Officina Armare, the upscale Italian design firm, has just unveiled its latest head-turning custom yacht: a 60-foot luxury catamaran called Project Aquanaut that carries its own two-person submarine. The design studio says it was “heavily influenced” by the looks of a Ford Bronco, and calls the new 45-knot cat an SUV of the sea.
The cat does have a low, sporty, boxy, and very aggressive profile, and it’s clearly meant for versatility and adventure. It will be built to order by Licia Yachts in Turkey.
Powered by twin 800-hp Volvo IPS1050 pod drives, the Aquanaut tops out at 45 knots and cruises at 30 knots. Its hydrodynamic design provides a comfortable, stable ride, and it can carry as many as 12 passengers. Below, it has four staterooms for those who want to stay on board.
The deck plan is open and flowing. The foredeck has a Jacuzzi as well as a dining area and table. The bulwarks on the aft deck slide out to create even more room, and it too has an al fresco dining area and a bar. Wide steps on either side lead down to the teak swim platforms that flank the platform that holds the U-Boat Worx submarine called Nemo.
The sub is five feet tall and less than five feet wide, and it can be lowered into the water by a hydraulic platform. Then it can dive down to 330 feet and stay underwater for up to eight hours. Top speed is 3 knots. When Nemo is deployed, the aft area of the yacht can be used as a beach club or lounge area.
In the U.S., the Aquanaut is listed with Worth Avenue Yachts, with a price of $3,092,987.
Specs.: LOA: 60’0”; Beam: 25’2”; Draft: 2’5”; Disp.: 21.5 tons; Fuel: 925 gals.; Water: NA; Power: 2×800-hp Volvo IPS1050 pod drives. Read more:
