Following two years of intense work, Lexus premiered the first Lexus LY 650 hull during the 2019 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Built by US-based Marquis Yachts with interior design by Nuvolari Lenard, the LY 650 aims to convey on water the luxury qualities of Lexus.
The development of the LY 650 took place in collaboration between Lexus, its parent company Toyota Motor Corporation and Marquis Yachts, which designed the hull systems and managed assembly. The collaboration went on internationally, from Toyota City in Japan to the Nuvolari Lenard Design Studio in Venice to the Marquis manufacturing headquarters in Pulaski, Wisconsin.
Carlo Nuvolari, Director and Senior Partner at Nuvolari Lenard, comments:
The realisation of the LY 650 has been an exciting and challenging process, unlike anything that we have experienced in our previous 27 years of yacht design. With stakeholders based in three different continents and from three very distinct cultures, it was a true melting pot of influences and styles, a genuinely ‘global’ project.
He also added on the process:
It was a really fascinating process; due to the volume of production that Lexus is used to, its teams are very well organised and have a highly structured way of working. I think that they, too, found it rewarding to be able to collaborate with and relate to experts from a totally different industry. Car manufacturers like Toyota are extremely precise and detail oriented because they are focused on small spaces, such as the cabin of the car. They work on a millimetric scale while, as yacht designers, we work on a metric scale – so we had to find a way to meet in the middle.
One of the greatest design challenges for Nuvolari Lenard in the project was to identify how it feels to be in a Lexus car, a luxurious but small space with high attention to detail, and successfully interpret it into the scale of a 65-foot (approx. 20-metre) yacht.
One of the crucial design issues was to ensure there were no sharp edges or straight lines throughout the interior. In a car, this is for safety reasons, to protect the driver and passengers from hurting themselves; but on the scale of a small yacht it becomes complicated.
Nuvolari Lenard created a realistic representation of car-like curves, perhaps best displayed in the master cabin on the lower deck. There, the king-size bed features a floating, curved base and rounded headboard to convey the feeling of being in a cocoon, similar to the cockpit of a car. The desk, chaise lounge and doorway all echo the curves and rounded edges, resulting a in a calming atmosphere.
Another important objective was the materials’ choice. They had to be ‘marine-grade’ and meet regulatory standards, but they also had to ‘echo that premium ‘Lexus look’. Thus, the designers chose the same cream leather both for indoors and outdoors. They also applied leather with elaborate stitching patterns on such uncommon surfaces as door panels.
To complement the chic cream leather, a combination of dark brown and taupe tones were used in the cabinetry, soft furnishings and flooring alongside polished stainless steel hardware. The woods selection includes frisée eucalyptus and black lacquered walnut. The cream stone on the LY 650 meanwhile is new marfil marble, while the dark brown stone is dark emperador marble. As well as American-sourced leather, eco leathers have been placed in a number of areas.
Furthermore, LY 650 features vast amounts of glazing both in the open-plan main deck salon and the service and accommodation deck below. From the oversized windscreen that arcs overhead at the helm to the minimised mullions and large windows to port and aft, the salon is flooded with light and a sense of openness. The key glazing feature meanwhile lays in the master cabin, where with “floating” portholes.
The stairway from the salon to the lower deck has been consciously designed by Nuvolari Lenard as an open and light space, with highly polished metal and wood.
From the exterior, the model’s 'sport' flybridge set to the aft of the profile ensures the LY 650 keeps its dynamic aesthetic. The aft deck features a large U-shaped settee and dining table with a close link to the interior space thanks to the full-height aft doors and the exterior aft bar.
Yet, helm is perhaps the part of a yacht that has the most apparent synergy with a car, and so it was especially important for Toyota to ensure that it has a distinctively ‘Lexus’ look.
With the first hull debuting at FLIBS, the manufacturer states, a number of further units are already in production.
