta 165 came to life, the flagship in her range, capable of combining sportiness and performances with outstanding onboard comfort and thus enabling her Owner to live the sea at full speed (up to 38/40 knots) while also enjoying the stylish interiors of an exclusive villa.

THE NEW SHIPYARD IN PISA

In 2012, a new production site for the construction of the new metal lines Mangusta Oceano and Mangusta Gransport was officially opened in Pisa’s docks area. The shipyard extends over an area of 22,000 square metres, allowing to build several units in parallel at the same time.

THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST METAL SUPERYACHT

Mangusta’s innovation never stops: in 2016, the first three-decker hit the water, a 42-metre steel and aluminium mega yacht part of the new Mangusta Oceano long range line – displacement vessels conceived for those who want to travel the world in style, no matter the destination or the distance to cover. The project, which had started back in 2013, was the result of the successful cooperation with designer Alberto Mancini.

THE FIRST MANGUSTA TO CRUISE AROUND THE WORLD

2018 saw the launch of the Mangusta GranSport 54 El Leon , the first Mangusta to cross the oceans on a 3.5-year round-the-world voyage, covering more than 50,000 miles. Thanks to her 4 engines, totalling almost 12,000 hp, the vessel was able to cruise smoothly in any and all sea and weather conditions.

RESEARCH NEVER STOPS AT MANGUSTA

In 2021, the new Mangusta Oceano line projects were presented: the 39 and the 44, representing a new concept of villa on the sea, with wide outdoor spaces and large glazed surfaces offering breathtaking views. A new era also started for the Maxi Open line, with the iconic Mangusta 165 REV, a true revolution in elegance and performance that reinterprets traditional Mangusta lines in a contemporary key thanks to the collaboration with design firm Lobanov Design. 

THE FIRST MANGUSTA 165 REV TOUCHES THE WATER

The first REVolutionary Mangusta 165REV was launched this year. The very epitome of classic, timeless beauty perfectly harmonised with a radically new concept of lifestyle: an aggressive profile featuring the typical rounded shapes of Mangusta’s iconic style. Lobanov Design worked side by side with the Shipyard’s Engineering Department to offer many innovative solutions, first and foremost the huge master suite developed on two levels – a loft with large, floor-to-ceiling windows flawlessly integrated in the hull.

MANGUSTA OCEANO 44. AN OVERWATER VILLA

In 2022 this new three-decker touched the water. With her steel hull and aluminium superstructure is a global yacht to be enjoyed to the full, defined by stylish lines and outstanding performances with maximum comfort. Designed by Alberto Mancini and the shipyard’s Engineering Department this yacht introduces a brand-new way of living the sea.

ALWAYS A MILE AHEAD

At Mangusta, innovation means leveraging the best technologies and newest engineering solutions to break down the boundaries between speed, low consumption and great onboard liveability. A constant effort to guarantee that each yacht’s excellence will offer best-in-class performances while never compromising on the comfort offered by generous, liveable spaces. The family-owned and family-managed business is now led by the second generation, Katia and Maurizio, and Victoria, Maurizio’s daughter.

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HERITAGE WITH A NEW BEGINNING

When the first Hatteras splashed in 1959 it forever changed what the world could expect from a sportfishing boat. In fact, the Knit Wits was the first fiberglass boat over 40’. From this landmark beginning, innovation and performance have informed every chapter of Hatteras’ storied history.

This legacy—and the pride and craftsmanship upon which it has been built—was central to our purchase of Hatteras. When the White River Marine Group bought the brand in May of 2021, we welcomed one of the finest teams of boat builders in the world. We also welcomed a proud history of innovation—one that matches our own.

We are hard at work charting the next chapter of Hatteras. Full of pride and optimism, it is our commitment that what comes next can influence the industry as profoundly as the first Hatteras once did. This is what we mean by, “Heritage with a new beginning.”

FOR 60 YEARS, THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE ON THE WATER.

A Hatteras Yacht does not aspire to offer a luxury. That is simply where we begin. It is beyond that point – and within the experience each voyage offers – that you begin to understand the true Hatteras difference. That difference, for over half a century, has allowed Hatteras to stand as the benchmark of quality and innovation to which all others aspire.

Willis Slane envisioned a fishing boat strong enough to withstand the waves off Cape Hatteras, where his prey of choice, the marlin, grow as big as the swells.

