It’s not a picnic boat look-alike, it’s definitely not a lobster boat, and it’s not an ordinary power cruiser. Palm Beach Motor Yachts has created a stunning new GT50 Express powerboat that is luxuriously appointed and easy to operate. As its name suggests, the Express not only goes fast—up to 40 knots—it is also economical to run at cruising speed. At 35 knots, the fuel consumption is only 40 gallons per hour, and at 25 knots, a mere 24 gallons per hour, averaging 1.3 miles to the gallon. Since debuting the GT50 Express last fall, the company has now added a snazzy GT50 Open to the line. Running with a pair of 600-horsepower Volvo IPS 800s, the Open boasts a top speed of 42 knots and maintains the same cruising speed of 35 knots as its sister boat.
Palm Beach Motor Yachts, founded in 1995 by Australian Mark Richards, is not located in Florida. Richards’ boatbuilding business was born in a different Palm Beach far, far away—in New South Wales, Australia. “When I started Palm Beach almost 25 years ago, I had one over-arching set of objectives—to design and build the best-performing, most efficient and most beautiful yachts on the water,” says Richards, Palm Beach Motor Yachts CEO. Today, the company offers a range of powerboats in its Classic series that range from 42 feet to 70 feet in length. With the success of its newly conceived GT50 series, Palm Beach will soon launch its GT60 and GT70.
The GT Series’ unique hull design offers low resistance; thus it can achieve planing mode without the bow lifting out of the water. The boat literally cuts through the water rather than planing above it. This means it does not need expend much energy to reach top speeds. The strong hull construction of fully infused Vinylester-cored e-glass construction is complemented by a 100-percent carbon fiber deck and superstructure. This lightweight construction, combined with the design, is what enhances the GT50’s efficiency.
Another of Richards’ prerequisites for the GT50 was that it be simple to run. “We designed the systems and built the yacht to be turnkey,” he says. “We want you to step onboard, turn on the engines and go out and enjoy the water. That’s what yachting is all about.” The cockpit and outdoor spaces comfortably accommodate large groups of guests while underway. Two L-shaped settees in the cockpit flank a transom door to the large teak swim platform. Twin helm seats serve the carbon fiber helm station, and the single-piece windscreen creates an unobstructed line of sight that is more like a high-performance car than a yacht. Side decks allow for easy access forward.
Contemporary interior finishes available in wenge, teak or ash. There is a spacious forward master stateroom with private head and shower, and aft is the galley/salon and a queen-sized bed. Engine access is below the cockpit. The GT60 is scheduled to make its debut at the 2020 Miami Boat Show. Performance projections for that boat are calling for a 50-knot top-end, marking a true industry game-changer. A GT70 will follow the 60’s introduction. The well-established company Grand Banks Yachts, Ltd. purchased Palm Beach Motor Yachts in 2014 and Mark Richards was appointed CEO for both entities.
Palm Beach Motor Yachts Owner’s
Rendezvous in the Bahamas
The Palm Beach Motor Yachts Getaway is an annual cruise to the Bahamas curated expressly for the owners of Palm Beach boats to meet other owners, and enjoy exploring the Bahamas together. “We get to take our boats to the loveliest little spots and we eat, drink and laugh for five days straight,” says Rebecca Harris, owner of Blended, a PB52. “It’s really relaxing, because Palm Beach makes all the arrangements—from slip and dinner reservations and beach barbecues to arranging for side trips to explore or shop to even having fresh Johnny cakes delivered to our boats everyday or having the boats cleaned at each stop.” More Palm Beach Motor Yacht Getaways are planned for a variety of international locations. For more information, visit palmbeachmotoryachts.com.
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