June 14, 2024

New Model: Overmarine Mangusta 132E

Overmarine Mangusta 132E has officially been launched, a new super yacht model as designed by the Shipyard's Engineering Department, who restyled the Stefano Righini lines of the iconic 132 model which was produced from 2015 to 17.  The 132E is as the E letter indicates an evolution of the iconic Mangusta style which has dominated the large sport yacht category market onwards from the nineties, updated to capture the most recent trends, adding generous windows in the hull and widening those on the main deck, so as to maximize interior brightness. The forward area offers a generous hot tub and large sun pads, while the sun deck has been fitted with a dining area and a relaxation area with comfortable lounge seaters. A second pilot station has also been arranged on this deck, to make sure that maximum relaxation would always go hand in hand with the thrill of high-speed cruising. As is the case on each and every Mangusta yacht, this vessel too has fully-custom interiors designed by Overmarine's Décor Department applying modern architecture principles and ensuring the complete separation of guest areas and crew quarters. Following the addition of two central floor-to-ceiling glazed surfaces in the salon, the yacht now simply blends with the surrounding landscape. Seamless continuity between interiors and exteriors is also achieved thanks to a sliding door that rotates on its axis to be flawlessly concealed in the wall, converting the salon and the aft cockpit into one single, free-flowing area, perfect to ensure the constant wellbeing of guests. To increase efficiency and minimize fuel consumption, this yacht's propulsion includes three MTU 2600hp engines combined with as many Kamewa water jets, delivering a maximum speed of 35 knots. Speed, however, is always accompanied by the utmost comfort, both when cruising and at anchor, thanks to two Seakeeper gyro stabilizers. The Mangusta 132E is expected to be fully delivered in Summer 2024.
Technical Data:
LOA - 39.85 m (130.8ft)
Beam - 7.76 m
Draft - 1.75 m
Displacement - 175 t half load, 185 t loaded, 288 GT *volume
Fuel Capacity - 19,500 l
Water Capacity - 3000 l
Accommodation - up to eleven guests in five cabins, six crew in three cabins
Engines - 3 x MTU 16V2000 M96L 2600hp
Propulsion - twin KaMeWa water jets S63-4 and single S63-B4
Speed - 35 knots max, thirty cruise
Range - 520 nautical miles at cruise
Construction - single skin hull, sandwich super structure
Project - Overmarine Group engineering, Stefano Righini styling, Alberto Mancini interior

June 13, 2024

Itama Yacht Burns Down Near Elba Island

A 22 meter Itama sport yacht titled La Corsa with three passengers aboard, went ablaze and eventually sank ten nautical miles offshore to the South East of Elba Island at about 13:30 of Thursday thirteen June.  The Portoferraio station received a Mayday call at about 1200 hours, from the yacht captain that smoke was coming from the engine room of the yacht, after this it is reported that in some minutes the yacht went ablaze with the three passengers having no option but to abandon ship and jump into the life-raft.  Patrol boat SAR CP892 responded to the mayday and eventually collected the three passengers, later dropped at Marina di Campo for a medical visit.  For this yacht fire the Livorno station also re-routed a Military ship and a helicopter from the Sarzana base of the Guardia Costiera.  The yacht fire and sinking is reported to having caused no pollution, although Portoferraio has still issued the owner with the notice to make all necessary arrangement to prevent this.
Aboard this yacht with the captain were Italian member of parliament Stefania Craxi daughter of previous Italy President Bettino Craxi, along with her husband Marco Bassetti the current Banijay CEO.
M/Y La Corsa is one of two Itama 76 as produced in 2001 and 2002.  A project of Mario Amati, his biggest Itama has been a long time coming, first announced as a 65 in the mid nineties, and then as 70 with initial construction starting in around 99.  Eventually the first unit was sold and delivered with a second hull coming a year later.  The Itama 70/76 was replaced by the Marco Casali designed Ferretti Group era Seventy Five in 2008, a model which is still in production today and has so far sold over thirty units.

