The new Mansion Yacht wasn’t the largest boat at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, but it was one that almost everybody was talking about. Part yacht, part houseboat, part New York condo, the Mansion cruises at 5 knots with a 440-hp Cummins diesel and then stays put, resting on four hydraulic 18-foot legs that anchor it to the seafloor and suspend it over the water.
Then you can relax with your family and friends in five large staterooms, all with king-sized beds and ensuite designer heads, or you could call everyone on your contact list and invite them over; the boat holds 149 people. And they won’t be crowded. The Mansion has 9,000 square feet inside (more than most New York condos) on three levels.
The company says the Mansion is unique. It’s built of stainless steel, and it’s designed to provide “a beachfront mansion yacht experience.” Mansion, a Tampa company, says the boat can be used as a private cruising boat/home, as an event space, or for charter.
The main deck has glass walls with panoramic views, living and dining space for 12, a chef’s kitchen, walk-in pantry and laundry, three staterooms, and a large outdoor terrace. The lower deck has an 800-square-foot theater/gameroom and two staterooms. The upper deck is the major entertaining area, with 2,400 square feet of lounging areas and a seven-person Jacuzzi.
The helm station is on the upper deck, with all the ship’s controls. Everything is digital. You can run the boat with an iPad. The boat has two Kubota 30kW gensets. Then 72 solar panels provide 15kW of green power; there are 160,000 watts of battery storage.
When you want to go cruising, or just change the scene a bit, lift up the legs, fire up the Cummins and you’re off. There’s a bow thruster to help you maneuver. The company says if a storm comes up, you just need to find a spot with four feet of water, deploy the legs, and get yourself comfortable; it can ride out a 15-foot storm surge.
Specs.: LOA: 84’; Beam: 40’; Draft: 3’; Disp.: 280 tons; Fuel: 1,600 gals.; Water: 5,000 gals.; Power: 1×440-hp Cummins diesel.
