100 foot sport fishing yachts

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Boat of the Week: This 171-Foot Super-Luxe Sportfishing Yacht Is the Largest in the World

The epic vessel is a super fast "battlewagon" designed to chase marlin, swordfish and sailfish. it's also decidedly lavish., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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To hook the world’s biggest fighting fish, in the words of Chief Brody in the classic 1975 movie Jaws , “You’re going to need a bigger boat.”

Privately owned fishing boats won’t come any bigger than this astonishing 171-foot super-luxury sportfisherman, set to claim the title of “World’s Largest Sportfish Superyacht.”

Designed by Dutch naval architects Vripack , and soon to start construction at the Royal Huisman yard in the Netherlands, Project 406 as it’s currently codenamed, will be a fast “battlewagon,” designed to chase marlin, swordfish and sailfish to the ends of the earth. “Project 406 is a sportfishing machine on steroids,” Vripack co-creative director Bart M. Bouwhuis told Robb Report . “It has the proportions of a typical American sportfishing yacht, with a long, flaring bow and open foredeck, and raked-back superstructure. It’s just bigger in every way.”

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Like every sportfishing boat, the focus is the cockpit, with a fighting chair in the center and multiple rocket launchers. The decks above are for ringside views of the action.  Courtesy Vripack

Bouwhuis is quick to point out “this is a sportfisher first, and superyacht second. While she will have the luxury of a true superyacht, she’ll set a new benchmark in the world of big-game fishing boats.”

Renderings from Vripack show a towering, six-deck fishing machine with the sleek proportions of smaller battlewagons from American builders like Viking, Hatteras and Jarrett Bay.

To shave weight, the hull and superstructure will be made of Alustar aluminum, a super-strong, high-tensile alloy. Bouwhuis won’t reveal the yacht’s power, though the word “huge” comes out in the conversation. “You can’t fool nature if you want a 171-foot boat to go this fast,” he says. “It will have significant horsepower.”

Designer Vripack kept the proportions similar to traditional American sportfishing designs, though those smaller battlewagons don’t have six decks.  Courtesy Vripack

The yacht has been commissioned by an experienced owner who is passionate about big-game fishing. “There are yachts out there that label themselves ‘sportfishermen,’ but they tend to be big motoryachts with a small fishing cockpit on back. Project 406 stays true to the traditional proportions.”

That means an oversized stern cockpit that’s low to the water, with a classic varnished-wood fighting chair takes center stage. Each of the decks above it will face the stern to give guests a front-row view of the sportfishing action below. For thrill-seekers, the very top deck, high above the flybridge hardtop, will provide stunning 360-degree views of the water. Perfect for spotting leaping marlin.

When the fish aren’t biting, Project 406 will offer guests plenty of places to kick back and relax. On the bow is an expansive, sunken sun-lounging area with oversize pads and sofas. The yacht’s fourth-level sky lounge will serve as an extraordinary “theater” for watching big-game fish leap out of the water. At night, it will have the relaxed ambience and stunning views of a boutique hotel penthouse.

When not in sportfishing mode, the outer decks can be used for socializing, especially the open area in the bow.  Courtesy Vripack

“It has been a steep learning curve for the whole Vripack team, discovering what makes a great sportfishing boat and understanding what kind of features are needed—from the rods, to the baitwells, the icemakers and fish boxes,” says Bouwhuis. “But it has definitely been an exciting challenge.”

It’s hard to understand the unbridled passion for fishing, especially when discussing the world’s largest sportfishing boat.  But actor Lee Marvin summed up the feeling nicely: “I only make movies to finance my fishing.”

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The 10 Biggest Sportfish Yachts Ever Built

Check out the largest sportfish yachts on the water..

The largest sportfish yachts are designed for luxurious multi-day outings with family or friends, as well as heading far offshore in search of the biggest fish in the deepest waters. Sportfish yachts are powerboats built to arrive at fishing grounds fast, with a hull design capable of cruising through any sea conditions. Most are equipped with tournament fishing options such as tuna towers, kill boxes, large tackling stations, ice makers, and live bait wells. Here are 10 of the biggest sportfish yachts ever built. These fishing boats are very impressive.

1. 144′ Trinity 1998 | MARLENA

At the time of her delivery in 1998 by Trinity Yachts , MARLENA was the largest sportfish yacht in the world at 126 feet. In 2013, she was purchased by an owner who lengthened her to her current length of 144 feet. She was sold again and is undergoing a refit including a complete repower.