Building a legend.

Two strong currents collide near Cape Hatteras: pride and perseverance. We’re a product of the storied coastal waters from which we borrow our name. Unforgiving seas where, for hundreds of years, dreams were sacrificed and legends born. So when others say we’re obsessed with over-engineering every detail, we know it is simply the right way to build a yacht. The uncompromising union of inspired design, breakthrough innovation and unmatched craftsmanship. Our commitment began 60 years ago when Hatteras founder, Willis Slane, envisioned a new breed of fishing boat. One strong enough to tame the waves off Cape Hatteras. What followed was the birth of a legend. Beginning with the Knit Wits, the 41-foot fiberglass yacht that revolutionized the industry, Hatteras served notice that our yachts would now be the standard to which all others were judged – above and below the waterline.

From that initial breakthrough vessel to each innovative yacht that has followed through the decades, Hatteras has offered a level of craftsmanship focused on perfecting every detail and over delivering on every expectation. When Hatteras began, some asked why our yachts were made this way. These days, they just want to know how. There is an undaunted spirit in the Hatteras brand. You can see it in the obsessive work of the men and women who pour their talent and heart into building each legendary vessel. You can feel it in the way the Hatteras hull cuts confidently through waters that lesser boats dare not enter. But more than anything, you can witness it inside the ambitious souls who make Hatteras an expression of their own drive for adventure. Those who are unwilling to compromise and determined to push boundaries. So, for all those who celebrate a life without limits, we welcome you aboard.

The sea creates winners and losers every day. Know which side you’re on.

INNOVATION BEYOND IMAGINATION

For 60 years, Hatteras has set the standard to which all other yachts aspire. That began with producing the world’s first fiberglass yacht over 40 feet and pioneering the revolutionary convex and modified-V hull. And while decades of design and engineering have resulted in a long list of patents and accolades, our focus continues to be on everything yet to come. From hull and propulsion breakthroughs to on-board connectivity and interior design, a commitment to innovation fuels every aspect of our business. And in the process we’re creating a legacy for others to chase and an unmatched experience for a fortunate few to enjoy.

Convex and modified-V hulls  for optimal performance under the widest range of conditions.

Double chine and side “step-outs”  offer a dryer ride and more interior space.

In-house designed multi-bladed hybrid propellers  offer improved fuel economy, reduced vibration and a quieter ride.

Deep gear ratio  improves efficiency and thrust capabilities.

Revolutionary deep tunnel design  for enhanced performance and rudder response.

Patented air induction system  reduces noise and vibration by over 200%.

Resin Infusion  for stronger and lighter decks, bulkheads and other parts.

Electrical systems  surpass all NMMA, ABYC and National Electric Code standards.

High-gloss and UV-resistant paint  on every exterior surface. The most durable coat in the industry.

Custom finishing and design  available across every element of the yacht, including luxury materials, furnishings and appliances.

“Our designs reflect who the owner is today – and where they intend to take their yacht tomorrow.” —Cullen Moser, Lead Designer

Design. build. and beyond..

Exceed every expectation. It’s a blueprint that guides the engineering and construction of our legendary yachts. It’s a philosophy that extends to the experience you will discover from our very first consultation. And it’s a commitment that ensures every moment aboard a Hatteras reflects your personal vision and pursuit of a life without limits.

DISCOVER MORE IN THE DESIGN

Hatteras involves owners at every stage of the design-build process. This includes an initial consultation at our headquarters in North Carolina to outline your wish list, including technology integration and choice of several amenity combinations. A dedicated team, led by your personal sales consultant, will guide you through every step of the planning and construction process to ensure your dream is realized.

YOUR VISION IS REALIZED

Our seasoned Hatteras design team will work with you to develop an interior plan that fully realizes your vision and reflects your personality. This includes the ability to personalize several features to your tastes. Everything from appliances and galley tile to furniture upholstery and wall coverings can be impacted by your choice of finishing packages.

A GREATER COMMITMENT

Our relationship with our customers doesn’t end when the keys are handed over. In fact, it’s only the beginning. A multi-day orientation session is offered with each purchase, including the ability to have members of the Hatteras team join you for portions of your maiden voyage. And in the days, weeks and years that follow, you’ll have the added peace of mind of direct access to your Hatteras team whenever you need assistance. That commitment is also backed by an industry-leading 1-Year Warranty on all systems and a 10-Year Structural Warranty.