Classic Bertram Sinks While Moored in Maui

A classic ten meter Bertram sank while moored in its slip in Maui, Hawaii Islands on the late morning of twelve June.  According to information on social media the classic Bertram was with it engines running when its owner noticed it had standing water in its forward cabin.  Seeing this the owner shut down the engines and tried to identify the water leak only for the Bertram to sink even more and having its hull and part of the super structure sank in water.
The Bertram in this sinking is a 33 Sportfisherman model as designed by Dave Napier and produced from 1979 to 92.  The Bertram 33 debuted first with the more lower deck spacious Flybridge Cruiser in 1977, and was produced in over 350 units up to 1992 and including the updated II version which arrived in 1988.

Project: Canados Oceanic 51 EXP

Canados present this original project for a baby Oceanic 51 EXP model, a fifteen meter explorer yacht with sturdy pilot boat looks, and a host of options.  For starting the Oceanic 51 EXP is offered in three versions; Sport, Yachtsman, and Party.  The Sport version will distinct itself the most with its drop down bathing platform and open stern area and a capacity for carrying maximum PWC ever imaginable in a yacht of fifteen meters.  The other Yachtsman and Party versions both feature a fixed bathing platform, with the first featuring an aft dinette and two chaise lounges sun-pad located further forward of the aft, with the later offering a central sun-pad area and a large wet bar to port side and a dinette to starboard looking aft.  The interior of the Oceanic 51 EXP offers a main deck with a central console helm station, with a dinette to port side and a galley to starboard, while the lower deck offers two cabins, with an owners stateroom at midships and forward double berth and a shower head to starboard.  The Canados Oceanic 51 EXP is to be powered by twin Cummins 550hp with integrated U-drive for top speeds up to 31 knots and a fast cruise of 26 for a range up to 380 nautical miles.

June 12, 2024

Improve-it = Dale Classic 45

The Dale Classic 45 is a special boat in the hearts of lovers for British made traditional down East inspired lobster cruisers.  Currently the team at Dale are over the moon as they are building Classic 45 hull number twelve, for a model which debuted in 2003.  With these numbers one understands that Dale is not your usual production builder and that every unit is made to order and very bespoke, by the lucky customer who ordered it.  Designed by Arthur Mursell the 2024 Dale Classic 45 will feature some new styling and state of the art innovations.  We still do not know all of these new features but Dale glimpsed us on the improved Classic 45; custom made console designed totally with owner input, aft wheel house patio door in teak with drop down bulkhead, and a new master suite dressing table with side lockers and drawers maximizing every available space.  Current flagship of Dale six model line up, the Classic 45 offers a two cabins two heads interior with a forward master suite, and is powered by twin 450hp engines as standard, with options going for up to 600hp units.  Propulsion is traditional straight line shaft with the standard engines giving up to 24 knots, and the optional 600s delivering thirty knots top speed to the semi-displacement hull form.

June 11, 2024

Giuseppe Balducci 1937 - 2024

Overmarine Group announces the passing of its founder and President Giuseppe Balducci on Monday tenth June. Born in Limite sull'Arno in 1937, Giuseppe took his first steps in the yachting industry as a very young man. After moving to Viareggio early in his childhood, in 1953, aged only sixteen he began his adventure as an electrician at the historic Picchiotti shipyard, where he worked for many years, until 1971, when the Viareggio-based boat builder declared bankruptcy. In the same year, Giuseppe decided to set up his own business, Elettromare, which manufactures marine electrical systems to this day. Even at that time, Elettromare was already a pioneering company that made electrical panels and systems for boats using cutting-edge equipment. As part of his business activity, Giuseppe Balducci travelled extensively around Italy and the United States, and it was just during those trips that he realised how boat building was evolving, moving from the use of wood to that of fiberglass. This inspired him to open a factory in Massarosa, Lucca called Effebi in 1983 for the construction of fiberglass hulls and parts. This Balducci's vision proved to be far-sighted, with many boat builders starting to trust him with the construction of their hulls. Shortly afterwards, Overmarine was established, debuting with the 42 and 65 Open models in 1986.  Overmarine will speciale from the beginning in the construction of fast maxi-open yachts with an unmistakable, timeless style, as the company rapidly became a world leader in the construction of vessels in this segment. As many as 85 units of the first super sport yacht Overmarine Mangusta 80 which debuted in 1992 and was produced till 2018 will sell.  Which is still as at today the most sold sport yacht over 24 meters in length.  Today's Overmarine Group is the result of the unfaltering enthusiasm of a man who believed in a great dream. Giuseppe Balducci was convinced of Viareggio's potential and was one of the founding partners of two companies actively operating in the port of Viareggio, Udina and ArPeCa. Active until the end, Giuseppe personally oversaw the construction of a new manufacturing plant in Pisa, which will be officially opened over the next few days. Giuseppe will always be remembered as a reserved man, with a subtle sense of humour and a great love for his wife Bruna, his children Maurizio and Katia, his beloved grand daughters, and all his employees, who, together with him, have built vessels and yachts that have become icons in the marine industry. The Overmarine team, the boating and yachting World want to remember him, as they express their profound gratitude to Giuseppe and extend their thoughts and condolences to the Balducci family at this difficult time.

