Most people who had just flown halfway around the world from South Africa to Florida would be pretty darn tired. But Tim Derrico, director of sales at HMY Yachts, the designated ECLIPSE Yachts dealer, could hardly contain his excitement.

He was just back from his most recent visit to the shipyard that builds the ECLIPSE 505 Shadow and its new sistership, the ECLIPSE 605 Shadow. It’s a massive shipyard that turns out custom catamarans up to 75 feet long, in addition to rescue boats for the South African government. “The high level of quality is clear – they know what they’re doing. Their key people have been in the industry for a long time and the team knows how to build production boats and get things done,” Derrico said in late June. “It’s really quite the operation. When you walk into the ECLIPSE building, there are a handful of boats in build.

The ECLIPSE 505 Shadow is already a hit with HMY’s customers, he says. Several satisfied owners are using the versatile boats in all kinds of different ways.

“We hear it from everybody: They look great; they perform great,” he says. “These express cruisers have a  lot of the features that people are looking for today in cruising outboard boats. From island hopping around the Bahamas to cruising the Eastern Seaboard, it’s a great open water boat —it’s a Michael Peters design. You want  the nicest sandbar boat? There you go . Because it’s an outboard boat, you can push the bow right up on the sandbar, put the balcony down, and you’ve got it.”

The ECLIPSE 605 Shadow will be all of that and more, in a bigger package that has three staterooms and three heads. The first 605 Shadow’s hull and deck are done, with the second hull in the mold as of midsummer.

As with the 505 Shadow, the 605 Shadow is being designed from day one to include outboard power. ECLIPSE teamed up with Michael Peters Yacht Design to bring this express cruiser  series to life. That’s a big deal, according to John Dial, Eclipse sales manager for HMY Yachts.

“There are other boats out there that are constructed with a similar layout and look , but I don’t think there are many boats constructed with a hull laid specifically for this kind of performance,” Dial says. “A lot of builders in the express cruiser space will hang outboards on them and glass on a bracket, but the boat isn’t constructed at the level ECLIPSE offers. You’ll see hulls modified one way or the other.”

Dial says the design and construction quality is evident in the way each ECLIPSE hull comes out of the mold at the shipyard. The method utilized for the gelcoat and paint creates an extra quality-control step for every single ECLIPSE boat.

“Generally speaking, there are two types of boats,” Dial explains. “There are those that are painted and those that will be painted, according to my old friend and boat builder Bob Roscioli. A manufacturer using a pigmented gelcoat in the process will put the desired color gelcoat in the mold so that it comes out with the colored gelcoat exterior on it.” Gelcoat is higher annual maintenance than painted boats due to the need to buff more frequently to maintain the shine.

On the ECLIPSE line, by contrast, the gelcoat is applied clear and then gets faired, sanded, then painted with multiple coats of quality paint and final layers of clear coat in the production process. The clear gelcoat allows the shipyard team to see if there are any imperfections in the layup process. “It’s like looking at a glass window of the layup,” Dial says. “A lot of boats out there now are exterior pigmented colored gelcoat because it’s a less-expensive way to build.”

On the other side of the coin,  the level of attention to detail at ECLIPSE he adds, is something that sets the brand  apart from competing boatbuilders. “What we’re doing with ECLIPSE is going over everything with a fine-tooth comb.”

Dial says boaters who want to check out the ECLIPSE line can visit the HMY Yachts Sales Willoughby Creek facility in Stuart, Florida. The company has two of the 505 models there, with one of them being used as a demo boat. There is a third boat being displayed at Northern boat show events so that people can experience, in person, what the ECLIPSE line is. From the Florida location, he adds, it’s easy to do a test run and get a real feel for how the boat handles on the water.

“We’re 15 minutes to the inlet, and we can run in any kind of weather for test runs,” Dial says. “And this boat only drafts about 3 feet. You can trim up motors and go in shallow waters in it. You can cruise this boat very comfortably and economically at 38 knots. That’s good in anybody’s book. That’s here to West End, Bahamas, in two hours with no problem.”

Dial says he also sees a lot of applications for cruising the ECLIPSE boats in other parts of the country too.

“For South Florida,  New England, or the lowcountry, these boats are perfect,” Dial says. “You can run from Hilton Head to Charleston or Savannah for the day or throughout the weekend. The ECLIPSE 605 Shadow, with its additional onboard space and creature comforts, will be good for all of that and more. Derrico says that while the hope is for the first ECLIPSE 605 Shadow to be ready in time for the fall and winter boat-show seasons at the end of 2025 and into early 2026, the company isn’t rushing to make any deadlines.

The top priority is quality, he says, no matter how long it takes to get everything just right.

“We want to work with urgency, but let’s not rush,” Derrico says.  “Our philosophy only allows for doing things the right way.”

The post Quality in Motion appeared first on Yachting.

