Why yes, that sound you hear is sparks flying as we rub our hands together with giddy excitement about the new yachts that are scheduled to premiere at this month’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Here’s a look at 10 new models that we’re eager to get onboard and check out:
• Hargrave 101
This raised pilothouse design is by Ted Black Studios and is part of a total product-line makeover for Hargrave. She has a country kitchen-style galley, four guest staterooms plus crew quarters, and 7-foot 2-inch headroom on the main deck with décor from Yacht Interiors by Shelley. A pair of 1,700-hp Caterpillar C-32 Acert engines provide a top speed of 21 knots. More details are at www.hargrave.org.
• Grand Banks 50 Eastbay SX
With a cruising speed of 25 knots and a top speed of more than 34 knots, this beauty represents a design evolution for the popular Eastbay brand. A flybridge model is also available, and two- and three-staterooms layouts are options. The hull design is by C. Raymond Hunt, and the cruising is quiet, with a 72 dB(A) reading under way at both the helm and in the forward cabin. Learn more at www.grandbanks.com
• Viking 52 Convertible
Let’s talk numbers. The new Viking 52C has a 145-square-foot cockpit, a 4-foot 7-inch-long recessed fish well and a pair of stowage wells, one of which converts into a 40-gallon live well. Can you say phenomenal fishing? Not to mention that the flying bridge overhang partially shades the cockpit, making life pretty darn comfortable for anyone in the fighting chair. Crew will also be happy in the cockpit thanks to the grippy nonslip on the fiberglass sole. Details about the rest of this beauty’s attributes are at www.vikingyachts.com.
• **Princess V48, 52 and 82 Motor Yacht **
Princess Yachts is going for the trifecta at this year’s Fort Lauderdale show, bringing three new models across the pond from Britain. The V48 has an enclosed main salon with a power roof that opens to create an indoor-outdoor vibe. The Princess 52 is a three-stateroom beauty with top speeds of 27 to 32 knots, depending on your choice of power plants. And the Princess 82 Motor Yacht is a deep-V stunner with an interior décor that is on par with many 100-footers’. Check out all of these new models at www.princessyachts.com.
• **Van der Heijden 52 Commuter **
The Dutch really know what they’re doing when it comes to building head-turning boats out of aluminum. The Van der Heijden 52 Commuter has classic good looks and strong modern performance characteristics, with a top speed of 35 knots thanks to a pair of 575-hp Caterpillar C9s. And seriously, look at that bow. Does this boat say, “Let’s go cruising,” or what! Learn more at www.ardell.com.
• Hatteras 100 Raised Pilothouse
With a draft just shy of 6 feet, the Hatteras 100 RPH really can go just about anywhere. And you’ll get there comfortably, since she has the largest salon and aft deck in her class, according to the builder. Exotic hardwoods and stone countertops give the interior décor a seriously upscale feel, too. More details are available at www.hatterasyachts.com.
• Riviera 565 SUV and Belize 54 Sedan
The 565 is the second model in Rivera‘s SUV range. She can sleep as many as six or seven adults in her three cabins, which include a king-bed, full-beam master.
Meanwhile, the Belize 54 Sedan (above) coming to Fort Lauderdale is Hull No. 8 in the Belize Motoryacht line, which also includes a 54 Daybridge (below).
Learn more about both models at www.riviera.com.au.
