Ten-year-old Boksa Marine Design is responsible for a number of commercial vessels and private yachts alike. Commercial projects have taken a priority in recent years, but company principal Nick Boksa has been researching the state of the megayacht market, too. He’s noticing interesting trends. That spurred the creation of the Boksa Marine Design proposals seen here. They’re in sizes and styles that hold appeal equally among buyers returning to the market and newcomers.
Boksa was inspired to explore more design options after an industry-focused summit several months ago. The overriding theme of the discussions was that companies were not branching out enough. “The ‘a-ha’ moment is that, when you look at the percentage of yacht owners who are high-net-worth individuals out there, we’re barely tapping that target,” Boksa says. “Pair that together with the fact that we’re just coming out of a major worldwide economic crisis, and there’s going to be people regaining their wealth, and there’s going to be a whole new load of people that have gained their own wealth. There’s going to be a load of people who are not experienced yacht people or boat owners, or maybe don’t have the same net worth as the guys who are buying the 200-, 250-foot boats. So the idea was to try to fit a 150-footer’s interior and amenities into a smaller boat for people who are new to the market, may not be as wealthy as the rest, or just not as interested in spending all their wealth right now.”
Each of the new Boksa Marine Design projects are in the 85- to 125-foot (26- to 38-meter) size range. While there’s a lot of media coverage on mega-size megayachts, most buyers are closer to the so-called small end of the spectrum. Echoing the point Boksa made regarding wealth and spending, each falls into a design and build cost range of $8 million to $25 million. In addition, 85- to 125-foot megayachts hold appeal for people in their 30s and 40s as well as their 60s. As to the first group of people, Boksa observes that many have successively stepped up to larger production boats and are ready to commission their first custom craft. Some may even be first-time boat buyers, he adds. As for the older generation, a few megayacht owners want to step down in size, for a more intimate experience with their families. Regardless, 85- to 125-foot megayachts can also be manned by smaller crews. And, they can pull into pretty much any marina.
More important, each Boksa Marine Design megayacht is based on a proven hull form. Furthermore, with the traditional MTU or Caterpillar engine packages, best range for the 125, for example, should be upwards of 3,000 nautical miles. “I’m a strong believer that it all comes down to function first,” Boksa explains. “It’s important for me to say, ‘Sure, we’re engineers, but we can design a pretty yacht for you. Just tell us what you like, and we’ll make it happen.’” He adds that while he admires some stylists’ work, more than good looks are necessary. “I appreciate people pushing the envelope, but we’re engineers, we’re grounded that way,” Boksa states.
Furthermore, Boksa Marine Design has mixed not just traditional and modern colors, but also classic and contemporary styling cues. “The point of doing multiple profiles for the boat was simply to say, ‘These are custom yachts, and we can do just about any styling you may prefer,” Boksa explains. As for the interior’s general arrangement, a suggested layout includes four guest staterooms below decks, a main-deck master, and a skylounge. Boksa Marine Design research shows these still hold great appeal. But, by no means is that arrangement set in stone. “Come to us with some ideas of what you’re looking for, and we can fit the same interior in just about any kind of styling you’re looking for,’” Boksa explains.
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