Irwin Jacobs 1941 - 2019

Irwin L. Jacobs left for the better World on tenth April 2019 aged 77 years.  Irwin was found dead with his wife for 57 years Alexandra also aged 77 years old at their Lake Minnetonka home.  Born July fifteen 1941 Jacobs was raised in Minneapolis and at eight years old he started working for his father’s Northwestern Bag Company, collecting and reselling burlap sacks.  In 1973 Jacobs founded COMB or Close-out Merchandise Buyers, a catalogue-based mail-order retailer, and along with several cable television magnates he later created the Cable Value Network, an innovative shopping channel sold to QVC in 1989.  Jacobs became wealthy by taking big stakes in Fortune 500 companies with friend Carl Pohlad, becoming a relentlessly bold and aggressive businessman, unlocking value by breaking companies up thus earning the nickname “Irv the Liquidator.”  Jacobs founded Genmar in 1978, this will become a bigger empire in 1986 as other companies in Minstar Inc are entered in Genmar.  In its peak Genmar was the second pleasure boat builder in the USA; owning over the years Aquasport in 1989 stopping production in 2005, Carver Yachts acquired in 1991, Champion Boats in 2002, Crestliner sold to Brunswick in 2004, Glastron in 1987, Hatteras Yachts bought in 1985 and sold to Brunswick in 2001, Larson Boats in 1977, Lowe Boats in 2001 sold in 2004 to Brunswick, Marquis created in 2004, Scarab Boats in 1984, Trojan Yachts in 1992 liquidated in 2002, and Wellcraft in 1984.  In 2009 following the Great Recession Genmar, which at the time owned Carver, Champion Boats, Glastron, Larson, Marquis, Scarab, and Wellcraft will go bankrupt.  Irwin Jacobs with friend John Paul DeJoria though will in 2010 buy some of the Genmar assets back with JandD Acquisitions; including Carver and Marquis.  Jacobs will sell Carver and Marquis to Polaris in 2019.  Irwin is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Rose Jacobs and brother, Sheldon Jacobs. He is survived by his children, Mark Jacobs, Sheila Jacobs, Melinda Jacobs, Randi Jacobs and Trisha Blake; grandchildren, Cole, Madeline, Alexander, Caroline, Jordan, Gillian, Tess, Finn; and great grandson, Ozzie; Irwin's sisters, Elaine Yablonsky and Sharon Milavitz; and multiple beloved nephews and nieces. 

Two Saved as Flybridge Yacht is Fire Wrecked in Yucatan

Two men, a captain and one crew were saved as an eighteen meter motor yacht titled Twist Party II went ablaze about one nautical mile offshore near Poseidon Statue, in Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico on the afternoon of Saturday seventeen January. The two men jumped in the water as the fire spread, holding on an inflatable mat as the Secretariat of the Navy Semar, Fire Department of the Secretariat of Public Security, and support vessels came to the assistance and to fight the fire.  Ultimately the yacht burned for fifty minutes, and was declared a total wreck.  The yacht which is used for charter departed Puerto de Abrigo de Progreso, was apparently at anchor with generator running when this exploded and went ablaze. 

Project: Prestige F6.7

Prestige present the F6.7 project and upcoming flagship of the renewed F-Line generation which debuted in 2023 with the F4.9.  Designed by all time Prestige designer Garroni the F6.7 celebrates the spirit and refinement of the F-range and is a replacement of the 690 F after a four year production. The F6.7 will come with a few options and also completes the update It represents the maturity of a concept that has progressively redefined life on board, where space, light, and fluidity come together to create a natural and harmonious experience.  The Prestige will come with a lot of options three for the flybridge, two for the main deck, and two for the lower deck offering three cabins and a laundry room or four cabin choice.  The Prestige F6.7 is to be powered by twin Volvo 900hp as standard and or optional 1000hp with IPS pod propulsion.  Top speeds are estimated at thirty knots with the standard engine option.

www.prestige-yachts.com

Sport Cruiser Ends Beached at Boat Harbour Beach, Tasmania

A not attended nine meter sport cruiser ended aground at Boat Harbour Beach, in the island of Tasmania on Monday 29 April 2024.  The sport cruiser was also reported to have hit a trawler cruiser on its starboard side as it was drifting, and before ending beached.  Later it was reported the sport cruiser broke its swing mooring, ending adrift along the North Tasmania coast part of the Bass Strait.  A recovery operation for the sport cruiser was organized on the second May, with the boat taken to a boat yard for repairs. 

The sport cruiser in this accident is a Mustang 2800 SE Series II as produced from 2001 to 2003.  Mustang Boats from Australia was founded in 1974 by Graeme "Noddy" Williams, sold to Gary Garoni in 1998, and then following financial difficulty purchased by Bill Barry-Cotter of Maritimo in 2010, who stops production in 2019.