2. 138’ McMullen & Wing 2003 | MEA CULPA

When Jack Sarin was tasked with designing MEA CULPA, he was given the challenge of designing a boat that could fish in the most remote corners of the world but hold her own in the stylish ports of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean . With no expense spared in terms of quality and comfort and decked out with an impressive array of fishing equipment, she manages to achieve both and has fished and cruised all over the world.

3. 128′ Heesen 1999 | RED SAPPHIRE

Capable of 34 knots, RED SAPPHIRE is a Heesen 3900 sportfishing yacht built to ABS class. She features a semi-displacement aluminum hull and aluminum superstructure, with teak decks. Equipped with an ultra-modern stabilization system, she’s powered by 2 MTU 16V4000 M90 3,644hp diesel engines and propelled by her twin screws propellers. Heesen also built OBSESSIONAS, a 125-foot sportfish in 1996, and KARYATIS, a 105-foot sportfish in 2005.

4. 122’ Trinity | MARY P

MARY P was the first hull built and launched by the Trinity Yachts’ New Orleans shipyard after its post-Katrina reopening of that shipyard on July 5, 2006. With naval architecture by Doug Sharp of Sharp Designs, many other unique details enhance her role as a sportfishing yacht, such as a fully automated anchor deployment and retrieval system, specially designed underwater lighting to enhance her performance when night fishing, and a flybridge that maintains a good line of sight for the captain.

5. 119’ Denison 1991 | PHARAOH

With naval architecture by Joe Langlois, PHARAOH, now SEACALL, is considered the queen of tournament sports fishing and angling. The sportfish motor yacht features four double staterooms, 5 heads, a spacious salon and galley, extensive electronics, and twin 1960hp MTU diesel engines. She was refit in 2005.

6. 114′ Logos Marine 2008 | SEYA

SEYA raises the question — at what point does a yacht stop being a sportfish and instead becomes a superyacht with a fishing cockpit? She was built in 2008 for a Middle Eastern client who specifically requested a cold-molded yacht due to his positive experience with this sturdy material. Logos’ 105-foot custom sportfish is also built with the same cold-molded, laminated epoxy wood with a fiberglass/epoxy skin.

7. 112’ Hakvoort 1988 | ACE OF DIAMONDS

ACE OF DIAMONDS (formerly SEA EAGLE) was custom built by Hakvoort Shipyard . This luxury sportfish vessel’s sophisticated exterior design and engineering are the work of Pieter Beeldsnijder Design. She was last refitted in 2005.

8. 108′ Burger 2001 | SARAH BETH

Few sportfishing yachts have what it takes to make long passages to remote fishing locations with both speed and comfort. One that does is the 108’ Burger SARAH BETH. Powered by a pair of Detroit Diesel MTU 12V4000s, this sportfish exploration yacht has an 8,025-gallon fuel capacity can cruise at 24 knots, and tops out at 28 knots.

9. 105′ Jim Smith Boats | MARLENA

The latest masterwork by Jim Smith Tournament Boats of Stuart, Florida, MARLENA was designed and built for Sam Gershowitz, owner of Star Island Yacht Club in Montauk, New York. She is the largest boat built by Jim Smith Boats.

10. 105′ Broward 2002 | ODYSSEY

Delivered in spring 2002, this Broward was powered with the new MTU 16V2000 series easily one of the most amazing sportfish yachts ever built. ODYSSEY was built for Glenn Straub, the former owner of Broward Marine. She was designed by Luiz de Basto and the interior is by the Broward in-house design team.

Sportfish yachts, no matter how big or small, are well suited for offshore fishing and cruising. Contact a Denison yacht broker to purchase your next fishing boat.

Speak With A Sportfish Specialist:

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The biggest sportfish superyachts in the world

Related articles, superyacht directory.

The next few years are shaping up well for the super-sportfish market with the Global Order Book reporting 26 projects currently on order or in build. Some special mentions include the Viking 90 flagship, a 24 metre sportfish chase boat underway at Vanquish and Royal Huisman 's mega 52 metre sportfish hull Project 406 which was announced in 2021. As we patiently await this new wave of uber-luxe fishing vessels, we take a look at the biggest already afloat...

1. Bad Company

The 43.9 metre sportfish yacht Bad Company (née Marlena ) was delivered in 1998 and was the largest sportfish in the world at the time. She changed ownership in 2013 and sent to Spain where she received a comprehensive refit and lengthened by six metres to her current length of 43.9 metres. ABS classed and MCA compliant, this all-aluminium superyacht accommodates up to 11 guests in a master suite, VIP, two doubles and one twin with a Pullman berth, all with LCD television screens and full en suite bathroom facilities.