Five People Rescued from Monterey Bay Boat Fire

Five people were rescued when a 48 foot flybridge cruiser titled II Knotty developed an onboard fire when located two miles offshore to the Salinas River entrance, in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, California at about 15:30 of Monday ten June. The U.S. Coast Guard and Monterey County crews rescued the five people, in a not so easy rescue due to the rough seas conditions, while Monterey firefighters contained the burning boat which was towed back and then fire extinguished before entering the Monterey Break Wall.  The fire of II Knotty was reported to have started in the engine room.
II Knotty is a 1985 Lien Hwa 48 Aft Cabin Motor Yacht, build in Taipei, Taiwan.  The Lien Hwa 48 was a long produced model, evolving into the Mark. II and Mark. III variants over the years with production lasting up until the mid nineties.

Project: Blu Martin HT 50

Blu Martin present the project for a new HT 50 model, a hard-top sport yacht of just over fifteen meters in length.  The Blu Martin HT 50 unites the comfort of a hard-top sport yacht with features of a walk around characterizing its main deck exterior design.  The Blu Martin will welcome guests onboard in a central sun-pad and aft looking L-shaped dinette making the aft area, with the exterior continuing forward offering a second fore sun-pad and a forward looking settee.  Inside the Blu Martin HT 50 welcomes you with a C-shaped dinette to starboard with a galley opposite, with the lower deck reserved to the two large cabins, with an owners stateroom located at midships.  The Blu Martin HT 50 is powered by twin Volvo 480hp with IPS pod drives, or 725hp and Cummins  715hp on shafts.

June 10, 2024

New Model: Buddy Davis 52 Euro Coupe

Buddy Davis present the 52 Euro Coupe a sixteen meter express sport fish yacht designed by the creative minds of the Davis Engineering Team.  The 52 Euro Coupe presents itself as a cross over model with a three part hard-top, build slightly wider and lighter, this express sportfish yacht comes injected with some European styling mixed the classic Carolina lines and unmatched sea-keeping abilities that have made Buddy Davis famous over the years. Layout below deck features two generous staterooms and two head accommodations.  The hard top covered cockpit offers a center line helm station with all-around visibility and a matching helm seat gives the copilot an equal sense of power, this followed by two luxurious side flanked L-shaped settees allowing guests to stay close to all the action, whether fishing or cruising. The aft cockpit of the 52 Euro Coupe is designed for serious fishing with its built-in bait well, fish box and freezer.  The Buddy Davis 52 Euro Coupe is powered by twin Man 1550hp with line shaft propulsion.
Technical Data:
LOA - 16 m (52.6ft)
Beam - 4.87 m
Draft - 1.32 m
Displacement - 18234 kg unloaded
Fuel Capacity - 3104 l
Water Capacity - 567 l
Accommodation - four berths in two cabins
Engines - 2 x Man V12 1550hp
Propulsion - line shafts
Project - Davis Engineering Team

June 9, 2024

Lake Mead Marina Fire Destroys Fifteen Boats

A fire which broke out at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Las Vegas on 00:30 early hours of Sunday nine June has destroyed ten boats and damaged at least another five, from small jet skis to cruisers of up fourteen meters in length.  Two people sustained minor injuries in the fire, with LVBH crews, NPS, BC Fire, Henderson Fire, BLM, and Clark County responding and extinguish the flames at around 03:30 early morning time.  Following the incident the marina was still open to the public although R and I Docks were restricted to users as the investigation to what led to this blaze is ongoing.
Most of the boats in this fire seem to be small units, but we saw that a Meridian 34 Sedan Yacht sustained fire damage but survived, while a Sunseeker Portofino 46 was wrecked and eventually sank.