Yachting February 2020

Sunlight passed through the glass-bottom pool above my head on the main deck. I was standing in the disco on board a Heesen superyacht, near the full bar and stools. Just add a DJ to start the party. ¶ Once upon a time, this type of space on a yacht was used almost exclusively to stow tenders, fenders, extra lines, maybe a half-inflated dinghy and some paddles. But in recent years, the transom garage has seen a sea change when it comes to function. ¶ It always amazes me when a concept that has seemingly been in plain sight the whole time is discovered, and people say: “Wow, what a good idea. Why didn’t that happen sooner?” I had the same thought when I saw the Ocean Alexander 90R with…

THE BOATS WILL BE THE STARS AT THIS YEAR’S Miami International Boat Show and Miami Yacht Show, which are slated to run concurrently February 13-17. Yes, there will be new exhibits, food vendors and VIP experiences at both shows, but boatbuilders are splashing so many new models, showgoers will need shoes with serious soles to get to them all. (We have some ideas for those shoes in the following pages.) ¶ Here’s a look at just some of the designs that have us psyched to hit the docks. These boats are big and small alike, built for all different kinds of cruising, and have aesthetic characteristics that make them stand out amid this year’s crop of new entries. BERTRAM 50 Bertram Yachts is planning to unveil the hardtop version of…

YES, GUY HARVEY HAS A FAVORITE PAIR. ¶ “The one I’ve got on right now has the sailfish on the sole on the outside,” he says. “It’s very comfy. I do like these shoes for casual eveningwear. Flip-flops are nice, but this has great imagery.” ¶ And the man knows a thing or two about great imagery. ¶ Renowned for his paintings of sport fish and more, Harvey has long been licensing his artwork for use on products people can wear. There are short-sleeve T-shirts, long-sleeve tees, rash guards, tank tops, hoodies, shorts, bathing suits, hats, belts—and that doesn’t even include the additional women’s, kids’ and infant items. ¶ But until 2018, there were no shoes. “We try to do everything from head to foot,” Harvey says, “but a lot…

REMEMBER THE DAYS when the only food you could find at a boat show amounted to a rubbery hot dog and a sloppy burger? Boy, have things changed. This year, Novocento is being added to the culinary lineup at the Miami International Boat Show. ¶ Yes, that Novocento—the one that opened in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood back in 1991. It now has outposts in Uruguay, Argentina and Miami, with fare that combines Argentinian, Mediterranean and pan-Latin cuisines. ¶ Menu highlights include homemade pasta and empanadas, along with steaks and salads. For the boat show, the cooks will no doubt be tapping into recipes they already serve at Hard Rock Stadium (home of the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins) and Marlins Park (home of the city’s Major League Baseball franchise).…

WHEN CRUISERS YACHTS DEBUTED ITS 338 bow rider this past year, it was the Wisconsin builder’s first toe into the burgeoning outboard-sportboat pond. Based on feedback to that model, the Cruisers 38 GLS is far more than just 6 feet longer. This outboard-powered cruiser is an all-purpose craft, with features for day-boating, overnighting and entertaining aboard. ¶ The most visible change from Cruisers’ first sportboat is the 38 GLS’s “beach door,” a section of the starboard coaming that folds out and converts to a deck, replacing the swim platform that would otherwise be where the outboards are. The aft-facing bench-seat backrest swivels, so parents can keep an eye on kids swimming from the deck, and two amidships dinettes allow for dining. ¶ Stir in a galley console with a sink…

SURE, YOU’RE USED TO SEEING QUAD-ENGINE CENTER-CONSOLES that go fast. But 63.9 knots? Of course, tricked-out twin-step hulls are nothing new. But one with vertical sidewall tunnels and a centered aft tunnel that grips the water like Pirellis on asphalt, even in high-speed turns? And yes, we know there are plenty of big center-consoles with monstrous livewells. But a 90-gallon version so darn big, you could quite literally climb into it and, were it fitted out with a heater and jet pump, enjoy a soak in a hot tub? This is what happens when Viking Yachts decides to get into the outboard game. ¶ When I ran the V-41, queen of Viking’s new Valhalla Boatworks fleet, the results were impressive. Along with that 63.9-knot top-end speed, the V-41 posted a…