2. Mea Culpa

Despite her size, Mea Culpa can reach a top speed of 23.5 knots thanks to a pair of 2735hp MTU 12V4000M90 diesel engines. The McMullen & Wing superyacht, designed by Jack Sarin , measures in at a hefty 42.28 metres. Mea Culpa can accommodate up to eight guests and six crew in her interiors, which have been designed by Marnell Corrao . She boasts a deck jacuzzi on board for post-fishing relaxation.  Mea Culpa was delivered in 2003.

3. Forty Love

Forty Love , formerly Don Elegante , began life in 1988 when she was commissioned by her first owner. According to BOAT Pro, the yacht ended up being reconstructed on an existing hull built by Westport in 1990 and was finally finished in 2002. Today, the 42 metre sportfish motor yacht sails under the name Forty Love and was the recipient of a two million-euro refit in 2020. Highlights include a main dining area with 360-degree views as well as a swimming platform with steps down into the water.

Lanakai , built by Yachting Developments , is the newest addition to the list of mega sportfish yachts. Delivered in 2017, the 39.5 metre superyacht is constructed entirely from carbon fibre to a design by Michael Peters  and can reach a top speed of 30 knots thanks to the power of two 3100.0hp MTU diesel engines. Spread over four decks, Lanaki can accommodate 10 guests and six crew. Her interiors, designed by Naylor Booth , sport an alliance of finely crafted American walnut joinery and muted fabrics. Lanakai boasts two saloons within her spacious interiors as well as a bar and stainless-steel aft deck barbecue for preparing the catch of the day.

5. Red Sapphire

Dutch shipyard Heesen , known today for its sporty steel and aluminium hulls, launched a series of sportfishing superyachts including Red Sapphire which splashed in 1999. The 39 metre is easy to spot with its distinct triangular form and a red stripe that runs the length of the yacht. Built for speed, she was capable of reaching speeds of 35 knots back in the day, powered by twin MTU 16V4000M90 engines.

6. Obsessions

The 38 metre Obsessions is the second Heesen built to make it into this round-up of supersized sportfish yachts. Launched in 1996, she arrived three years earlier than her sportfishing sister Red Sapphire . She was designed by Dutch studio Mulder Design and can sleep up to 10 guests.

The 37.19 metre sportfish Mary P was delivered in 2008 by Trinity Yachts . Built to satisfy the ultimate fisherman, this custom yacht incorporates a Simrad forward-looking sonar in the bow and a transom specifically designed to back down on fish at 10 knots. Twin 2,550hp Caterpillar diesel engines give her a top speed of 25 knots. Mary P was designed by Doug Sharp  together with Geoff Van Aller and is the only sportfish yacht to be built to ABS class. Her interiors have been designed by Judy Bell Davis and she can sleep up to eight guests and three crew below deck. On board amenities include a skylounge, bar and a formal dining area forward.

Boss was delivered by Dutch shipyard Feadship 1988 under the name Gallant Lady - the fifth in a series of yachts owned by the late Jim Moran. When she was launched she measured 35.35 metres in length but has since been extended to 36.27 metres. The yacht was refitted at Palmer Johnson in 1999 and can sleep up to 10 guests across four staterooms. 

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The evolution of the sportfishing yacht has changed significantly over the past few decades, not just from the materials used in the hull, or the advancement in construction techniques, but from its true capabilities. Anglers move up from center-consoles to larger sportfishing yachts for several reasons, but the main one is that you can simply fish farther out and for longer periods of time. All sportfishing yachts were once entirely made of wood, and while some custom sport fishing boat manufacturers still build wooden boats, the vast majority of sportfishing yachts sold today use a high-quality composite that is resin-infused for maximum durability and performance. Hulls are larger, lighter, and stronger which means today's sport fishing boat can go faster and fit more on it. Many of the Viking Yachts or Hatteras Yachts today feature 3 to 4 staterooms, each with their own head along with oversized salons, enclosed bridges, flybridges, and more creature comforts to make your time on the water more enjoyable. The most popular style of sport fishing boat today has to be the Convertible Sportfish due to its versatility of having the open bridge, along with the amenities of a motor yacht .

There are thousands of yachts available on the United website through our MLS services, many of which are sportfishing boats. There are many different brands, styles, features, and capabilities of both custom and production sportfish sold today, and the team at United has years of experience both selling sportfish and working with the manufacturers on new builds. Our brokers will share with you what they think is the best sport fishing boat available on the market. Let the United team help you in your search to find the perfect sportfishing boat, call our main office today at (772) 463-3131. United is also a dealer for new Hatteras Yachts and Cabo Yachts .

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SEARCH ALL YACHTS

The improvements in construction and added space have paved the way for larger, more powerful engines to be used in sportfishing yachts. Whether tournament-fishing or just a weekend warrior, getting to the fishing grounds quickly is imperative. Today's sportfish boats can cruise anywhere from 20 to 30 knots and exceed speeds of 50 knots with big twin diesel engines. How fast a sportfishing boat can go depends on several factors include engine horsepower, hull shape, the construction of the vessel, and the weight of the entire boat.

It's the amenities on board though that generally appeal to the owner who likes to fish with his family. Comfortable, air-conditioned salons, full galley's with lots of storage for extended trips, hot showers in en suite bathrooms can make any extended fishing trip more enjoyable with kids on board especially.

Below are several prominent custom and production sportfishing boat brands :

• Bayliss Boatworks
• Bertram Yachts
• Buddy Davis Boats
• Egg Harbor Boats
• F&S Yachts
• Gamefisherman Boats
• Garlington Yachts
• G&S Yachts
• Henriques Yachts
• Jarrett Bay Yachts
• Jim Smith Boats
• Luhrs Yachts
• Merritt Yachts
• Ocean Yachts
• Paul Mann Boats
• Ritchie Howell Boats
• Riviera Yachts
• Rybovich Yachts
• Spencer Yachts
• Sunny Briggs Yachts
• Viking Yachts
• Weaver Yachts
• Whiticar Yachts
• Willis Yachts

Sportfishing yachts are typically boats 50ft and over that are purpose-designed and built for offshore fishing in tournaments such as the Atlantic Ocean White Marlin Open of Ocean City, MD—the world’s largest billfish tournament with a multi-million-dollar payout, or for the adventure of chasing pelagic gamefish in remote spots around the world. Kona-Hawaii (Pacific Blue Marlin), Isla Mujeres-Mexico (Sailfish), New Zealand (Striped Marlin), Great Barrier Reef-Australia (Giant Black Marlin), along with Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, are among the finest gamefish destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sportfishing Boats:

What type of yacht is best for fishing?

Although one can cast or drop a line from just about any boat, for the serious sport and tournament fisherman, a vessel designed from the ground up for the rigors of offshore fishing in many conditions and often customized to the owner’s wishes, are the best choice. There are many variations of the two basic types of sportfish boats—the Express Sportfish and the Flybridge/Convertible Sportfish. The Flybridge Sportfish boats (45ft and under) are not technically Convertibles, but distinctions are blurred as they are often marketed as such. Express Sportfish models have two decks, the main deck with helm and cockpit, accommodations below deck and tend to be smaller.

Most likely it will have a tower, but no flybridge. Examples are the Gamefisherman 50 Express, Huckins 45 Sportfisherman, Cabo Express SF. All feature large cockpits that are uncluttered and set up for fishing action and may include in-deck fish boxes, livewells, rod holders, ice machine, fighting chair, aft steering, transom “tuna” doors, tackle storage and more. Many have towers with their own steering stations, outriggers, rocket launcher rod holders, and other features. Convertible Sportfisherman are larger and most often completely custom world-class yachts for tournament and long-range fishing adventures. Examples are Michael Rybovich & Sons sportfishing yachts, Hatteras GT series, Viking Convertibles, Jim Smith, Merritt, F&S, Bertram, Custom Carolina, and many more.

Read: What Is The Best Size Sport Fishing Boat?

Below is a video of a 85' Jim Smith Custom Sportfish:

What is a Convertible Sportfishing boat?

Convertible Sportfish Yachts are typically 50ft or more with enclosed living area on the main deck and a flybridge with hard top or fully enclosed, in addition to accommodations below deck, and a large cockpit with a mezzanine deck with seating for guests to watch and enjoy the action. These yachts are often a custom build that combines the luxurious amenities of a motor yacht with the proven performance hull of a sportfisher, capable of converting to a cruising yacht, if desired. They will usually have a tower for spotting gamefish and utilize the latest technological advantages and fish-finding electronics, such as Furuno’s real-time 360-degree sonar systems, Seakeeper stabilizers, pod drives, powerful diesel engines and gensets, and much more. Convertible Sportfishers are evaluated on their seakeeping ability, stability and efficiency in speed and economy. Handling and performance underway or in fishing mode are vital, as they must be able to handle all types of conditions; many have redundant systems. The cockpit needs to be well arranged for anglers and crew to do battle with big trophy gamefish!

Example of a convertible sportfish:

How much does a Sportfishing Yacht cost?

How much are you willing to spend? There are too many variables with the vast array of manufacturers and builders of Sportfishing Yachts to put a single price out there. Currently the average cost to purchase a Sportfishing Yacht over 40ft in the Southeast Region of the United States is about $815,500. Sportfishing yachts tend to cost more than a cruising motor yacht of the same length because of the additional specialized equipment, electronics, and build features, especially for a custom sportfish. Convertible sportfishing yachts have both the luxury accommodations of a motor yacht and the specialized features of a high-end “fishing machine.” When considering the cost of ownership, as with any vessel, be sure to factor in dockage/storage, insurance, maintenance, fuel and other running costs, captain and crew salaries (if needed), taxes & fees, and more.

Learn more about pricing here:

• How Much Is A Sportfishing Yacht?
• How Much Does A Fishing Yacht Cost?
• Why Are Sportfishing Boats So Expensive?
• Guide To Buying A Sportfishing Yacht

What is the best Sportfish boat?

There are so many excellent makes and models of Sportfishing boats and yachts available today that the question becomes a personal matter: Which sportfishing boat is best for you? Do you intend to enter tournaments, fish recreationally with family and friends, or pursue trophy billfish and other gamefish around the world, or for extended stays in the Bahamas? Your budget will also narrow the field or allow you to have a boat built to your specifics and uniquely reflect your style and taste. Some well-known Sportfish builders are as follows: Albemarle, American Custom Yachts (acquired by Willis Marine Inc in July 2021), BB Boats (especially built for charter use), Bertram Yacht, Bayliss Boatworks, Briggs Boatworks (Sunny Briggs), Cabo Yachts, Davis Yachts, F&S Boatworks, Gamefisherman, Garlington Landeweer, Hatteras Yachts, Henriques Yachts, Jarrett Bay, Jim Smith Boats, Paul Mann Custom Boats (retired 2021), Maverick Yachts (designed by Erwin Gerard, EG Designs and built in Costa Rica), Merritt’s Boat and Engine Works, Ritchie Howell Custom Boats, Roscioli Donzi Intl., Michael Rybovich and Sons, Scarborough Boatworks, Spencer Yachts, Viking Yachts, Weaver Boat Works, Willis Marine (just acquired ACY in Stuart, FL), Winter Custom Yachts, and new custom builder in St Augustine, FL, Vilano Boatworks--introducing a 65ft sportfish designed by noted naval architect, Erwin Gerard.

How much does a 50ft fishing boat cost?

Currently a used 2005 Ocean Yachts 50ft Super Sport is listed at $395,000 in the Florida east coast market, which is about average in the current brokerage market. Current (Aug. 2021) range in the yachting industry’s MLS is $600,000 for a 2000 Viking 50 Convertible Sport Fisher in California to a 1991 Ocean Yachts 50ft Super Sport located in Italy at $199,420. Of course, a new production or custom-built fishing boat will be much more.

What is the largest fishing yacht?

According to The Robb Report and Yachts International, the new 171ft Royal Huisman Sportfish Superyacht will be the world’s largest true sportfish yacht when it is launched. Currently under construction, the yacht will be equipped for the global pursuit of trophy gamefish such as swordfish and marlin that roam the world’s oceans, and a range of sportfishing options. Sportfishing has attracted new owners for the larger boats in recent decades and yachts with tall towers and outriggers dominate the world’s fishing grounds in South and Central America, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Rim and New Zealand.

Some of the other sportfishing yachts that fall into the superyacht strata are Trinity Yachts 131.7 ft BAD COMPANY built in 1998 and MARY P built in the New Orleans shipyard in 2008; McMullen & Wing 119ft MEA CULPA built in 2003; Yachting Developments (New Zealand) 118.5ft 2018 LANAKAI and 99ft AL DUHAIL, world’s largest all-carbon sportfisher launched in 2020; 116ft CIELO MARE built by Townsend Bay Marine. Other noted builders are American Custom Yachts 90ft C’EST LA VIE, Bayliss Boatworks 2014 90ft Singularis, Bertram’s 80ft Sportfisher with enclosed flybridge, Hatteras 90ft built in 1995 one of a series built between 1992-1993; Jarrett Bay 84ft delivered in 2016; Jim Smith Boats 105ft delivered in 2013, one of the largest cold-molded sportfishers built; Merritt’s 86ft DESTINY built in 2011 with enclosed bridge; Roscioli’s 92ft Evolution, capable of scaling up to a 105ft model; Michael Rybovich & Sons custom 88ft currently under construction; Spencer Yachts custom 87ft built in 2012; Viking 92ft Convertible launched in 2014; and Weaver Boatworks 87ft completed in 2013 for fishing the Seychelles Islands.