Ferretti Group has launched the first Itama 54 unit from its new Marina di Ravenna production facility on July 11, 2025. The 16.44-meter open cruiser marks Itama's return to the 50-59 foot segment, featuring redesigned living spaces and improved onboard accessibility.Developed by the Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee and Engineering Department, with design by Tommaso De Luca, the model introduces several functional innovations while maintaining Itama's signature styling. Key exterior features include a flush foredeck sunpad, extended side windows, and a starboard-side bow access point - a departure from previous models that improves circulation.The deck layout presents a dual-cockpit configuration: a main aft seating area with height-adjustable table and a forward wind-protected lounge. Both areas connect to a portside bar unit. The helm station incorporates a floating dashboard design. Below deck, accommodations include a forward master cabin, midship guest cabin, two bathrooms, galley and dinette.Power options include twin MAN i6-730 engines (730 HP) as standard, delivering 33-knot top speed, or optional MAN i6-850 engines (850 HP) for 37-knot maximum speed. The raked transom and revised hull lines contribute to the model's performance characteristics.The Ravenna-built Itama 54 represents the brand's contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean open cruiser concepts, emphasizing outdoor living and simplified deck circulation. Production continues at Ferretti Group's specialized facility for the Itama range.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
August 4, 2025
ISA Yachts has moved its new 37.7-meter Viper 130 into the outfitting phase at its Ancona shipyard. The planing yacht, designed to deliver high performance and spacious accommodations, is scheduled for delivery in 2026 to an American client introduced by Zarpo Yachts.The Viper 130 features exterior and interior design by Fulvio De Simoni, with naval engineering developed in-house by ISA Yachts. Powered by three 2,200 hp MAN engines, the yacht will achieve a top speed of 33 knots.The aft cockpit is divided into three distinct areas: a beach club at sea level with a transformer platform, a sunbathing and lounge area, and an outdoor dining space seating eight. Side balconies can be opened to expand the living area. The aft galley includes a retractable privacy glass and connects to a bar, serving both as a functional kitchen and an entertainment space.The main deck features a portside walkway leading to the salon, which includes floor-to-ceiling windows and a second bar. A circular pool with sunbeds and seating dominates the bow area. The helm station is positioned forward, with access to the lower deck housing four guest cabins and an owner’s suite with dual bathrooms.The sun deck, with a carbon fiber hardtop, includes a secondary helm station, sunbeds, an L-shaped bar, and a dining table for 12. Crew quarters for five are discreetly accessed via the galley. A 5-meter tender is stored in the starboard garage.The Viper 130’s design emphasizes open living spaces, with multiple indoor-outdoor connections and functional layouts tailored for both entertainment and privacy. The yacht is currently in the final stages of construction ahead of its 2026 delivery.Palumbo Superyachts took root in 2008, when the Columbus Yachts brand was established, and in 2011 it launched its first 54m superyacht, emblematically christened Prima (the First). Currently, Palumbo Superyachts comprises a representative office in Monaco and a logistics network of five shipyards in the Mediterranean (Ancona, Malta, Marseille, Naples, and Savona); it also operates the following brands: ISA Yachts, Columbus Yachts, Mondomarine and Palumbo SY Refit.Credits: ISA Yachts
August 4, 2025
Dutch yacht builder Zeelander Yachts has delivered Loloma, a fully customized 20.3-meter (66'7") version of its Zeelander 7 model to a globetrotting owner. The yacht's design was carefully coordinated to match the owner's superyacht, private jet, and helicopter.Loloma features several distinctive design elements, including a monochromatic silver-grey hull that eliminates the traditional waterline for enhanced visual connection to the sea. The yacht marks Zeelander's first use of brushed stainless steel finishes throughout, departing from the brand's typical polished stainless steel. Interior spaces showcase rare swamp oak paneling, formed when oak remains submerged for centuries, acquiring its distinctive grey-black coloration naturally.The owner specified a seamless synthetic teak deck without visible seams for a minimalist aesthetic. A permanent mesh bimini provides sun protection while maintaining open-air visibility. Performance comes from triple IPS 1350 engines delivering a 40-knot top speed, with a 2,700-nautical-mile range at 7 knots or 630 nautical miles at 32-knot cruising speed.Accommodations include a forward master suite with king-sized bed and two guest cabins, all benefiting from the yacht's generous volume. Crew quarters are positioned aft near the tender garage. The