At the heart of Italy’s Tuscan coast sits a shipyard that has spent four decades perfecting the art of living at sea. Built by three generations of the Balducci family under the Overmarine Group, Mangusta celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025.
The story begins in 1985, when Giuseppe Balducci founded Overmarine Group, with his children, Maurizio and Katia, joining him in the business soon after its launch. Today, the third generation has stepped on board, making Mangusta one of the few global yachting brands which is still entirely family-run. This continuity has allowed for long-term thinking, investment in design partnerships, expanding production facilities and a loyal client base.
The Maxi Open breakthrough
In the early 1990s, the Mangusta spotted an untapped niche between slow-cruising displacement vessels and stripped-down racing hulls. The answer was the Maxi Open: a concept that offered the thrill of high speed without sacrificing comfort or space.
The 1991 launch of the Mangusta 80 Open was a turning point. Designed by Stefano Righini, it combined a streamlined silhouette with speeds above 40 knots alongside generous interiors for its class. Nearly 75 units later, it remains a benchmark in performance cruising.
Righini’s influence would shape Mangusta’s design DNA for years, from 22-metre compacts to the flagship Mangusta 165 in 2007 - a 50-metre yacht capable of 40 knots. Owners could breakfast in Saint-Tropez, lunch in Monaco and still make Porto Cervo for dinner.
The Oceano era
By 2014, the Balducci family recognised a shift in owner lifestyles. Some clients wanted to slow down, travel farther and spend more time on board. To meet this demand, Mangusta entered the displacement yacht market.
Partnering with the then-young automotive designer Alberto Mancini, they created the Mangusta Oceano 42, a steel-hulled vessel that retained Mangusta’s modern lines while prioritising range and seakeeping. The Oceano series soon expanded, with models from 39 to 52 metres, each maximising glazed surfaces so guests could stay visually connected to the sea.
For owners who wanted both speed and distance, the GranSport line was introduced - a series of semi-displacement yachts capable of 20-25-knot cruising with transoceanic range in the largest 54-metre model.
The REV series design revolution
While displacement yachts grew in popularity, Mangusta never abandoned its high-speed heritage. In 2019, the partnership with Igor Lobanov’s design studio produced the Mangusta 104 REV, a fresh interpretation of the Maxi Open. The lines were cleaner, the surfaces more sculpted and the glass expanses larger for even more natural light and sea views in the interior.
The Mangusta 165 REV, launched in 2021, increased this concept to over 50 metres. Its two-level master suite - a loft-style space with 180-degree views, a private office and a bathroom spanning the yacht’s full 9.2-metre beam - exemplified how comfort and speed could coexist. Fold-down terraces, skylights and vast saloons reinforced the feeling of being at sea.
At this point, Mangusta houses three distinct pathways to living on the sea: the fast, athletic Maxi Open; the long-range Oceano displacement; and the fast-displacement GranSport - each aligned to different owner lifestyles.
The new Mangusta Oceano 52
Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show 2024, the Mangusta Oceano 52 is the most advanced displacement yacht in the yard’s history.
Mancini, who designed both the exteriors and interiors, calls it “a dazzling mega yacht that commands a powerful and imposing presence in the water, coming across as much longer than her 52 metres".
This is more than just a visual trick. The Oceano 52 redefines space in the sub-500GT category, with modular layouts that allow for extraordinary customisation. As Mangusta’s president of the Americas, Stefano Arlunno, puts it: “Following a thorough market analysis, we decided to redefine our concept in the 500 GT segment, introducing unprecedented features in this yacht class.”
One of those features is the forward-facing master suite on the upper deck. This private retreat enjoys a 180-degree horizon view, floor-to-ceiling glass and direct access to a secluded deck with an infinity pool. A staircase links this space to the main deck’s patio lounge, which can transform from a gym to a relaxation area. Throughout, the yacht allows for a constant view of the sea, with the main deck almost entirely glazed and storage relocated on the aft deck to preserve sightlines.
Instead of placing the master suite on the main deck, that prime space is given to two VIP cabins, offering guests equally impressive views and natural light. Four additional guest cabins are located on the lower deck.
Powered by twin MTU 12V 2000 M86 engines, the Oceano 52 reaches 16 knots and boasts a 4,500-nautical-mile range, making it as capable on transoceanic passages as it is at anchor off a secluded bay.
40 years and counting
Over the past decade, Mangusta has reduced fuel consumption at cruising speed by about 30 per cent, thanks to hull optimisation, propulsion advances and weight reduction. All current models can run on HVO biofuel to align with the yachting industry’s gradual shift toward cleaner energy.
With more than 600 employees across 10 production sites in Viareggio, Massa and Pisa, and over 320 yachts launched - 110 of them over 30 metres - Mangusta is well-positioned for the next chapter. The combination of family leadership, diverse product lines and a hunger for innovation ensures its place as one of the world’s most influential yacht builders.
Contact Mangusta for more information.
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