Seen below: The Viking 92 Convertible.

Is Hatteras Yachts still building sportfishing models?

Recently (2021) acquired by White River Marine Group (Bass Pro Shops family of brands), the Next generation of the legendary Hatteras sportfish yachts will be the focus of White River Marine as they make Hatteras the “finest sportfishing boats ever made,” building on the traditions and innovations that began over 60 years ago in 1959 in North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras coast. The current production and semi-custom Hatteras Sportfish GT Series ranges from the GT45X Express Cruiser, GT45X Flybridge, GT45X Tower, GT45X Open to the GT54, GT59, GT65 Carolina, and GT70—all designed and built in New Bern, NC with the offshore angler in mind. These elegant, updated classic sportfish models are beautifully crafted with the features, rigging and signature Hatteras ride. Built strong (over engineered) to perform well in the fierce currents and swells off Cape Hatteras and anywhere else you like to fish.

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Interested in purchasing a Sport Fishing Yacht? Send us a message below and we will help you with the process.

Sport fishing yachts for sale.

Combining performance and practicality, sportfisher yachts are built with game-fish in mind. Whether you're a serious fisherman or just enjoy weekends with the family while trying to catch dinner, sportfishing yachts can give you speed, comfort, stability, and reliability.

Because the reefs and depths that these waters present more opportunity, the realm of offshore sportfishing is one that you will enjoy once you have some experience. But that's not to say you require experience to enjoy your sportfishing adventure, in fact it's easier than ever for beginners to start.

There's a bevy of equipment that can maximize your yield on any sport fishing yacht, from outriggers to towers and livewells, there are many modifications you can make for your sport fishing yacht. Fishing towers can give you an eagle eye view to spot large schools of fish, or where your next huge catch is waiting.

Jim Smith 100

• By Sam White
• Updated: July 18, 2018

Hull No. 36 from Jim Smith Tournament Boats will be a 100-foot sport-fisher with a 24-foot beam, powered by a pair of 2,600 hp MTU M96 diesel engines.

Its hull will be constructed using a combination of cold molding and advanced composite engineering, while the all-new interior design will feature five staterooms, five heads and a separate crew quarters for four. Donald Blount and Associates is managing the high-performance naval architecture and engineering.

The boat is expected to cruise at 35 knots and top out at 40 knots. Jim Smith Tournament Boats, the originator of lightweight, high-performance sport-fishing yachts, has been creating custom boats out of Stuart, Florida, for 50 years.

“This new boat will continue our traditions of innovation, speed and efficiency,” says Jim Smith president John Vance. “We expect outstanding performance, in addition to the ability to travel and fish any of the world’s remote destinations in safety and comfort.” The second Jim Smith for this owner, Hull No. 36 should debut in 2022.

• More: Custom Boats , Jim Smith , On the Drawing Board , Sport Fishing Boats

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Sportfishing Yacht

Sportfishing yachts are the ultimate fishing machines for plying the open ocean—regardless of whether you’re talking about the world’s largest sportfishing yacht or a bluewater battlewagon that’s sized more for day use.

Designed to be seaworthy in the roughest conditions and often capable of travelling 100-plus miles from land, there’s no better boat for dedicated anglers who want to chase fish like marlin, tuna, and wahoo.

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Activities with Sportfishing Yachts

GREAT FOR Saltwater Fishing  • Overnight Cruising

Obviously, sportfishing yachts are all about fishing. But they come with a bonus: since they’re true yachts as well as being fishing machines, you can use them to enjoy the other aspects of the yachting lifestyle.

Pursue big fish in even bigger waters

First and foremost, sportfishing yachts are all about running far from the sight of land to pursue big game. They commonly have massive fuel tanks so taking fishing trips to distant hotspots are no problem, and there are some long-range sportfishing yachts designed to make trips well beyond the edge of the Continental Shelf for days on end.

