Vicem 85 yacht Essence of Cayman
Lobster boats, or Down East boats, are ubiquitous in New England. The navy-blue hull, the sweeping sheer line — it’s a profile so classic that local boaters can see it with their eyes closed.
Essence of Cayman took the concept to new lengths when she launched in 2006. The 85-foot Vicem is a one-owner, custom-designed example of what the Turkish builder was able to accomplish beyond striking exterior good looks. An experienced yachtsman commissioned the build, which, even considering the many successful Vicem production builds since then, remains a unique profile on the world’s waters. Builders such as New England’s Hinckley Yachts and Australia’s Palm Beach Motor Yacht Company offer yachts of similar styling, but not in the size range that Vicem produced with Essence of Cayman.
And even among Vicems, Essence of Cayman is something of a standout. The Turkish builder crafts boats of cold-molded mahogany, not of fiberglass or other composites that are more common today. Using mahogany creates interesting options for an owner with a custom design like this one.
“They’re not doing this as much now unless you request it, but on this boat, when you pick up a floorboard and look into the bilge, it’s clear epoxy coating the interior of the mahogany hull,” says broker Leonce Richard, who holds the brokerage listing at Worth Avenue Yachts along with broker Michael Mahan. “When you open a hatch, it’s not quite the finish of the interior panels, but almost. Now, they epoxy-coat them to paint them, but the way they used to do it is stunning.”
Essence of Cayman has a traditional teak interior with two salons, one upper and one lower to accommodate the largest of boating families for a day at sea. The master stateroom has a king berth, sofa, walk-in closet and full-beam bathroom, and two guest staterooms are en suites with twin beds. Her owner opted for a number of upgrades including granite countertops in the galley and a wet bar on the afterdeck, a great setting for sunset cocktails.
Power is provided by a pair of 1,200-horsepower MAN diesels that push the yacht to a cruising speed of 19 knots. The boat recently received 1,000-hour servicing on the engines along with new bottom paint and an upgrade to touchscreen Garmin helm electronics, Richard says.
Even still, with Essence of Cayman, what will get most people’s hearts racing is her style. The unique profile is a head-turner for anyone who appreciates boatbuilding traditions.
“If you want a real yacht, a traditional yacht feel, this is it,” Richard says. “It’s somewhat a combination of a large Picnic Boat combined with the traditional lines and beautiful craftsmanship of a commuter yacht from the New York area in the 1930s and ’40s.”
Asking price is $3.69 million, and Essence of Cayman is available for viewing in Palm Beach, Florida. View the full listing at www.worthavenueyachts.com.
