The Fort Lauderdale boat show may seem a long way off, but not to Hargrave Custom Yachts. The builder is readying three all-new models to debut, with this 114 Raised Pilothouse design from renowned naval architect Jack Sarin being among them.
It may seem risky to invest in that many new models, but Hargrave’s chairman and CEO, Michael Joyce, says recent history proves otherwise. “What we learned during this ongoing recession is that if the buyer is in a really good mood today, and you happen to have a new boat in inventory that you can deliver right now, then you have a good chance of concluding a sale, but if you are asking the buyer to look out into the future, say 14 to 18 months, the answer is almost always no,” he explains. He adds, “I’ve always considered myself a student of the boating industry, and I’ve had the chance to study this industry close up for over 40 years. Historically, the only way any company can dig out from under a nosedive recession is with hot new designs.”
As for the 114 Raised Pilothouse megayacht, she’ll have a 24-foot beam and 5’10” draft. More important, she’s been designed to take advantage of Caterpillar’s 1,900-hp C-32 ACERT engines. That should permit a 25-knot top end and 20-knot cruise. Six thousand gallons of fuel will ensure transatlantic capabilities.
Inside, the megayacht will have accommodations for eight in king-size staterooms, plus five crew in three cabins. She’ll have Hargrave’s customary country kitchen, too, outfitted with granite countertops. Cherrywood will be featured throughout the yacht for paneling and furnishings, some of which will be further topped with marble.
Features that will appeal to owners who like to entertain large crowds are the cockpit and flying bridge. The cockpit will have rod holders and a livewell if someone does indeed want to do a little fishing (dinner, perhaps?). But many American buyers, who are the core of Hargrave’s clientele, also like cockpits simply for the space they provide to relax. There’s extra space on the bridge, which Hargrave says has 50 percent more seating. It can accommodate 10 for dining, just as the formal interior dining area does—though a roving cocktail party could easily see more people enjoying the views from up here.
The 114 and the other two models to debut at the Fort Lauderdale show are actually among five new models that Hargrave will introduce throughout the boat-show season. We’ll have specifics on them in the coming weeks, but for now, each is within Hargrave’s 70- to 135-foot size range.
For more information directly from Hargrave about the 114, please fill out our contact form.
Leave a Reply