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Fleming Yachts Shipyard History

Construction of Fleming Yachts began at the Tung Hwa boat yard in southern Taiwan in 1985 under the personal supervision of Tony Fleming. Today, all Fleming Yachts continue to be built by Tung Hwa and are sold through a network of authorized dealers in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Japan

A Timeline of Milestones

Tony Fleming served as the technical director of American Marine in Hong Kong, builder of the Grand Banks line of trawler yachts. He was largely responsible for the development of these well-known yachts and later organized the company's new yard in Singapore, becoming its General Manager.

Tony left American Marine and, with his business partner Anton Emmerton, worked with an American naval architect, Larry Drake of San Diego, California, to develop an all-new pilothouse design. Tony and Anton visited Taiwan in the summer of 1985 to research the best boat yard to build what would eventually become the Fleming 55. The Tung Hwa facility located near Kaohsiung was selected, and work on hull number one began. Although the original mold was built for a 55-foot yacht, the first boats were 50-feet - having a shorter cockpit but otherwise similar to the later 53's and 55's.

Starting with hull number 9, the length was extended to 53-feet and eventually to 55-feet. By 1997 over 100 Fleming 55s had been delivered, and customer demand for a larger model led to the development of the Fleming 75. The first Fleming 75 was launched in 2000. In 1998, Tony Fleming's nephew, Adi Shard, a young graduate engineer from England, joined the company and moved to Kaohsiung to work side by side with his uncle.

In 2001 Duncan Cowie joined the company, his background in aviation engineering and previous experience as a yacht captain proved to be of great value. The popularity of the Fleming line continued to grow and, again driven by customer demand, this led to the development of another new model - the Fleming 65. Launched in 2005, hull number one was spoken for by Tony himself, and he began to turn over the day-to-day operation of Fleming Yachts to his management team which included his nephew, Adi Shard, Duncan Cowie, and his daughter, Nicky Fleming. Tony named his new Fleming 65, VENTURE, and embarked on a series of adventures which he refers to as his "voyages of personal discovery." By 2006, Fleming Yachts had delivered 170 Fleming 55s, 12 Fleming 75s and five 65s.

With well over 200 Flemings cruising the world, the company continued to focus on refining and improving its three models. In 2007 Tsai Chan joined Fleming Yachts as the QC Manager responsible for carrying out stage checks, testing, and final inspection on all new Fleming's. His can-do attitude and attention to detail have made him a key member of our small team. A year later in 2008 the team was once again added to when Simon Culling joined Fleming Yachts as the QA Manager. His responsibilities include product compliance, technical documentation and after sales service/support. Simon has vast ocean going experience and was a navigator in the British Army for 20 years running 75 meter landing craft, and later was made principal at the largest powerboat training school in UK. Boating journalists and owners have lauded Fleming as "the ultimate cruising yacht" and Tony Fleming proved them correct. From her homeport of Newport Beach, California, Tony's VENTURE explored British Columbia, Alaska, Mexico, and the Galapagos Islands before transiting the Panama Canal. She then traveled up the East Coast to the St. Lawrence Seaway by way of Lake Ontario. After visiting Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, she made her way down the East Coast to winter in Annapolis, Maryland. This 20,000 mile voyage has been called the world's most extensive sea trial, as it allowed Tony to test and refine many new ideas and equipment. After completing this exciting voyage, Tony decided to commission an all-new Fleming 65, VENTURE II, which incorporated several new, innovative features resulting from his extensive cruising experience. After appearing at the Southampton Boat Show in England, Tony cruised VENTURE II extensively throughout Europe and in the summer of 2010 completed an exciting circumnavigation of Iceland. He continued to cruise extensively in the original VENTURE and, during the summer of 2011 took her to the Queen Charlotte Islands in the Pacific Northwest.