main salon features a folding table replicating one from the owner's private jet, seating eight guests.Sietse Koopmans, Zeelander founder, stated: "Thanks to the close involvement of her dedicated owner from drawing board sketches right through to delivery, Loloma is one of the most ambitious and tailor-made creations from our yard to date. Crafting a miniature superyacht which perfectly matches a mothership, jet and helicopter was certainly a unique challenge and one we truly relished."Loloma maintains Zeelander's signature quiet operation, with noise levels below 70 decibels at full speed. The yacht will begin an international itinerary including Mediterranean and Caribbean destinations before proceeding to Australia and Fiji, the latter being the namesake origin of "Loloma," meaning "love, kindness, and generosity."Zeelander's current model range spans from 15 to 24 meters (48' to 79'), with Loloma representing a highly customized example of the 20.3-meter Zeelander 7 platform. The delivery demonstrates the yard's capability to execute bespoke projects within its semi-production model structure.Zeelander Yachts was founded in 2002 in the Netherlands by Sietse Koopmans. The first model was unveiled to the public in 2008. The launch model Z44 received positive reviews at the Monaco Yacht Show and drew enormous crowds, despite being at an event dominated by much larger yachts. Within three years, the Z44 had been successfully introduced to the US as well as Europe, and it was an obvious direction to add a larger model to the fleet. The first Z55 was delivered in November 2015, and the flagship Z72 was launched in March 2019.Credit: Zeelander Yachts
August 4, 2025
Gulf Craft has delivered the first unit of its 32.3-meter Majesty 100 Terrace series following its debut at the 2025 Dubai International Boat Show. The fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) yacht features a semi-displacement hull designed by Dutch firm Phathom Studio.The model's distinctive features include multiple outdoor terraces, fold-down balconies, and a private owner's terrace on the foredeck with 270-degree views. The owner's cabin incorporates floor-to-ceiling glass and skylights, with direct access to the forward terrace. Accommodation includes five cabins for 10 guests and crew quarters for six.With a 199GT volume and 7.2-meter beam, the yacht reaches a top speed of 20 knots powered by twin MAN engines. At a cruising speed of 12 knots, the range extends to 1,050 nautical miles. The upper deck features a hot tub and sunpad area with glass panels that illuminate the owner's terrace below.The Majesty 100 Terrace follows the 34.1-meter Majesty 111 model, sharing similar interior layouts but with a redesigned semi-displacement hull. Gulf Craft currently has two units of the new model under construction at its Umm al-Qaywayn shipyard in the UAE.Since the company’s inception in 1982, Gulf Craft has grown to become one of the top seven shipyards in the world: once a builder of small fishing boats in its modest premises, which was a genuine passion for Gulf Craft, they then established their credentials as a leader of innovation and technology in the yachting industry. With five brands in their product portfolio ranging from 31 to 175 feet, Gulf Craft manufactures yachts and boats that appeal to a wide audience, such as touring passenger vessels, Silvercraft family day boats, Oryx Sport Cruisers, Nomad Explorer Yachts, and the flagship Majesty Yachts.Credits: Gulf Craft
August 1, 2025
Dutch yacht builder Oceanco has transitioned to new ownership under American entrepreneur Gabe Newell, while previous owners the Barwani family retain their stake in Turkish shipyard Turquoise Yachts. The ownership change follows Oceanco's legacy of constructing notable superyachts including the 110-meter Kaos, 109-meter Bravo Eugenia, 106-meter Black Pearl, and 127-meter Koru.Newell assumes ownership with stated intentions to maintain Oceanco's operational focus on craftsmanship and workforce development rather than implementing financial restructuring. The new owner has emphasized continuity in the shipyard's human-centered approach to yacht construction.Gabe Newel"Gabe Newell is not entering this world as a financier or a strategist, but as a hands-on visionary who respects the sea, the craft, and above all, the people who make it possible," stated the company's transition announcement.Dr. BarwaniThe Barwani family, Oceanco's previous owners since 2010, will continue their yachting industry involvement through Turquoise Yachts, which specializes in custom builds up to 77 meters. Oceanco's current project portfolio and management team are expected to remain unchanged under the new ownership structure.Oceanco was founded in 1987. Right now it is a world-class builder of custom superyachts up to the 140 meters range. Oceanco works with world-known designers such as Terence Disdale, Nuvolari-Lenard, Espen Oeino, Sam Sorgiovanni, Igor Lobanov, Tim Heywood and Andrew Winch to create some of the timeless and award-winning yachts afloat today.Credits: Oceanco
August 1, 2025