Their hulls (boat bottoms) are designed to maximize seaworthiness and comfort, plus their sheer mass means they’re not subject to the effects of waves to the same degree as smaller boats. And if you have a specific type of fishing in mind, there are many custom sportfishing yachts with countless touches and tweaks developed solely for different angling styles and tactics.

Room for a sizable crew

You don’t need to buy the world’s largest sportfishing yacht to have plenty of room for a big crew, on this type of boat. Even smaller sportfishing yachts have room for a half-dozen anglers, and many have room for twice that number of people.

Comfortable cabin: cruise with the family, weekend escape, entertaining guests

Since sportfishing yachts are by definition large, they tend to have tons of cabin space. Many have several private staterooms, each with their own private heads (boater-speak for bathrooms). In fact, some owners take their sportfishing yachts up and down the coast to different fishing tournaments and may spend days or even weeks living aboard as they fish competitively. While they do tend to consume more fuel than dedicated cruisers, also remember that they also offer much faster speeds—many can cruise at 30 mph or more. So, on the days you’re not fishing, you can take the family to far-off ports in less time.

Ownership Costs of Sportfishing Yachts

Whether you’re talking about the best sportfishing yachts in the world or the most modest models, one thing is for sure: this type of boat costs significantly more than many other varieties. Purchase price is usually measured by the millions—so to see if this style boat is right for you, be sure to utilize our Boat Loan Calculator .

Maintaining these boats is not cheap. Since they’re so large and complex they have many systems that need to be cared for on a regular basis, ranging from big diesel engines, to plumbing systems, to climate control. And they need constant washing and waxing, or those large swaths of fiberglass begin looking shabby in no time. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to sportfishing yachts many owners suggest planning for maintenance costs of around 10-percent of a boat’s value. 

Sportfishing yachts are certainly among the more expensive types of boats to operate. They consume large volumes of fuel and require electricity when plugged in at the dock. Quite often the owners of sportfishing yachts also hire a captain—you need serious know-how to run this sort of boat, plus it’s tougher to relax and fish if you’re concerned with operating it—and in some cases a deck-hand may be needed as well. On top of these costs, you’ll obviously want to insure your sportfishing yacht; see Insuring Your Boat for more info.

Sportfishing Yacht Technology/Materials/Features

Sportfishing yachts can be surprisingly high-tech. Many are built with advanced fiberglass molding techniques, and some custom sportfishing yachts aren’t molded fiberglass but are instead built with a combination of wood, epoxy resin, and advanced fabric like Kevlar and carbon fiber.

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The Sportfishing Superyacht: Rybovich 94

• By Chris Caswell
• June 3, 2022

Throw out any preconceived notions you may have about sport-fishing yachts —even large ones. III Amigos —a 94-footer from the consortium of boatbuilder Michael Rybovich, designer Patrick Knowles and an experienced owner—is far more mega-yacht than most fishing machines.

III Amigos was born in a peculiar fashion. Its owner, who spends 50 to 60 days a year fishing, first approached Rybovich but, before signing, asked Knowles to do a dizzying collection of realistic renderings to show the final result. Knowles had a solid knowledge base from working with the owner on previous yachts as well as the owner’s five homes and his business jet, so he had a good idea about where to start.

The Rybovich team was led by Rybovich, with his son Dusty as naval architect. Seasoning the mix was the owner’s captain, Jody Whitworth, who has fished the seven seas and skippered the owner’s previous Merritt 86. Whitworth had folders of ideas to incorporate. “I designed her in my head for three years before we put pen to paper,” he says with a grin.

The yacht was handcrafted of cold-molded mahogany (three layers in the sides and four layers on the bottom) with teak decking. Dusty Rybovich’s design has a distinctive long foredeck and unbroken sheerline, but it differs slightly from traditional Rybovich designs with slightly more deadrise (7 degrees rather than 6 degrees). Prop pockets bring the half-load draft for the 165,000-pound yacht to 5 feet, making it Bahamas-friendly.

The owner, who also owns a 196-foot Feadship, required the mega-yacht fit-and-finish, along with a “oneness with water,” so every living area has ocean views. German interior outfitter Metrica produced the interior joinery, while Rybovich handled the exterior (including ¾-inch-thick teak decking) and the enclosed-bridge interior.

Knowles designed the salon as a calm world of athwartships-planked pale oak with dark-wenge margins. The bulkheads are washed and limed oak with a tongue-and-groove overhead. The result is bright, with hidden lighting in a laser-cut, low-profile soffit that is gentle at night.

The salon, with Edelman leather couches, segues into the forward galley with a dinette opposite. That redwood-burl dinette is separated by slatted wenge louvers to create a “there but not there” effect, and the settees are finished to match the owner’s Ferrari in quilted leather, with “glove boxes” tucked into the sides for personal items and USB connections.

The galley was specified by the owner, a chef, with azul bahia marble countertops and backlit onyx highlights under the bar. The stools are covered in slipper-soft Florida alligator dyed blue.

Accommodations are outfitted to mega-yacht standards too. Subtle but telling touches are the solid doors to the staterooms; each mimics the owner’s Feadship with ¾-inch thickness. The doors close flush (each has hidden hinges), and the sound is of a Rolls-Royce door closing.

The full-beam owner’s stateroom is amidships with a lounge and 65-inch TV to create a private getaway. Quiet is guaranteed by double layers of insulation above and on the sides, with a triple layer aft against the engine-room bulkhead.

Three guest staterooms are all en suite, with the heads clad in striato Olympic marble and wenge wood. Two crew cabins, accommodating four people total, are forward—also en suite. All the rooms are bright, with Dusty Rybovich keeping the hull lines pure by disguising the windows to look like engine-room vents.

Because the crewmembers have no dedicated mess area, the flybridge was arranged to provide amenities for their off-duty hours as well as everything needed for long-distance cruises to fishing grounds. To minimize intrusion on guests in the salon, there is no inside stairwell to the enclosed bridge, which is served by a ladder from the cockpit/mezzanine.

The bridge has a full galley hidden in cabinetry, as well as a dinette, 55-inch pop-up TV, day head, and helm equipped with three independent and redundant Furuno systems. MTU joystick control with dynamic positioning is linked to the Side-Power hydraulic bow thruster for precise maneuvering and endgame fishing control. Maintaining tradition, a Rybovich “pod” with a separate throttle and shift on each side is centered in the dash. As with the salon, the bridge has extensive angling-gear stowage (86 rods, dozens of reels and countless spools of line).

While the interior is notable, the cockpit is the star attraction for big-game anglers, with its teak sole and wide covering boards. A BlueWater fighting chair is the centerpiece, and the sole and seating conceal 225-quart fish boxes and Eskimo ice machines capable of producing 1,600 pounds per day. Two on-deck livewells and two integrated livewells are fed by a Wicked Wells six-pump system to handle bait needs, and a freezer is under a mezzanine seat.

Three steps up from the cockpit is a shaded mezzanine for spectators, with a chaise longue to port, an L-shaped settee to starboard around a table, and a private head compartment. Guests are cooled by chilled air via hidden vents in the headrests of the seats, as well as from overhead slots. The bridge deck also has a guest area with lounge seating, as well as a cleverly hidden pop-up control station for the skipper.

Above it all is the Bausch tower, which is double-anodized aluminum for a satin look. From atop, the skipper has full controls and duplicates of the electronics at the lower helm.

The engine room is easily serviced, with walk-around real estate to access the twin 2,600 hp MTU V-16 2000 M96L diesels. These powerplants reportedly push III Amigos to a top speed of 41-plus knots.

The twin 40 kW Kohler gensets feed Asea frequency converters with a Ward’s seamless transfer-switch panel. The engine room and systems area also has three 6-ton Dometic air chillers, a trio of Headhunter Aqua-Box freshwater pumps, and an Alfa Laval fuel-polishing system for handling foreign fuel. A commercial-grade Seakeeper 30HD gyrostabilizer should take the roll out of rough days.

With a trademark profile, speed and bluewater comfort—and a superyacht-level finish— III Amigos not only carries on the iconic Rybovich name but also raises the bar for future custom sport-fishing yachts.

Behind the Design

Patrick Knowles is an award-winning designer based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He and his team have worked on a wide range of yachts such as III Amigos , as well as private homes and private jets for worldwide clients. One client has reportedly returned 19 times. 

The Family Business

Rybovich, the Florida-based boatbuilder, has been turning out legendary sport-fishing yachts for 100 years. III Amigos is the latest iteration by Michael Rybovich, grandson of founder Pop Rybovich, with Michael’s son Dusty Rybovich as the naval architect.

What is Cold-Molding?

First used in the late 1800s, cold-molded plywood consists of thin veneers of wood saturated in resins and cross-laminated to create a rigid and lightweight hull. The process was celebrated during World War II for the Mosquito fighter plane, known to pilots as the “Timber Terror” or “Wooden Wonder” because it returned them home in spite of heavy combat damage.

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