Vicem Yachts, based on the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, has a big mission statement: “to blend craftsmanship born from 3,000 years of finely honed woodworking skills with the most advanced technology.”
The builder’s 67 Cruiser combines these essential elements and more. With a high, sea-stopping freeboard forward, a broad-shouldered 18-foot-1-inch beam, and liberal use of mahogany wood veneers throughout, the 67 Cruiser indeed looks classic while giving yacht owners some cool modern tech.
I stepped aboard at the aft deck, and the 114,000-pound yacht barely moved. The flybridge overhang extends all the way aft, perfect for weather protection and the installation of an enclosure, if desired. Three wood and glass bulkhead panels separate the aft deck from the salon. Sliding the panels to starboard opens up the space to the salon.
Inside, I ran my fingertips over the joinery, and it felt silky. The seams were barely noticeable unless I was looking for them. From the main deck to the accommodations belowdecks, the 67 has satin-finish mahogany, as well as light leather and fabrics. That level of quality finishing is also in the crew quarters aft, which most guests will never even see.
Vicem calls the 67 a social yacht, with numerous areas to relax and entertain. Guests can sit and chat with plenty of room on the facing port and starboard sofas during cocktails before dinner. With the salon’s 6-foot-7-inch headroom and the triple 32-inch-high windows on each side, the area feels open with real estate to spare. Bookshelves, backlighting and a wooden coffee table with a leather inlay add ambience.
Forward and to port is a six-seat, booth-style dinette. This can be a great spot to work on a laptop, make a call, or play with the tablet during downtime. Vicem built a 110-volt outlet and dual USB charging ports into the bulkhead for these reasons. Similar outlets and ports are found all around the yacht, in close proximity to where guests will congregate. It’s functional and thoughtful design.
The forward dinette bench seat has a backrest that flips, so the seat goes from aft-facing to forward-facing, creating a second seat at the lower helm. That helm is to starboard and equipped for longer passages or overnight watches. Side-deck doors should make line handling easier.
Vicem put the 67′s galley amidships and to starboard, keeping the chef near the guests and well-positioned to serve meals to the aft deck or the dinette. The galley can be closed off during formal affairs. Appliances include a four-burner Miele cooktop, four Sub-Zero fridge and freezer drawers, a GE microwave, and a Bosch dishwasher.
Other social spaces include the aft deck, with transom seating and a wooden dining table for alfresco meals, and the bow, with a forward 5-foot-long bench seat and a sun pad measuring 8 feet wide by 6.5 feet long. For safe transit to and from the foredeck, the covered side decks measure 19 inches wide. Rails are as tall as 38 inches.
To me, the social place to be is up on the flybridge. There is a starboard helm including dual 17-inch Garmin multifunction displays for taking care of business, but the rest of the flybridge is laid out for fun and relaxation. There are great views from the portside double-wide companion seat. A U-shaped settee is to starboard—the cushions are around 5 inches thick—and is perfect for gathering a crowd. A pair of wooden tables makes for easy passage to the seating, and they fold out to become one large dining table. An art-deco bar to port has two mounted barstools and a fridge, sink and electric grill. Aft, owners can select a davit and tender or lounge chairs and tables (or all of the above, when the tender is deployed). At night, backlighting and 22 lights in the hardtop illuminate the area.
Vicem shows its metalwork prowess via elegant backrest stanchions, highly polished handrails contoured to the yacht’s curves, and custom-designed metal-and-glass boarding gates.
The 67 Cruiser’s handling is equally strong. Capt. Larry Czocher deftly maneuvered the yacht out of the marina between several larger yachts, using single-lever controls. He had just inches to spare on each side. The yacht’s close-quarters responsiveness was excellent, and the 67 tracked well down the New River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other yachts of similar size had to make several adjustments to get around the bends, but the 67 made it straight through. Czocher attributes this ability in part to the instant response from the electric steering and to the yacht’s 5-foot-9-inch draft.
Powered with twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13 diesels, the 67 Cruiser displayed no significant bow rise, keeping visibility unobstructed throughout the engines’ rpm range. Stability is helped in part by the 67′s hard-chine hull, as well as Humphree stabilizer and interceptor systems.
Other notable features on the Vicem 67 Cruiser include a main-deck day-head, 21.5 kW Onan generator, a hydraulic swim platform, bow and stern thrusters, teak decks, and a wine cooler. They are the kinds of features that make a yacht feel thoroughly modern, even if its good looks are as timeless as can be.
Take the next step: vicemyachts.com