2011 also marked the 25th Anniversary of Fleming yachts and coincided with the publication of the second edition of Fleming's magazine, VENTURER. Described as "A Fleming Publication for Cruising Enthusiasts," it has received rave reviews from Fleming owners throughout the world. While the global economy had a negative effect on sales, the Fleming brand enjoyed continued success and with special interest in both Australia and New Zealand. All three models continued to benefit from evolutionary refinement with new features and layouts being offered. Responding to feedback from loyal Fleming owners and dealers, Fleming Yachts embarked on a completely new design, the Fleming 58. With everything the 55 had to offer plus, being 30% larger in displacement, considerably more space. Plans were drawn and redrawn, a model was tank tested and the lengthy tooling process was followed by construction of the first boat which was completed in Summer 2013. By mid-2014, Fleming had completed and shipped 58-005 and had secured retail orders up to 58-011 - thus proving the success of the new design and demonstrating continued faith in the brand. Tony continues his travels and, in 2012, took VENTURE to Glacier Bay in Alaska and the following year even further north to Prince William Sound.

2016 - 2018

In 2016, Tony revisited Prince William Sound and traveled further afield to Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. This year Tony is cruising to Idaho on Venture, up the Columbia and Snake rivers. His blogs can be found under the Tony's Adventures on our website. Australian Laser sailor Tom Burton, sponsored by Fleming Yachts, wins the gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games. 2017 saw the launch of the Fleming 78 "Classic." This new version of our flagship model has the same hull and deck as the original 78, but has an entirely new single level, low profile flybridge design. Among the many improvements on the flybridge include more comfortable seating, a BBQ, fridge, icemaker, freezer and entertainment center. The davit is positioned aft so that the tender can launched over either side or off the stern. The systems have all been upgraded to include the latest technology for safety and convenience. The Tung Hwa yard in Taiwan has made significant upgrades and investments in new equipment and buildings to better facilitate production for the expanding Fleming line. This commitment to Fleming has helped speed up production times with better accessibility and storage for inventory and parts.

2019 - Present

Fleming Yachts continues to sponsor USA Laser sailor Leo Boucher who competes globally in all major sailing competitions. At the time of writing the 270th Fleming 55 is under construction and there are now over 385 Fleming's cruising worldwide.

Viking Yachts History

Viking yacht company celebrates over five decades: a hull of a story.

Not too long ago, though, the picture at Viking was anything but rosy. When the double-whammy of a nationwide recession hit in 1990, followed by the introduction of a federal luxury tax in 1991, the company went from 1,500 employees in two plants to just 80 employees in one plant. In general, the marine industry went into a tailspin that resulted in massive plant shutdowns and a significant rippling effect of related closures as ancillary businesses, such engine manufacturers, equipment producers and other vendors saw their markets dry up.

The Healeys borrowed working capital and invested their own money to keep the company afloat. Bob Healey also was instrumental in organizing a national, grass-roots campaign to fight the tax based on a loss of jobs issue. In taking the industry lead, Bob organized busloads of out-of-work boat builders that converged on Capitol Hill. Other demonstrations took place on a regular basis around the country to plead for support in repealing the tax. In Rhode Island, a boat was set on fire aboard a barge in Narragansett Bay as a symbol of protest. It took better than two years, but by 1993 the luxury tax was history and Viking was poised to flex its muscles as boat buyers returned to the market. It is interesting to note that Viking's decision to remain open, despite dismal sales attributable to the luxury tax allowed the company to tool up for new models. Thus, when the tax was lifted, Viking roared to the front line leapfrogging over its competition firmly establishing Viking as the dominant builder in its class.

In dealing with an owner base that is constantly seeking new and larger models, Viking produced the Custom 105, built in Viareggio, Italy, to Viking's specifications by Versilcraft. The new yacht made its premiere at the 42nd Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2001 and was awarded the National Marine Manufacturers Association Innovation Award at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2002.

In February 2002, Viking opened a new service facility in Riviera Beach, Florida, near Palm Beach, to accommodate Viking owners who bring their boats south for the winter. The new facility features slips for in-water work, as well as land storage to handle larger projects and outfitting. A 125-foot by 150-foot shed with 50 feet of clearance will accommodate boats with tuna towers for indoor work.

In December 2002, the Bass River Marina, adjacent to the Viking Yacht plant was bought back by the Healeys and reflagged the Viking Yachting Center. It was at this marina where the Healey brothers started their maritime careers. The brothers sold the property in 1964 when they devoted all of their energies to boat manufacturing.

