While Americans were celebrating Independence Day this weekend, Italians—at least those at the Perini Navi Group’s yard in La Spezia—were celebrating the launch of Exuma. The all-aluminum 50-meter (164-footer) is the first in its Picchiotti Vitruvius superyacht series and thus the Perini Navi Group’s first motoryacht.
With naval architecture from Philippe Briand and exterior design by Vitruvius, Exuma makes a statement. Note her streamlined profile and slim bow (which is particularly evident in the close-up at left). She employs what’s termed the BOS Hull (Briand Optimized Stretched Hull), allowing for a gross tonnage of less than 500, displacement of 400 tons, and a shallow draft (2.3 meters, or 7’5″). Combined with twin Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines, this should permit good performance, too: 12 knots cruise and a 5,500-mile range at that speed. Top speed should be 16½ knots.
The anticipated performance should service Exuma well, since she’s intended for exploration. Her toys certainly reflect that goal: There’s an amphibious vehicle and a hovercraft in addition to tenders, PWCs, Seabobs, and dive gear. The owner and guests will explore land, too: Electric scooters are at their disposal.
The first of three Vitruvius 50-meters sold thus far, Exuma will bear a classic nautical decor with plenty of teak and oak. Of course, being an Italian build, she’ll also have abundant use of Italian marble. Delivery is set for the autumn.
As mentioned above, Exuma is at a Perini Navi Group facility in La Spezia. Until last month, that yard was known as Cantieri Navali Beconcini, a name it had held since it was established in 1959. Perini Navi Group acquired it in 2005, for refit as well as new-build services. The Group decided a name change was in order to better reflect its newly refined purpose, that being to expand the production capacity for motoryachts. From now on, it will bear the Picchiotti marque.
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