Experience the pinnacle of outboard express cruising with the ECLIPSE 505 Shadow, where revolutionary performance meets uncompromising luxury thanks to the patented Michael Peters SVVT hull paired with Mercury’s formidable 600hp V12 outboards. The owner-centric design delivers a true two stateroom, two head layout complemented by flush deck entertaining spaces that rival larger yachts, all while achieving unprecedented speed and seakeeping abilities in the cruising segment. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and custom-level build quality, this 50-foot masterpiece represents a bold new standard in marine engineering

Key Features

• Triple Mercury 600hp V12 outboards
• Michael Peters SVVT hull
• Two staterooms, two heads
• Flush deck entertaining spaces
• Custom-level build quality
• State-of-the-art navigation technology

Specs at a Glance

• LOA: 50’10”
• Beam Max: 15’1″
• Beam at Chine: 11’2″
• Draft (Excl. Motors): 2’11”
• Draft: 2’6″
• Displacement (Est. Lightship): 26,000 lbs.
• Deadrise at Transform: 22.5 degrees
• Water: 120 US Gal.
• Fuel (Approx): 650 US Gal.
• Propulsion: Triple Mercury V12 600 hp
• Standard layout: 2 staterooms, 2 heads
• Certifications: ISO Category B, ABYC, USCG

The post Yachting On Board: HMY ECLIPSE 505 Shadow appeared first on Yachting.

There’s something about a beautifully executed, modern-classic express cruiser that makes the heart swoon.

Maybe it’s the way the house shape reminds us of the hardiest lobster boats, with all the go-to-sea romance that lifestyle embodies along the coast of Maine. Or maybe it’s the sweep in the sheerline with the proud bow that practically begs to let loose from the dock and head out for a long weekend of exploration off the coast. Hull-paint colors on modern classics are downright soothing. It’s as if a yacht designer put pen to paper and created a vision for inducing a sense of calm.

But then there’s also the good kind of heart pounding that a true modern classic also inspires. Take all of that sensuous style, then add a pair or a trio of 600 hp Mercury V-12 outboards along with a proven performance hull shape, and the boat has everything we need to feel the thrill of tearing across the open water at speeds not seen in this segment. It’s total control and absolute exhilaration, for as little or as long a time as we desire.

These are just some of the qualities embodied in the all-new ECLIPSE 505 and ECLIPSE 605, now for sale through HMY Yachts. The first ECLIPSE 505 is expected to arrive in the United States this fall, with its premiere planned for the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida. The first ECLIPSE 605 is expected to premiere at the 2025 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Both the ECLIPSE 505 and the ECLIPSE 605 are built on the patented Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull by Sarasota, Florida-based designer Michael Peters. He’s a designer who cites legendary V-hull designer C. Raymond Hunt among his major influences, and who has helped to shape some of the best-performing powerboats of the past few decades.

In a nutshell, Peters’ SVVT hull design reduces the wetted surface, meaning the boat has less drag. In turn, this allows for quicker acceleration, faster speeds, better fuel economy and more. Both the ECLIPSE 505 and 605 can be ordered with the upgraded Shadow Performance Package, which consists of not just exclusive interior appointments, but also more features and an additional Mercury 600 hp engine. This additional power mated to the SVVT hull design will enable faster speeds with reliable handling and allow these express cruisers to stand out in their class.

The ECLIPSE 505 and 605 are built in South Africa by Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing, the same yard that turns out the Two Oceans Power Catamarans in the HMY Yachts stable of offerings. Dave Jirikovic, brand manager of both lines for HMY Yachts, says the plan is to build about 20 of the ECLIPSE 505 and 15 ECLIPSE 605 boats each year, focusing on high-end finishes and components inside and out—as well as on the type of upscale, concierge-level service that owners in this quality range expect.

“The ECLIPSE 505 and 605 are built for the most discerning yachtsmen,” Jirikovic says. “In July of 2022, HMY bought the former Whiticar Boatworks fully functional yard—now called HMY Willoughby Creek—in Stuart, Florida, to be the dedicated service and delivery center for the ECLIPSE owner. Renovations commenced immediately in preparation for the future arrival of ECLIPSE 505s and 605s. Our goal is to create a totally different experience for the customer—from on-site factory-certified Mercury 600 V-12 technicians, to delivery of your new ECLIPSE being out of the elements and under brand-new covered dockage. We are going the extra mile to ensure ECLIPSE customers receive a next-level experience.”

The ECLIPSE 505 is a two-stateroom, two-head design, while the ECLIPSE 605 has a three-stateroom, three-head layout. The boats are ideal for long weekends or weeklong getaways with family and friends. They have American components for ease of service anywhere, and they’re built with features that allow in fresh air and natural light to enhance the cruising experience, such as a retractable moonroof and an opening portside balcony in the cockpit.

Other things to look for in the ECLIPSE models, Jirikovic says, are innovative design elements that make boating easier—the kinds of touches that experienced yachtsmen appreciate. As just one example, the aft door leading from the main-deck salon into the cockpit can slide inboard or outboard on centerline to open, instead of requiring a battle of wills on days when there’s wind to contend with in a harbor.

“We have eliminated pinch points like those created by bi-fold doors,” he says. “Just open the center of the door on a bad day to go in and out of the boat without issue.”

Another advancement is the boarding door to starboard, which, unlike on other boats, doesn’t hinge in or out at all. It’s designed to make life easier for boaters whose hands are full and, well, to look darn cool at any dock as it disappears completely out of view and out of the way.

“It retracts into the cockpit sole,” Jirikovic says. “It’s unlike anything anyone has seen on the docks.”

Interiors on the ECLIPSE 505 and 605 are by Mark Tucker’s renowned team at Design Unlimited in the United Kingdom. He has more than 30 years of experience in the business, with the company’s work including not just higher-end production brands like the ECLIPSE, but also custom superyachts for top yards.

All of that experience will combine with the sales and service power of HMY Yachts, which is the exclusive worldwide dealer for all ECLIPSE models. The partnership means boaters will be able to get aboard these boats at major boat shows, touch and feel the fabrics and components to see the high quality of each model’s construction, and schedule sea trials with experienced captains and brokers who can answer any questions about handling, options and more.

“The worldwide debut will be powered by the HMY team, which has been delivering results since 1979,” says Steve Moynihan, founder and owner of HMY Yachts. “Our commitment to service our customers is unrivaled in the industry.”

Take the next step: Visit in person at the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

The post A Standout New Brand appeared first on Yachting.

Lee Mandel doesn’t talk much about his 52-foot Sea Ray, which he skippers with friends and family up and down the US East Coast. Instead, the boat he’s eager to discuss—all day, every day—is the 116-foot Azimut Tail Lights, which he bought in 2019.

And the first thing he’ll tell you, if you’re thinking about chartering Tail Lights? You should think of it as your yacht, right down to the advance provisioning allowance.

“I want the guests to feel like it’s their vessel,” Mandel says. “If they’re repeat clients, we’ll pay some of the taxes. We’ll offset their APA costs. We’ll give them some extra days. Our goal is to get every customer to want to come back.”

That approach to the charter business has Tail Lights already booking guests for the Bahamas and Caribbean into 2025, with an average notice of three to five months, and with a rotating crew to avoid burnout. Mandel says regular maintenance is also a key component of the Tail Lights charter program, along with investments that help guests have memorable experiences aboard the 2011 build.

“One of the things I saw a lot of the yachts doing was theme nights. I wanted to give the crew technology to create incredible themes,” Mandel says. “Now we have disco night, pirate night, ’70s night, and we tie it into the electronics and AV on the boat. There’s a smoke machine. There’s disco lighting throughout the boat. We have a DJ system.” In the Bahamas, he partners with Furze Entertainment to bring various entertainers on board. “We have a singer who sings as well as Whitney Houston,” Mandel says. “We have a saxophonist who’s on the bow performing. We have steel-drum bands that come on the boat. We’ve had magicians. We’ve even had fire dancers on land. We’ve created a whole entertainment portfolio of partners we work with.”    

Charter Details

• HMY Yachts manages Tail Lights for charter.  
• Accommodations are for as many as 12 guests in five staterooms, including a full-beam master amidships with a private entrance, separate from the guest staterooms. 
• Bahamas bookings are typically available from May or June through the summer season.
• Caribbean itineraries generally start around November and go through the winter.
• Flash drives of photos and videos from the charter are given to guests as a keepsake.

The post Yacht Charter Your Way appeared first on Yachting.

All too often, boatbuilders are forced to make compromises. Sure, you can have high-end luxury and innovative features, but only if you give up the option to customize the interior space.

“We made a very conscious decision to do things differently with the Two Oceans 555,” says Dave Jirikovic. “This power catamaran has an edge over all the others in the industry. You get the luxury and innovation that customers demand, but also the ability to customize. Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing’s custom build mentality affords the customer what they want within the constraints of the spatial shell we are working within.”

Jirikovic is the HMY Yachts brand manager for the Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran, which is the first model the company is offering for sale from South Africa’s Two Oceans Marine. The “triple five,” as the boat is known, is a power catamaran of a higher order than what many people think of when they hear the word “catamaran.” 

The Two Oceans 555 has a customizable décor, a choice of layouts, multiple power options, smart systems for quieter cruising, U.S.-industry standard components for ease of service, the volume of a 70-foot monohull—and, yes, properly separated shower and toilet stalls. It’s the kind of powercat that discerning boaters have been demanding, boaters who know how creature comforts look and feel aboard top-brand monohull powerboats.

“Demand is changing,” says Tim Derrico, director of sales for HMY Yachts. “And the amount of real estate you get is enormous.”

The Two Oceans 555 can be ordered with a three-stateroom, three-head layout, or with different variations on a four-stateroom, four-head layout. 

In the Owner’s Version, there are three staterooms. The entire starboard hull is the master, while the portside hull houses two additional staterooms—one forward for guests, and one aft for crew. 

The On-Deck Master version has four staterooms and four heads, with the master on the main level and two guest staterooms in the starboard hull. The portside hull has a crew stateroom aft. 

In the Open Plan version, there are also four staterooms, but they are positioned with two staterooms in each hull (the portside aft stateroom again for crew). The main level becomes an even bigger entertaining space that includes an open galley and long bar. This is the version that’s expected to be popular among owners who plan to offer the powercat for charter. As of December 2023, it was the most frequently ordered version among the 14 hulls of the Two Oceans 555 that HMY Yachts had sold. 

Beyond choosing the layout, owners can customize the interiors with various wood veneers, fabrics and more. Bulkheads can’t be moved, Jirikovic says, “but within the box, you can do a lot.” As an example, he cites Hull No. 3, which arrived in the United States in December: “This build alone had 116 change orders added.”

Importantly, he adds, installations are all done at the Two Oceans Marine shipyard in South Africa. Parts and components from U.S.-friendly suppliers are shipped there so the boats arrive on U.S. shores ready for use, instead of needing further fit-out. 

“Anything and everything that anybody would want, the boat’s ready to run. Put fuel in it and go,” Jirikovic says. “This a massive departure from industry norms where owners have come to expect losing a month of cruising time upon the boat’s arrival, and an expense of $40,000 to $60,000 to commission a new build, to actually make it operable. We wanted to eliminate this headache for the customer, and we did.”