New Model: De Antonio D60

De Antonio has had success with its signature hidden outboard cruisers and day boats, and for 2025 the Spanish boat builder continues to go into bigger sizes debuting its new D60 flagship.  The Spanish Barcelona based builder which debuted in 2012 with the seven meter D23 day boat, wants to keep growing in size, going three meters larger to the D50 which arrived in 2021.  The D60 offers spacious accommodation certified for up to twelve people onboard, with a lower deck cabin area available in two or three cabins sleeping four or six guests, plus a crew cabin for two forward.  In both layouts the owners stateroom is located at midships with an en-suite shower head to starboard and walk-in wardrobe located to port side.  In the three cabins layout, two cabins replace the VIP cabin located forward.  The interior also offers a fully equipped galley located on the lower deck, expansive social areas are located on the main deck which thanks to opening windows unite the inside with the outside.  The De Antonio D60 is standard powered by quadruple Mercury 400hp, and or optional 600hp hidden outboard engines located under the aft sun-pad.  With the quadruple 600hp the D60 reaches top speeds up to 46 knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 18.5 m (60.8ft)

Beam - 5.20 m

Draft - 1.01 m

Displacement - 22t 

Fuel Capacity - 3700 l 

Water Capacity - 680 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, or six berths in three cabins, two berths crew cabin
Engines - 4 x Mercury V10 Verado 400hp, V12 Verado 600hp

Propulsion - quadruple outboards, counter rotating propellers with 600hp

Speed - 46 knots max thirty cruise with quadruple 600hp

www.deantonioyachts.com

competition = not available

Explorer Cruiser Wrecked by Fire at Van Isle Marina, Sidney Canada

A not attended eleven meter explorer cruiser went ablaze at Van Isle Marina in Sidney, province of Victoria Canada on the early hours of Thursday eighteen September.  Sidney Fire Department responded to the blaze, and thanks to the quick response contained the fire to this one vessel.  The cause of the blaze is now under investigation, with no injuries being reported as no one was onboard the vessel at the time of the fire.

The boat in this accident is a Nordic Tug 37 as designed by Lynn Senour and produced from 1998 to 2010.  The 37 was replaced by the evolution and updated Nordic Tug 39 in 2010.

Project: BB Yachts 35 Elba

BB Yachts which debuted in 2024 with the 44 Ischia and 44 Panarea models presents the 35 Elba project, an entry model to its in expanding range of sport cruisers and yachts.  Designed by Ferragni the 35 Elba is very similar looking to its three meters larger sister and brings the same Mediterranean day sport cruiser features.  A vocation which the 35 Elba shows with its cockpit deck layout; aft sun-pad, L-shaped dinette with opposite wet-bar, central helm station, and easy access fore-deck sun-pad.  Inside the BB Yachts 35 Elba offers a mini galley on entrance to port side, shower-head to starboard opposite, and a forward U-shaped dinette which transforms to a double berth.  To midships is an area listed as storage in the plans.  The BB Yachts is powered by outboard or stern drive propulsion from Mercruiser; petrol gas from twin 250 to 350hp, 270hp diesel, and Mercury outboard power from twin 300 up to 400hp.  

www.bbyachts.com

Classic Princess Saved from Sinking in Pelješac, Croatia

An eleven meter classic Princess flybridge cruiser was saved from sinking near Mali Ston on the north side of the Pelješac peninsula in Dalmatia, Croatia, for a story shared on SeaHelp website on Tuesday 31 August 2021.  SeaHelp assisted the boater, blocked the water ingress and then towed the classic boat to near Pelješac Bridge.  The boat was reported taking water from a corroded exhaust pipe in the engine room, with this temporary fixed for the towing operation.

The boat in this accident is a classic Princess 37 as designed by John Bennett and produced from 1973 to 1981.  The 37 was Princess largest boat up till 1977 then overtook by the 41, with the model replaced by the 38.

New Model: Pursuit S 328 Sport

At the 2025 Fort Lauderdale boat show Pursuit presented the new S 328 Sport model, replacing the first generation S 328 after an eight year production run. The new second generation Pursuit keeps the same hull, you never change a winning horse they say, and has been redesigned in every detail, recognizable by the more extended T-top, and larger windscreen, and sleek lines which got sleeker. Spaces has also been improved in all areas, from aft to fore, this now added with a wet-bar behind the helm station. Below deck, Pursuit also revolutionized the cabin, optimized to include a hidden head and comfy settee that coverts to a roomy berth, which offers additional rod storage underneath. The Pursuit is powered by twin Yamaha 300hp as standard, optional 350hp being available, top speed up to 44 knots with the large engine options.

Technical Data:

LOA - 10.52 m (34.6ft)

Beam - 3.30 m

Draft - 0.91 m motors down, 0.84 m motors up

Displacement - 5885 kg with Yamaha 3350hp

Fuel Capacity - 1136 l, 81 l diesel for generator

Water Capacity - 114 l

Accommodation - two berths

Engines - 2 x Yamaha F300 V6 Offshore 300hp, F350 V8 Offshore 350hp

Propulsion - twin outboards

Speed - 44 knots top speed, 39 knots fast cruise 23 knots optimum cruise

Hull Shape - deep Vee with twenty degrees deadrise aft

Construction - hand laminated vinylester resin, infused composite transom and structure grid

www.pursuitboats.com

competition = Grady White 336 Canyon

Hatteras Yacht Wrecked by Fire in Myrtle Beach, Carolina

A 23 meter Hatteras yacht went ablaze at Coquina Harbor, in Little River, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at 04:08 morning time of Saturday thirty August.  Horry County firefighters tended to the fire, and were assisted by another fire department and the US Coast Guard.  The fire took two hours to control, with one person treated for minor injuries, and another yacht reported to sustain some minor damages.  The dock was reported as receiving no damage.  The cause of the fire is not reported.

The yacht in this damage is a Hatteras 77 Cockpit Motor Yacht, the second wide version as produced from 1985 to 1987.  The 77 Cockpit Motor Yacht was a replacement to the first version narrow version Cockpit MY, replaced by the Hatteras 70 Motor Yacht Series II.