The Best in Marine, From Feadship’s ‘Breakthrough’ to Scout’s 670 LXS

The largest yacht by volume ever built in the Netherlands, the 390-foot Breakthrough justifies its name. Feadship spent five years researching, designing, and constructing the world’s first hydrogen-fuel-cell superyacht. It involved entirely rethinking the interior to accommodate 4.4 tons of liquid hydrogen—which required 10 times more space than what’s needed for diesel fuel and must be stored in cryogenic tanks at -423 degrees Fahrenheit—to generate emissions-free energy. This technical leap combines 16 fuel cells, lithium batteries, two electric motors, and diesel generators to meet Breakthrough’s substantial propulsion and hotel needs. It will also allow the behemoth to cruise on fuel cells for short periods. Its heat-recovery system warms the pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, and floors and even preheats the engines. The luxe interior features elegant textured leather, marble, and rattan. The owner’s deck includes two en suite bedrooms, a gym, two offices, and a living room, while a private book-lined staircase leads to the lower deck. Other unique features: a regulation-size pickleball court on the bow and a submerged Nemo lounge on the lower deck. 

Few yachts focus on the engine room for favorable first impressions, but Diamond Binta revels in pulling back the curtain in unexpected places. A glass walkway and viewing gallery pass between white Caterpillar 3512E diesels, connecting the yacht’s lower-deck guest staterooms with the beach club. Built at the Tankoa shipyard in Genoa, the Paszkowski-designed exterior also differentiates with automotive details such as deck overhangs, which resemble the hood of a car, and a custom-designed sundeck bar inlaid with a honeycomb pattern that replicates the carbon fiber used in sports cars. A glass-sided pool on the top deck and an outdoor gym are other distinguishing features. The interior emphasizes natural-wood tones, along with marble and leather, and houses a full-beam owner’s suite. Beneath the sophisticated look, Diamond Binta was designed as a world explorer with a 5,400-nautical-mile range. A two-tender garage and a helideck support its off-grid adventures. 

Azimut’s Seadeck 7 isn’t a classic motoryacht, but it is the most forward-thinking in its class. The 71-footer is the first production yacht with Volvo Penta’s IPS hybrid-electric propulsion, which aims to reduce emissions by 40 percent via four navigation modes. For carbon- free operation, Pure Electric runs on battery power alone, while at the other end, Crossover uses a diesel engine to drive the electric pod motors. The system can run the hotel load for up to 12 hours without turning on the generators. The Seadeck 7’s Fun Island lives up to the 1950s-sounding name: The three-tiered rear area measures about 650 square feet when the side wings are folded out. It’s defined by lounges, a hammock, and a descending rear step for easy water access. The four-stateroom interior by residential architects Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez balances simplicity with an upscale vibe, employing certified woods, carpeting made from recycled plastics, and other sustainable materials without looking self-conscious. The flybridge, with solar panels at the rear, makes a cozy, private getaway. 

Among the many custom projects from Turkey’s Alia Yachts, San stands out for its radical, see-through main deck, making it more day boat than superyacht. The owner wanted to re-create the open sense of a yacht about half of San’s 148-foot length and pushed Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design for a vessel where one can see from the beach club to the bow. This remarkable line of sight was achieved by placing the staterooms and galley on the lower deck and exchanging all bulkheads in the salon with full-height windows. There is no main-deck galley or helm to spoil the view, and even the salon seating area is sunken into a Japanese-style floor recess. San’s attractive, minimalist wooden interior, precise lines inside and out, and clear views of the sea from every angle made it this year’s best-in-class design. 

By the numbers, the 367-foot Renaissance might be confused with a mini cruise ship, with its six decks and massive 7,925-gross-ton interior volume. It sleeps 36 guests in 19 staterooms, has a deck devoted to wellness, and offers a 19-seat cinema. Dining areas are on four decks, with the largest being a double-height dining room on the main deck. The Bannenberg & Rowell design, however, never drops its superyacht grandeur, with meticulous wood- and stonework, an overhead walkway above the salon, and a sense of intimacy on each deck. The owner’s deck is a 646-square-foot suite with twin walk-in wardrobes and bathrooms, with side-deck access on both sides. The beach club features a bar and multiple lounge areas, plus a large swimming pool on the deck above. Available for charter starting at about $3.4 million per week, the yacht has a multiskilled crew of 45—a former engineer, for instance, once doubled as a magician—to look after the guests. Beyond the chef’s traditional fare, Renaissance has a sushi bar, a pizza oven, and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar. 

The world’s first zero-emissions sailing yacht began with Foundation Zero, a group of impact investors who wanted to open-source their new designs to promote renewable technologies. One of the first projects was something that sounded impossible: a 227-foot superyacht with no fossil-fuel power, but that instead harnesses sun, wind, and water. 

Leading the project, Dutch designers at Vripack teamed up with Dykstra Naval Architects and sailing-superyacht builder Vitters, as well as teams of coders, data analysts, and even a physicist. Project Zero was designed to generate most of its power through hydro-generation while sailing, storing it in the onboard batteries (weighing 44 tons), while specialty solar panels provide more energy. Depending on wind conditions, it can gather about 200 kW of electrical power—or 10 times total energy needs—to meet its ambitious goal of two weeks’ energy autonomy. (Most hybrid yachts run for eight hours max on battery power.) With its aesthetic appeal, Project Zero could well be the next marker for sustainable yachting. 

This 165-footer is the first of Sanlorenzo’s 50Steel series, but, more importantly, it serves as a test bed for a fuel-cell system that converts green methanol into hydrogen and ultimately generates 100 kW of emissions-free power for the yacht’s hotel load. Almax’s Hidden Engine Room (HER) concept splits the propulsion system between a lower-deck engine area and fuel-cell banks forward. This particular configuration allowed the designers to replace the traditional engine room with a large Ocean Lounge, which connects to the aft beach club and forward guest quarters. The methanol- fuel-cell technology, which powers up to 90 percent of the yacht’s needs at anchor or the dock, is a genuine technical leap for vessels this size. 

Many yacht interiors are opting for more residential looks, but this 216-footer pushes the trend to a new level. As the name suggests, the B.Loft 65M’s floor-to-ceiling windows and 13-foot-high ceilings in the main salon were modeled after a Manhattan loft. “It has Italian DNA with its wood and finishes,” says Giorgio Cassetta, whose Rome-based studio penned the design. “But American architecture drove the design language.” By contrast, the exterior was influenced by South American seaside villas, featuring sweeping terraces and a partially covered lounge area on a 1,300-square-foot rear main deck with exceptional sea views. Another bonus: The aptly named Cabana Club at the stern offers another 355 square feet surrounded by 270 degrees of windows. A glass-enclosed winter garden and a glass-bottom pool (above the Cabana Club) add yet other residential design elements on this very special yacht. 

Having good bones was essential for the $22 million stem-to-stern refit of Oceanco’s Alfa G, first delivered in 2004 as Sea Pearl, and renamed over the years as Abrosiana, Alfa IV, Aviva II, Pegasus, and Pegasus II. The 197-footer had gone through several earlier makeovers, but those were cosmetic in comparison to this metamorphosis. Before-and-after images demonstrate how designer Alexandre Thiriat transformed a dated interior into a luxurious contemporary dwelling. A grand piano with a red fallboard, circular ceiling lights above the formal dining table, all-white salons on the upper deck, and dark contemporary woodwork across six staterooms are among many signature details. Overseen by Oceanco, G&K Yachts in Greece completed the project in just 10 months, taking many areas back to the studs. The reimagined sundeck—with an alfresco dining area and a stealth-looking black mast— gives the exterior a new persona. Replacing the plain-vanilla look of the previous iteration, Alfa G’s black hull with a signature red stripe and white superstructure complete this remarkable conversion. 

Rossinavi has built many exceptional custom yachts in the past 20 years, but Seawolf X could be a defining moment for the Italian builder. The 140-footer is its first catamaran, a design with larger interior space and better fuel efficiency than a similar- length monohull. Its young, tech-focused owner, obsessed with squeezing every type of efficiency from his boat, mandated that A.I. help run the vessel. Over three years, Rossinavi, Videoworks, and the University of Pisa created RossinaviAI, the first adaptive-artificial-intelligence system on a superyacht that not only observes owner and guest behavior, tweaking temperatures and lighting to individual preferences, but, more importantly, also monitors engine performance, navigation, and maintenance schedules to supercharge efficiency. The design doesn’t sacrifice luxury, either: The sleek, curved hull has a sunken foredeck and glass-encased Jacuzzi, while the palatial main salon and owner’s stateroom—both full beam—offer up the square footage of a much larger yacht. 

The first of Cantiere Delle Marche’s Flexplorer 146 range was designed for a multiyear off-grid expedition. As the Flexplorer name suggests, it’s an explorer that can be configured with the comforts of home. The 1,453-square-foot rear deck is a perfect example of double duty: With the tender aboard, Maverick resembles most expedition yachts. After it’s launched, the open deck (with a pool) becomes the main social area and provides access to the ocean. Below that is a small gym, with storage for diving equipment and other toys. Maverick’s owners designed two large staterooms (one for the parents and the other for one child) and a balcony on the upper owner’s deck, with suites on the lower deck for the other children. Interior spaces are open-plan to facilitate easy movement (and informal relationships) for the family and nine-person crew. Maverick’s 16,900-gallon fuel capacity and 5,000-mile-plus range at 10 knots provide weeks of autonomy, while the hull’s ice belt allows cruising in polar waters, the signature of a true explorer. 

Nicknamed Project Everest because of its complexity and scale, the world’s largest outboard-powered boat evolved after months of back-and-forth between the South Carolina builder’s design team and London-based Harrison Eidsgaard. The collaboration was a first, pairing an American builder known for offshore-fishing boats with one of Europe’s leading superyacht designers. What could have been a clash of cultures resulted in a fast, stylish outboard-powered cruiser; its five 600 hp Mercury V-12s push the 670 LXS to nearly 60 mph. Despite its speed, it’s a yacht, with a teak-decked cockpit that electronically folds out on both sides, a bar, and 22 rod holders and rocket launchers for sportfishing. Beneath the hardtop are four bucket seats and a large L-shaped lounge for offshore running. The 670 LXS retains Scout’s DNA but infuses details like a Gussi Italia steering wheel and Mercedes G-Wagen air-conditioning vents. Three staterooms below—two being en suite—offer unusually generous headroom, with yacht-grade fit and finish. This transatlantic alliance was a success. 

Any yacht called Bad Company must have a good story behind it. Beyond paying homage to his favorite band, California entrepreneur Anthony Hsieh’s unquenchable thirst for sportfishing led to the formation of Team Bad Company and the world’s largest fleet of 12 sportfishing boats all bearing that name. The latest, Bad Company Support 175, is the first of Damen’s YS 53 series. The 175-footer serves as the central hub during the team’s global fishing tour, transporting smaller fishing boats, tons of fuel, and toys such as a two-person submersible, KTM electric dirt bikes, and a Bell 505 helicopter. Obsessed with black and blue marlin, Hsieh has outfitted the vessel with scientific equipment to research these apex species as well as engage in general ocean conservation. With its 42,300-gallon fuel capacity, Bad Company Support 175 has a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots, giving it plenty of independence for long trips. It’s also the first support vessel of its kind functioning as a mother ship. 

This new dayboat has the requisite plumb bow, raked T-top and 43-knot top end to place it at the head of the modern weekend cruiser set. But its twin 300 kW electric motors and maximum battery capacity of 700 KWh put it in a class of one. Electric boats have been moving along nicely in the last five years, but this new 45-footer from Sialia promises to be a watershed design, with its carbon-fiber hull, 12-passenger capacity, generous seating and galley in the cockpit, and choice of two- or three-staterooms with head and shower. Founders Stan Szadkowski, an early pioneer in large battery tech, and Tomasz Gackoski, an aerospace engineer, brought their skill sets together to create a yacht obsessed with weight savings and balance. Depending on which of the four drivetrains an owner chooses, the 45 Sport’s range will vary from 33 to 164 nautical miles.

Many interior features of Eternal Spark stand out for boldness, but its most noteworthy element—and the most interesting detail, in our opinion, of any superyacht this year—is the curved, floating staircase that runs through the 164-footer’s center. With glass insets embedded into each floor, natural light filters down through the glass-bottomed Jacuzzi on the sky deck and then reflects its way down to the lobby via the glass tubes in the center of the staircase. Unlike other staircases that rely on artificial light, the sunlight is also refracted by mirrored side walls and even the glass steps across three decks. With glass doors separating the sculptured staircase from the dining area, it could be misconstrued as an art exhibit.

Engineered by specialists who have worked in F1, the portable golf simulator was designed specifically for yachts. The lightweight, saltwater-resistant, carbon-fiber unit can easily transform any transom into a personal tee box in less than 10 minutes, with no retrofitting required. Its IP54-rated weatherproof motherboard and GC quad launch monitor (the same technology used by golf pros) can capture up to 200 images per swing, providing instant professional analysis as well as the ability to play over 245 courses around the world. The unit can be paired with Off the Deck’s nontoxic, biodegradable balls and FunAir’s inflatable golf nets. The SeaDriveCX recently made its U.S. launch at the Palm Beach International Boat Show.