Another thing that HMY Yachts worked on with Two Oceans Marine was ensuring that the Two Oceans 555 is built for serious cruising. The powercat is certified CE Class A for ocean use. Crossing the Gulf Stream to explore the Bahamas or Caribbean islands can be part of an owner’s plans, and the powercat’s class-leading draft of 3 feet, 6 inches will allow anchoring just about anywhere. Protective keels shield the running gear in case the water below the boat gets too skinny. 

Owners can easily expect a top speed in the upper-20-knot range, Jirikovic says. This powercat’s design—combined with custom conical Humphree Interceptor tabs and exclusive tunnel design by Teignbridge Ltd.—lifts the after section to ease the vessel’s motion.  

“If you look at other boats in this segment, they’re stern-heavy when underway,” he says. “They look like they’re struggling to get up to speed. The Two Oceans 555 runs nearly flat underway, at about 1.5 degrees of upward angle at cruise. The high-speed performance numbers showcase the engineering involved. The 555’s design gives you the speed you want, but also dynamic efficiency at low speed.”

Power plants are by Cummins—with the ability to get parts and service pretty much anywhere—and all electrical systems are by Victron Energy, an industry-leading Dutch company that focuses on electric power. The Two Oceans 555 with the optional Off-Grid Package includes a bank of Victron Energy lithium-iron-phosphate batteries that provide over 50 kW of storage. That setup, along with efficient 48-volt wiring and systems, means the boat can be at anchor while using lights, air conditioning, refrigeration and more, but without the need for a traditional, noisy generator. 

Instead of that traditional generator, the Two Oceans 555 with the optional Off-Grid Package has a 9 kW Integrel Solutions PTO generator on each engine. It requires zero maintenance, and it recharges the batteries at a speed comparable to an electric vehicle’s super-charger. (It’s way faster than plugging into a standard outlet.) 

And, with the addition of solar panels, Jirikovic says, another 6 kW or 7 kW of power can be generated in silence. “You’re pretty much at net-zero or even net-positive in terms of daytime energy use,” he says, “even running all the air conditioners on the boat.”

Boaters who are new to these systems can take comfort in the Victron Energy user interface, which displays all the information needed to make sense of what’s happening. 

“You can monitor the Victron network on the dedicated boat system screen, on your phone, at the helm via the Garmin plotters, or if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, so you can manage the system remotely,” Jirikovic says. “The system does the math for you in real time. There’s a countdown timer so you know exactly how to manage your loads to the maximum and create a sustainable grid.”

He adds that the improvements to the overall cruising experience are impressive: “If you’re like me and you’ve been on boats all your life, you’re used to exhaust smells and equipment noises all night. The 555 with the Off-Grid package is a total departure from those historical norms.”

In a nutshell, Derrico adds, the Two Oceans 555 is designed, built and outfitted for boaters who know how cruising in comfort should feel, and who want it all in a powercat.

“The Two Oceans 555 is a boat for the person who really wants to use it,” Derrico says. “It’s for going exploring.”

Take the next step: Learn more about the Two Oceans 555 at hmy.com

The post Big Time appeared first on Yachting.

Reel Drag, a Viking 62 Convertible, is currently listed with HMY Yachts for $3.35 million. The 2016 sport-fisher is penned for hardcore, big-game tournament anglers with a battle-ready cockpit and 42-knot speed.

I happened to be there nearly a decade ago when Yachting’s editor-in-chief, Patrick Sciacca, tested the Viking 62C during the 2015 Miami International Boat Show. In fact, I nearly lost my DJI Phantom drone shooting video that day because it couldn’t keep up with the Viking 62 Convertible’s eye-watering speed.

“Our drone ran hard toward the [Viking 62 Convertible]. As it captured video of our sea trial, its blades whirred and spun at a blistering pace over the azure waters of Miami Beach. The flying video camera struggled mightily as the big sport-fisherman came up on plane and its twin 1,925-horsepower Caterpillar C32A diesel turbos spooled up. It wasn’t long before Yachting’s managing editor, Jake Lamb, had to retrieve the drone so we could really see what this blue-water beast could do (and so that our mini helicopter didn’t drop into the drink).

The single-lever controls hit the pins, and my eyes widened as I watched our Viking yacht’s speed climb in quantum-leap fashion: 20 knots, 30 knots and an average top hop of 42.2 knots.”

Twin 1,925 hp Caterpillar C32A diesels provide power for Reel Drag, giving it the same setup that hit 42-plus-knotson on our sea trail. The cruise speed for this set up is 36.9 knots with the Cats consuming 156 gph, “if you’re a hard-core tournament angler, many boats will be left wallowing in your wake when the Bimini start gun goes off.”

Viking Yachts has built cored-hull sport-fishing boats for years and the 62 Convertible is no different. It has a balsa-core, resin-infused fiberglass hull reinforced with Kevlar and carbon fiber, enhancing its strength without adding weight.

The 172-square-foot, teak-covered cockpit is sure to impress even the most-seasoned angler with its eight rod holders on the aft bridge rail, three rod holders on each aft tower leg, transom fish box with live well, two split-lid fish boxes under the cockpit sole, Release Marine boltless rod holders, salt- and freshwater washdowns, rocket launcher, teaser reels, trolling valves, cockpit freezer, cockpit tackle center, freezer bait trays and 12V reel outlets for those dredge and deep-dropping reels. When lines are out and it’s time to enjoy some shade, Reel Drag has the standard mezzanine with bench seating forward to port.

On the flybridge, guests will find seating flanking the centerline helm station. There is also a bench seat forward of the helm. The 62C has a Palm Beach Towers tuna tower, 43-foot Rupp triple-spreader outriggers and a Rupp center rigger.

Plush comforts were not overlooked on this 62-foot sportfisherman. Stepping into the salon, there is an L-shaped sofa and coffee table to port with an L-shaped dinette and flat-screen TV forward, creating a great spot to enjoy meals with the crew. The galley is to starboard and adjacent to the dinette that comes equipped with two parallel countertops for food prep, a sink, six Sub-Zero refrigeration and freezer drawers, an electric cooktop, a concealed trash can, a microwave, and an abundance of door, drawer and slide-out pantry stowage.

Belowdecks, guests will find sleeping accommodation for up to seven across Reel Drag’ s three staterooms. The amidships master stateroom has an athwartships queen berth, twin nightstands, a framed-in TV, and an en suite head. The optional forepeak VIP has a two-person lower berth to port and an upper berth to starboard. It also has an en suite head. The port guest stateroom has twin berths, stowage and an en suite head. The guest stateroom head also doubles as the day head and is accessed via the companionway.

Some other notable features on board include:

• SK26 SeaKeeper gyrostabilizer
• 96-mile Furuno radar
• Furuno Navnet 3D
• Two Garmin 8208 GPS/Map
• Furuno FCV1200 color sounder
• FLIR M625XP thermal imager
• KVH HD7 Sat TV
• Three 17-inch KEP monitors
• KVH SAT phone
• Furuno OMNI Sonar

From the Yachting Archive: Meet The Beast

“The Viking 62 Convertible isn’t a boat for everyone. She’s for those who can appreciate a pure-bred sport-fisherman. Wherever the fish are, she can get to them quickly and in luxe comfort. But when she runs, keep an eye on your drone.”

Where is Reel Drag located? The yacht is currently lying in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Take the next step: contact the listing agent, Brian Weaver, (561) 308-0939, hmy.com

Quick Specifications

• Length Overall: 63’1″
• Maximum Beam: 18’11”
• Fuel Capacity: 2,150 Gal.
• Draft: 5’2″

The post For Sale: Viking Yachts 62 Convertible appeared first on Yachting.

Tim Derrico’s to-do list dates all the way back to 1996. That’s when he joined HMY Yachts as a sales broker and started thinking about ways to help customers get exactly what they want. After he became director of sales in 2011, Derrico started to think even bigger—including the idea of finding a power-cat line worthy of being associated with the HMY Yachts brand. 

It was a tall order, given the growth that HMY Yachts had experienced ever since Steve Moynihan founded the company in 1979 on a houseboat located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Today, HMY Yachts sells new and brokerage boats out of a dozen locations, offering some of the world’s top brands such as Viking Yachts, Valhalla Boatworks, Princess, and Nimbus. Most power catamarans, to put it mildly, didn’t even come close to the level of fit-and-finish and outfitting seen on those fishing and cruising boats. 

All of which is why Derrico and Moynihan began a fact-finding mission in 2019 to learn more about a rumored top-end power catamaran concept out of Cape Town, South Africa. The power catamaran was still in the design phase, but it was the brainchild of a team with serious boatbuilding credentials. 

For starters, the shipyard with this power-cat concept was Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing, which had long been known for custom catamaran and monohull builds up to 110 feet. Two Oceans also builds Balance Catamarans, which often sail well above their class in terms of construction, design and performance. The designer was Du Toit Yacht Design, also based in Cape Town, South Africa, with a stellar reputation dating back to 2001.

“I met with some people in my office here in West Palm Beach and got the conversation going,” Derrico recalls. “We ended up having a dinner meeting one night during the Miami boat show in 2019. It went well, and things proceeded from there.”

Next, HMY Yachts leadership brought in Dave Jirikovic, who, prior to joining HMY, had spent years selling products and managing dealerships for two mainstream express-cruiser brands. He’d also had significant input into new-product development. Jirikovic, plain and simple, knew what to look for in a shipyard. He flew to South Africa on a reconnaissance mission. 

“I got there and saw this massive facility within the secured port of Cape Town, a bustling metropolis of people working—and that was not just on our 555 cat project, but also on two Balance sail catamaran models, and on South African National Sea Rescue Institute boats, which is like their coast guard. And then there were all of the custom boats, like the first Two Oceans 870 Power Catamaran at 87 by 40 feet, and even custom sport-fish builds. It was impressive,” Jirikovic says. “My phone call back to Tim and Steve was: ‘This guy’s a builder. He’s got the skills, he has the labor, and he has the facilities. All of the ingredients to build are here,’ which is something you cannot say often.”

Two Oceans Marine felt the same way about HMY Yachts. It takes a lot to trust a dealer with not one but two lines of boats: the Two Oceans Power Catamarans, and the ECLIPSE Express Cruisers. HMY’s well-rounded network and experienced sales team offered everything that Two Oceans Marine needed to bring its boats to a much wider, worldwide clientele. 

Two Oceans 555 Power Catamaran

Combining Two Oceans Marine’s construction know-how with HMY Yachts’ sales prowess and reach made complete sense. Seemingly overnight, HMY Yachts became a global dealer—and exclusive US dealer—for Two Oceans Power Catamarans, starting with the Two Oceans 555 model. Jirikovic sat down with the team in South Africa to discuss what American buyers want, including all the little details that can take any boat concept from good to great. 

“We sat in their conference room for seven hours straight, with one restroom break,” Jirikovic says. “We talked about every single component.”

That group of people, still to this day, has remained laser-focused on ensuring that the Two Oceans 555 delivers everything American yachtsmen desire in a power catamaran. And boaters are already responding big-time. Hull No. 1 of the Two Oceans 555 sold to its owner before the design was even complete, and before anyone had seen a physical boat (Two Oceans Marine knew the buyer from a prior build). Hull No. 2 was displayed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2023, and soon after, HMY Yachts was sold out on the model’s production slots until 2025. 

The plan is to keep the Two Oceans 555 a premium product with only about 10 of the boats being built each year, each one of them customized to the owner’s taste—setting the Two Oceans line apart from competing brands that pump out far more mass-production quantities of catamaran hulls annually on their construction lines. 

ECLIPSE Express Cruisers

Next, following up on the success of the Two Oceans 555, HMY Yachts is also preparing to debut a line of cruising powerboats from the same builder. The first two models in this line from Two Oceans Marine will be the ECLIPSE 505 and ECLIPSE 605. 

The ECLIPSE 505 Shadow—a version of the 505 with an upgraded performance package (see details below)—will premiere at the Newport International Boat Show in September. Two ECLIPSE 505 Shadows will be at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October, and at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2025. The ECLIPSE 605 will premiere at the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March 2025.

These ECLIPSE boats are penned by renowned powerboat designer Michael Peters of Sarasota, Florida. Interiors are by the UK’s Design Unlimited, with consultation from Silver Arrows Design, an automotive design leader that brings innovative interiors to the marine market.

“Michael Peters said it best: ‘It’s a new timeless classic,’” Jirikovic says of the ECLIPSE line. “It’s built on his world-renowned Stepped Vee Ventilated Hull, and it’s a sexy package that also performs.”

The base ECLIPSE 505 and 605 models will pack serious power: twin or triple 600-horsepower Mercury V-12 Verados. The Shadow Performance Package 505 and 605 models will have triple and quadruple engine upgrades, respectively. All expectations are for the ECLIPSE powerboats to achieve north of 60 knots at wide-open throttle, with upper-end features and overnight accommodations for couples or families. 

The Power of HMY Yachts

Are the ECLIPSE powerboats a completely different style and cruising experience than the Two Oceans 555 power cat? Yes, they are—and that’s the whole point of adding both brands to the HMY Yachts list of offerings, Derrico says. 

“If you look at what we have at HMY Yachts, it’s a lot of different types of high-quality boats that can appeal to different types of consumers,” he says.

And beyond that, Jirikovic adds, the customer service and sales network that HMY Yachts has in place will ensure that the brands deliver on what they promise. HMY’s knowledge and years of experience make it the ideal partner for Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing on both of these brands. 

“We’re going to make sure that we exceed our customers’ expectations and that our customers are satisfied with the ECLIPSE experience, period,” Jirikovic says. “HMY has been around for 45 years by delivering results, not disappointment. From the purchase of the former Whiticar Boat Works yard as the dedicated ECLIPSE Service Center, to dedicated customer-care staff and dedicated ECLIPSE and Mercury technicians, an ECLIPSE owner will be in for a pleasant surprise.”

Take the next step: Learn more about the Two Oceans 555, ECLIPSE 505 and ECLIPSE 605 at hmy.com.

The post Power Player appeared first on Yachting.

Dave Jirikovic of HMY Yachts was on a quest. The sales broker was looking for the meanest, nastiest patch of Gulf Stream he could find to show a potential client what the Two Oceans 555 power cat could handle.

“There,” he said, pointing ahead. “A series of solid 4-footers.” The Gulf Stream was roiled from several days of 20-plus-knot northern winds running against the northbound current.

And just as he had intended to show us, the broad-shouldered power cat didn’t even notice. He even dropped the single-lever throttles back to idle and left the 25-foot-wide Two Oceans 555 beam-on to another set of square-edged seas. The 55-footer brushed that off too. Jirikovic tried quartering into the seas—never a happy angle for catamarans—and the yacht drowsed through them.

Stability was among many characteristics that left me impressed with the Two Oceans 555, the company’s first offering in the United States. The builder was founded in 1989 and constructs its boats in Cape Town, South Africa, with power and sail models from 23 to 160 feet length overall. Two Oceans also builds offshore rescue craft, which explains some of the other characteristics I saw after taking a turn at the helm of the Two Oceans 555.

For instance, I was startled to learn that this power cat gets about 1 nautical mile per gallon at 10 knots. With 750 gallons of fuel, that’s a lot farther than most yachtsmen will ever want to run in a single hop.

This cat also has speed—topping out at more than 27 knots—with twin 550 hp Cummins QSB6.7L diesels. The vessel’s performance and seaworthiness are a tribute to the twin slippery hulls designed by Du Toit Yacht Design of South Africa. Using tunnels tightly fitted to the props for maximum power, and with low-drag sacrificial keels, the 555 has just a 3-foot-6-inch draft.

Construction is solid with a vinylester barrier coat underwater and PVC foam core, all vacuum-bagged for strength and reinforced with carbon fiber in high-load areas.

Effort has clearly been spent on soundproofing; my decibel meter barely nudged 82 dB(A) at 26.5 knots in the salon. Thanks to the boat’s underwater side-mounted exhausts, the bridge sound was even quieter: 79 decibels at 23 knots.

The thing I liked most about the Two Oceans 555 is that it is essentially a blank canvas. This particular boat had a layout I liked: an on-deck master stateroom separated from the salon by sliding doors. The master has 180 degrees of 27-inch-high windows for a panoramic view from the walk-around island berth. The en suite head is in the port hull with twin sinks, a 3-by-4-foot shower stall and a tilt-up vanity.

Guest staterooms included an athwartships space forward in the starboard hull with a larger-than-queen berth, and another stateroom aft with a queen berth. The opposite hull had a third guest stateroom with twin berths.

This yacht’s salon had a dinette to port opposite a galley large enough to accommodate several chefs. All the usual amenities—from US manufacturers for easy service—included a stand-up two-door fridge with a drawer, a microwave, a five-burner cooktop, an ice maker, a trash compactor and a dishwasher. What was more interesting was the size of the L-shaped Corian countertop: The L was a few inches shy of 8 feet, while the fore-and-aft counter was more than 11 feet long.

The salon opens up to the cockpit, which, on this 555, had a settee with a dining table. The back is double-sided so people could sit facing aft, either to watch the launching or retrieval of a tender with the hydraulic platform or just to enjoy a sunset. There’s also a U-shaped recessed dinette with wraparound seating on the foredeck.

That leaves the flybridge, whose open aft deck was 9 feet by 28 feet for sun lounges, chaises or personal watercraft to be launched via the optional crane. A wraparound dinette to port faced a grill, a fridge, an ice maker and a sink.

The helm is forward, abaft a full-height windscreen. There’s a double-wide Stidd seat, and either two or three Garmin multifunction displays. Future boats are likely to have the engine monitors and switches in an overhead, aircraft-style panel on the hardtop, but there was room for the skipper to make good use of the standard Side-Power bow thruster (a stern thruster is optional).

This power cat had the optional Off-Grid package, using twin 9 kW Integrel Solutions generators coupled to the prop shafts with flex power takeoffs. Combined with the solar panels forward of the flybridge helm, this arrangement feeds a bank of Victron Energy lithium-phosphate batteries totaling 26,000 watts, providing more than 19 hours of silent running time for all air-conditioning, ship and galley needs.

The Two Oceans 555 power catamaran has the interior and exterior real estate of a monohull nearly double its size. It offers a smooth ride in rough water, has accommodations for the largest of cruising families, and uses solar power to cruise anywhere a yachtsman desires. All of this, combined with the ability to heavily personalize the yacht, makes the Two Oceans 555 a strong offering in the power-cat marketplace.  

Wealth of Experience

Du Toit Yacht Design may not yet be a household name in the United States, but it is the leading catamaran design firm in South Africa, with several sizes of Two Oceans power cats and Balance sailing catamarans, and more than 120 production and custom yacht designs.

Power Play

Victron Energy is a Dutch producer of electrical equipment for marine and industrial needs, energy storage and solar energy access. Each Victron lithium-phosphate battery has its own battery-management system.

The Battery Basics

The builder says that when it comes to recharging, the yacht’s lithium-phosphate batteries can ramp back up to 85 percent power in just 60 minutes when the main engines are running. 

Efficient Engines

The Cummins QSB6.7L is an in-line six-cylinder, 408-cubic-inch, turbocharged, after-cooled diesel noted for its 80 percent noise reduction compared with similar engines, because of its common-rail fuel system. The single-loop, low-temperature after-cooling eliminates the need for keel coolers, and it reduces emissions.

Take the next step: hmy.com

The post Two Oceans 555 Reviewed appeared first on Yachting.

Panda, a Monte Carlo Yachts 80 Flybridge that completed a refit in November 2023, is currently listed with HMY Yachts for $3.149 million. Panda is a 2017 build with a 4-stateroom and 4-head layout.

The cockpit on this 80-footer has a teak table and U-shaped lounge seating for alfresco entertaining. Stairs to port lead to the flybridge where guests can enjoy dining at a table with settee to starboard, forward of the wet bar and grill. There is additional lounge seating abaft the helm.

An additional alfresco zone is found at the foredeck with C-shaped lounge seating to port and starboard.

Stepping into the salon via sliding glass doors, seating is abundant with two L-shaped lounge areas. When it’s time for afternoon cocktails, a few short steps away is a granite-topped galley bar with seating for six.

The galley is equipped with Miele appliances, including a four-burner electric cooktop, a microwave oven, a dishwasher and a full-size refrigerator and freezer.

Belowdecks, the master stateroom features a king-sized berth on centerline, sofa to port, workstation with desk and walk-in closet to starboard, a flat-screen TV and a Bose home-theater surround-sound system. The en suite head is furnished with a marble sole, his-and-hers sinks, vanity stowage, a shower and a bidet. There are also two cabins for captain and crew.

Forward from the master stateroom to port and starboard are two guest staterooms, each fitted out with two twin berths. The forepeak VIP has an island queen berth with an en suite head, hanging locker and drawers. Crew quarters have private access.

Power on the MCY 80 Flybridge comes from twin 1,650 hp MAN diesels, both of which had 1,000-hour servicing completed in September 2023. This setup provides a reported top hop of 31 knots and a 24-knot cruise speed. Fuel capacity is 1,585 gallons.

Captains can skipper in any weather with upper and lower helm stations. Bow and stern thrusters with Xenta Joystick control and an aft docking station ensure getting back to the slip is effortless.

Other notable gear on board Panda includes twin 25 kW Kohler gensets, sea Recovery watermaker, hydraulic swim platform, Seakeeper gyrostabilizer, leather helm chair, underwater lights, washer and dryer, Glendinning shore-power and Sea-Fire suppression system.

With Panda’ s 6-foot 1-inch draft, prospective owners will be hard pressed to find a harbor this yacht can’t access.

Quick Specifications:

• Length Overall: 80′
• Maximum Beam: 20’2″
• Fuel Capacity: 1,585 Gal.
• Draft: 6’1″

Where is Panda located? The yacht is lying in Jupiter, Florida.

Take the next step: Contact the listing agent, Andrew Dean, at (561) 358-1723; hmy.com

The post Monte Carlo Yachts 80 Flybridge For Sale appeared first on Yachting.

Eclipse 505 and 605: South African Stunners

The Eclipse 505 and Eclipse 605 are both Michael Peters designs that use the company’s Stepped-V Ventilated Tunnel (SVVT) hull. The Michael Peters team also contributed to naval architecture on both models, alongside Du Toit Yacht Design in South Africa. That’s where these boats are built, by Two Oceans Marine Manufacturing in Cape Town. It’s a yard that was founded in 1989 and that has specialized in custom and semi-custom catamarans from 27 to 150 feet length overall. The Eclipse 505 has two staterooms and two heads, while the Eclipse 605 has three of each. The hull drafts are minimal (2 feet, 11 inches on the Eclipse 505, and 3 feet, 3 inches on the Eclipse 605) so the boats can be used in cruising grounds like the Bahamas.

Eastbay 60: The Largest Eastbay So Far

The Eastbay brand has been on the water with many models since 1993 but has been revitalized since 2014, when GB Marine Group—the parent company of Grand Banks and Eastbay—got a new boss. He charged the team with creating the Eastbay 44, which incorporated GB Marine’s V-Warp technology. Customer demand then led to the creation of the new Eastbay 60, which has the same technology, along with an extensive use of carbon fiber, and updated accommodations with an eye toward luxury. Preliminary sea trials, according to the builder, show a 27-knot cruising speed and a 33-knot top speed with optional 900 hp Volvo Penta IPS1200s. Optional 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS1350s take those numbers up to 30 and 38 knots, respectively.

Apreamare Gozzo 45: Walkaround Design

Apreamare, which has been building boats in Italy since 1849, has a new Gozzo-line flagship model: the Gozzo 45. Designer Marco Casali of Too Design, working with Cataldo Aprea and the Apreamare technical department, is primarily responsible for creating the Gozzo 45. They describe the boat as a “classy cruiser” that stands apart from other, “increasingly redundant” models of the same size in the marketplace. The cockpit table is intended for entertaining with eight to 10 guests, while the two-stateroom, two-head accommodations plan belowdecks is set up for weekends on the hook. (An optional three-stateroom, two-head layout is also available.) Engine packages can be traditional shaft-line or Volvo Penta IPS installations.

Aquila 42: A Sleek Catamaran Ready to Entertain

Aquila Yachts has announced plans for a 42-foot power catamaran that is on track to make its debut in February 2023. The model will join the company’s existing lineup of power cats that go as big as 70 feet length overall. So far, Aquila has revealed that the 42 will have two staterooms available in multiple configurations, along with a utility cabin and twin 230 hp or 300 hp Volvo Penta D4 diesels. This will be a great option for someone looking for a small, yet mighty cruising boat. Guest relaxation areas will be concentrated on the flybridge, in the cockpit and on the foredeck. The new boat will be built to the standard known as CE Certification Category A, which means it will be suitable for seas up to 13 feet as well as winds above 40 knots—in other words, get ready for some serious, longer-distance cruising itineraries.

Prestige M48: First Model in a New Line

The M48 is the first model in the new M-Line of catamarans from Prestige Yachts in France, which also makes three additional lines of motoryachts from 42 to 70 feet length overall. The M48’s open cockpit has seating for as many as eight people, and a nearby aft platform lowers electrically so it becomes flush with the twin transom platforms, creating a nearly 20-foot-wide space that can be used as a beach club or a tender launch. The flybridge has guest seating and dining. The master stateroom is positioned forward with a king-size berth, while owners can choose the layouts and berth sizes for guest staterooms. Prestige reports a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top-end speed of 20 knots with standard Volvo Penta engines.

Azimut Grande 26M: A Low-Emission Yacht

The Azimut Grande 26M, which was presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September, has the Italian builder’s Large POD propulsion system. It is designed to reduce fuel consumption and carbon-dioxide emissions by 20 percent—a big selling point, according to Azimut, which reported 22 hulls sold as of early December. This is a five-stateroom yacht that includes a full-beam owners’ stateroom on the main deck. Exterior designer Alberto Mancini says one of the prime spaces on board is the oversize cockpit: “We wanted to extend to give the yacht a fully fledged dining area overlooking the water.” In terms of performance, Azimut says the 26M cruises at 24 knots with a top hop of 28 knots.

Arcadia A96: Coming This Fall

Arcadia Yachts in Italy is planning for the premiere of the Arcadia A96 at this autumn’s Cannes Yachting Festival. The power package is unusual, with four (count ’em) Volvo Penta IPS1200s, or optional IPS1350s. The setup allowed Arcadia to devote more space to guest areas forward of the powerplants, and to give skippers features at the helm such as joystick maneuvering and dynamic positioning. There is also an optional silent-mode system that uses solar panels for eight to nine hours of operations overnight without the hum of a generator. The builder says the boat has a “quiet-running” system for air conditioning too, further helping to keep the ambience for guests on board, ahem, perfectly chill.

The post 7 New Yachts for a New Season appeared first on Yachting.