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 its Bertram 50 at the Miami International Boat Show. With a 178-square-foot cockpit and a stylish interior, she is built to handle serious fishing with friends as well as relaxation with the family. Her draft is 4 feet, 2 inches, making her Bahamas-ready for angling tournaments and more, while her more than 1,200-gallon fuel tank should allow most cruisers all the capacity they need for a long weekend of exploring. Twin 1,150 hp Caterpillar C18 Acerts are standard, and a Seakeeper 9 should stop all but the slightest rocking and rolling. Displacement is 62,000 pounds, giving the boat a heft that should help with stability too.
Palm Beach GT60
In 2018, Palm Beach Motor Yachts launched its GT Series with the goal of building the world’s fastest and most fuel-efficient luxury yachts. Following in the wake of the Palm Beach GT50, the GT60 is scheduled to premiere at the Miami Yacht Show. Her cruising speed is reportedly 40 knots, with a range of 400 nautical miles at that speed. The speed comes from her Volvo Penta IPS1350s, combined with lightweight construction of the deck and structure in carbon fiber. “To achieve speeds of this nature with so little horsepower is truly remarkable,” Palm Beach CEO Mark Richards stated in a press release. “To be able to cruise long distance at these speeds, using minimum fuel, opens up a whole new set of destinations for the adventurous boater.”
Westport W172
Westport Yachts is working on its new flagship model, the W172. It joins the Westport 112, 125, 130 and 164 in the lineup. The W172 will be certified by the American Bureau of Shipping and compliant with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which means she’ll be charter ready—something the shipyard knows a lot about, given that its 112 and 130 are some of the most popular models in the global charter fleet. Twin 3,386 hp Caterpillar 3516E engines are projected to allow a cruising speed of 20 knots. Westport says top speed will be 21.5 knots, with a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 10 knots. Onboard features will include a master stateroom with a balcony to starboard and an elevator that services four decks.
MCY 70 Skylounge
There’s a new Skylounge Collection from Monte Carlo Yachts, with lengths overall from 65 to 105 feet. The first model to premiere will be the MCY 70 Skylounge, which is expected to make her world debut at the Miami Yacht Show. Italian design firm Nuvolari Lenard worked with the builder to create the design, which has a customizable flybridge offering 360-degree views of the great outdoors. All four staterooms, including the amidships master, are belowdecks, with the master’s head providing a sound-and-vibration buffer between the accommodations and the engine room. There’s a day-head aft on the main deck, making it convenient to the salon and aft deck, which has outdoor dining space.
Sirena 58
Sirena Yachts is adding a Coupé version of its 58 Flybridge model. Three hulls of the new edition were sold before the first one even went into build. The builder says the new version is designed for reduced air draft to benefit coastal cruisers in areas with bridges—a request that, apparently, a lot of US boaters have been making. And when those people want to go cruising, range is reportedly more than 850 nautical miles at 10 knots. The top hop? 26 knots. Sirena is promoting the yacht as having two master staterooms on the lower deck, with three-stateroom layouts as an option. And for yacht owners who like to cook, the galley spans the full beam aft on the main deck. The 4-foot-1-inch draft is ready for shallow-water itineraries.
CL Yachts CLB88
Designer Jozeph Forakis, with offices in New York and Milan, worked with CL Yachts to pen the interior and exterior of the CLB88. The goal was to include one of the largest flybridge spaces in the yacht’s class, along with a hardtop that allows shade as well as wide-ranging views. Inside, the furniture is modular, so owners can customize the space to their needs, and CL Yachts is introducing a new helm-station design that includes advanced ergonomics and carbon-fiber touches. Maximum speed is projected to be 25 knots, driven by twin 1,600 hp Caterpillar C32 Acert engines. Guest staterooms accommodate eight people, and there are quarters on board to cruise with four crew.