In early 2003, Viking formed two new companies, Atlantic Marine Electronics (AME) and Palm Beach Towers (PBT). Atlantic Marine Electronics is based at the Viking Yachting Center (with a satellite office in Riviera Beach) and is responsible for the sophisticated electronic navigation packages, which are installed aboard Viking Yachts and Viking Sport Cruisers. Based at the Riviera Beach, Florida, facility (with additional service bays at the Yachting Center), Palm Beach Towers designs and builds tuna towers and fabricates other aluminum and fiberglass components for Vikings and other yacht brands.

At a very special breakfast presentation on October 29, 2003 during the International Boatbuilders’ Exhibition & Conference in Miami Beach, Florida, Viking Yachts’ Bill and Bob Healey were recognized by their peers and inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Hall of Fame for their selfless contributions to the recreational marine industry.

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The visionary and driving force behind the Sunreef Yachts shipyard is Francis Lapp – the company’s Founder and President.

Francis Lapp opened a shipyard in Gdansk – a city with long traditions in naval construction and the most skilled workforce. With the launch of the world’s first 74ft luxury oceangoing catamaran with a flybridge in 2003 Sunreef Yachts started a new era in the history of yachting and sparked a change in the philosophy of multihull design.

Sunreef Yachts establishes its production site and office in Gdansk, Poland

The launch of the world’s first oceangoing luxury catamaran with a flybridge – Sunreef 74 CHE

Staffed with some of the world’s best engineers and craftsmen, the Sunreef Yachts shipyard is renowned for in-house manufacturing on all levels. Each and every stage of the design and building process is carried-out within one modern infrastructure. Bespoke work and impeccable quality are the key the shipyard’s success.

DESIGN & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Marked by fine craftsmanship and innovative design, every catamaran built by Sunreef Yachts is unique. All of the engineering and handiwork is carried out in-house, in the Gdansk shipyard.

Every detail is measured to meet the highest standards. The result is quality you can see, feel, and experience.

Innovation is at the very core of the Sunreef Yachts philosophy. Constantly pushing the boundaries of multihull design, the Sunreef Yachts shipyard introduced groundbreaking projects bringing a breath of fresh air to the yachting world..

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A new range of sports yachts combining elegance, incredible deck space and the signature Pershing thrill.

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Ferretti Group at the Palm Beach International Boat Show with six stunning boats.

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Ferretti Group at the Miami International Boat Show 2024 with two fantastic premieres.

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We have been revolutionizing the yachting world since 1985, with no desire to imitate ourselves nor anyone else.

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The foundation of Offshore Yachts was actually established during World War II when steel shortages led the US Navy to consider alternative construction materials. Richard O. Hunt, future founder of Offshore Yachts, pioneered the use of laminated fiberglass in the construction of auxiliary navy boats. After the war in 1948, Richard went on to build the first laminated fiberglass pleasure cruisers. Ten years later, Richard’s sons joined him in the business.

All yacht buyers look for safety, comfort, convenience, and performance, and in the 1960s, to achieve these goals, Offshore Yachts sought out legendary naval architect William Crealock, one of the world’s leading authorities on performance cruising boats. His “deep fore foot” designs led to Offshore’s very successful high-speed Marauder series, which were built from the 1960s into the 70s. His designs are masterful realizations of the yachter’s abstract needs in physical form. In 1983, Crealock extended the deep-fore-foot design to the first Offshore 48, a boat that is the direct progenitor of our current line of cruisers (now reaching 92 feet). More recently, designs have been created by Doug Sharp and continue the form, function, and style begun by Crealock.

The deep fore foot has become the signature element of Offshore design. The “finely veed” forward section allows a sharp entry that cuts cleanly through rough seas, offering a smooth controlled ride and virtually eliminating slap and pounding. As a result, Offshore owners frequently report that in choppy seas they feel confident in proceeding when other craft are turning back to the docks. In addition, the immense core strength structure of Offshores combined with the finely detailed, sensual elegance of the interior/exterior provides an uncommon feeling of luxurious safety. A generous beam offers liberal space for comfortable accommodation.

Offshore hulls derive their amazing strength from being molded as a single integral unit. The construction molds are equally admired for their aesthetic features - built-in facet lines, insets (vs. cutouts), and their clarity and flaw-free smoothness of surface. This is attention to detail that many manufacturers prefer to skip.

Today’s Offshore has evolved from our long history of refinement, materials development, and customer inputs and experiences. As of the newest Offshore 80 now nearing construction completion, the company has built 300 + yachts, an important number because it is no easy task to build a luxury yacht, and in the end, it’s the builder’s experience that makes all the difference. Indeed, Offshores are almost always semi-custom crafts, a one of a kind conception perfectly tailored to the owner’s requirements, and so our half-century plus of know-how is doubly critical in making them all such successful creations.

Because of their quality and high reputation, Offshores have tremendous liquidity. As an owner, you have a built-in exit strategy and a lower overall ownership investment. In one recent quarterly survey of brokerage sales (Yachtworld.com data), thirteen Offshore yachts ranging in size from 48’ to 66’ sold as opposed to three yachts from our top three competitive brands. This says just about all you need know.

We urge you to ask Offshore owners, shipyard owners, captains, professional yacht brokers, surveyors, yacht club members this simple question, “What do you think of Offshore yachts?” The answers will surely be overwhelmingly positive, and if not, we want to hear about it.

Testimonials

Trish and I purchased our first 62 foot Offshore from John Olson @ Offshore Yachts in 2017.  After owning other boats, we were so impressed with the quality and craftmanship of the Offshore that we started thinking of finding a 72 foot Offshore.  In 2019 John found a 72ft Offshore for us and with his help he was able to sell our 62ft in record time. We would never use anyone else to purchase a boat, (maybe a 76 is in our future).  Without any hesitation, we highly recommend John and his team and Offshore Yachts.

December 2021

Praise from a New Member of the Offshore Family

After a great deal of research, we determined that the OFFSHORE ™ was the ideal boat for the Northwest waters that we travel. We connected with John Olson, (who gets the award for the most patient boat broker of all time!), and began looking at various new and used Offshores’, visiting boat shows across the country, and searching for the right boat for our specific needs.

We wanted to be able to operate the boat ourselves with just the two of us on board. We wanted it to be comfortable and functional for long distance cruising, but be outfitted for hard core fishing, fish processing, and storage. John listened to us talk about all of these goals, and took several stabs at designs for new boats, as well as strategies for customizing existing hull designs.

We are proud to be new members of the OFFSHORE™ family.

Praise from a New Offshore Owner

"Pat and I REALLY love our new Offshore 76. Now that we have had a week or two aboard, we are beginning to notice the extra thought and care that went into designing and outfitting her. We wake up every morning and our first words are, "We love our boat!" Our thanks to everyone in your organization for making the transition easy.

In Ft. Lauderdale, the team at the Harbor Town office: Captain Palmer, Captain Davis, Rich, Mary Jane. They unfailingly went out of their way to get us an answer or make a connection.

I enjoyed meeting Chris at the boat show -- very knowledgeable and helpful. And special thanks to you and Rojo for direct involvement and ready phone numbers. Very impressive responsiveness.

Finally, Geir, who made it all happen. He is simply a perfect representative of your company: honest, persistent, cheerful, and the kind of old salt that appeals to other old salts like me. Together you all make quite a team, and we feel very lucky to have chosen Offshore."

Comments overheard at the San Diego Boat Show

"The details are just gorgeous."

"By far the best--this is it!"

"I'm in love."

"This is my favorite so far."

"Wow, holy mackerel! Geeez, this is cool."..."The details are just gorgeous."

"Nicely done, very impressive."

"Don't have to go any further than this one."

Comments overheard at the Lido Boat Show

"You guys make gorgeous boats. I have always admired them."

"The quality is just exceptional."

"This is just awesome. This is the boat show winner!"

"That's a lotta boat!"

"I'm ready to move in."

Hale Kai - Our 58’ Offshore Pilothouse

Our 58’ Offshore Pilothouse proved its seaworthiness during its shakedown cruise in April 94 during the ‘storm-of-the-decade’ in Southern California inter-coastal waters. Our float plan called for cruising to Avalon to pickup family then south around the bottom of San Clemente out to Santa Barbara Island around the west-end of Catalina back to Avalon and then home to Newport Harbor.

Whether pushing our way thought ice flows in Alaska, skiing down twenty footers driven by Gale-force winds off Northern California, crossing unmarked reef-strewn shallow banks or bouncing through 15’ moguls off the north-eastern tip of Columbia; Hale Kai has proven to be a reliable and trustworthy partner.