The best yachts attending the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2018

With 1,500 boats on display, the 59th FLIBS will be unmissable. Here's our pick of the best boats attending.

Length: 55m
Builder: Amels
Designer: Tim Heywood/Enzo Enea

Launched in 2013, Gene Machine was originally christened Engelberg and was the most customised Limited Editions yacht at the time of her launch. The 55 metre Amels 180 yacht accommodates 10 guests and 16 crew and is owned by Dr Jonathan Rothberg. Appropriately named after Rothberg’s profession as a chemical engineer and biologist, Gene Machine also features a number of customised tweaks, including a laboratory to accommodate the studies of Rothberg’s daughter.

Length: 85m
Builder: Lurssen
Designer: Winch Design

The 85 metre Lurssen superyacht was delivered in 2017 and prompt became one of the largest 200 superyachts in the world. Currently for sale for €175,000,000, Areti was designed by Winch Design and is well equipped in the fitness and wellness department. She features a gym, multiple spa pools and a spa centre including a sauna, hammam, plunge pool, hair salon and massage and treatment room. Her 2,850GT interior accommodates a total of 18 guests in nine cabins.

Length: 63m
Builder: Rossinavi
Design: Enrico Gobbi, Team For Design

Utopia IV may be the world’s largest speedboat. That was the feel the builder was aiming for with her long, low lines and powerful yet versatile propulsion. Four Rolls-Royce engines and four water jets allow her to reach 28 knots, but she cruises efficiently at lower speeds too, using only 35 per cent of her power at 18 knots. Fun features include three swimming pools, a 70m² beach club and a six-metre-long balcony in the master.

Length: 55m
Builder: Damen
Designer: Damen

This 55 metre Damen superyacht support vessel is packed to the brim with all the toys and tenders any adventure could require. With 225 square metres of exterior space on her aluminium deck, AXIS comfortably carries a range of equipment including a Triton submarine and Icon sport aircraft, which are easily lifted with the aft deck crane that can reach five metres and launch tenders and toys weighing as much as 10 tonnes. The aft deck can also be used as a touch and go helipad on this ultimate adventure vessel.

Length: 38.1m
Builder: Benetti
Design: Stefano Righini, RWD

The fourth hull in Benetti’s Fast 125’ line, Lejos 3 does what she was intended to do – go fast, but with efficiency, thanks to a hull shape that morphs from displacement to planing, and lightweight Rolls-Royce-designed carbon fibre Azipull propulsion. Inside, RWD has made her as light as “air”, the contemporary décor theme chosen by the owners.

Length: 26m
Builder: Numarine
Designer: Can Yalman/ Umberto Tagliavini

The 26 metre expedition yacht features exterior and interior styling from veteran Numarine designer Can Yalman and naval architecture from Umberto Tagliavini. Numarine has previously described the Numarine 26XP as “modern, even futuristic” due to its angular windows and vertical bow, while accommodation is for eight guests across a master suite, two VIP cabins and twin cabin.

Length: 74.5m
Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen
Design: Harrison Eidsgaard

Experience shows in this German beauty launched this spring. Her owners used their long involvement with superyachts to conceive their latest and largest with Peder Eidsgaard, who designed Elandess inside and out. Social spaces are the focus, and from the Nemo observation lounge below decks to the expansive sundeck with eight metre pool up top, innovations abound.

Length: 36.1m
Designer: Michael Kirschstein
Builder: Inace

Delivered in 2009, with refits in 2013, 2015 and 2017, the 36.1 metre Zulu is currently for sale with Edmiston & Company for €8,500,000. She can sleep up to 11 guests in five cabins, with accommodation for a crew of seven and nanny. Zulu is an Inace Explorer 100 model built to RINA classification with a steel hull, aluminium and teak decks. Both her exterior and interior design was created by Michael Kirschstein.

Length: 38.3m
Builder: Custom Line
Design: Francesco Paszkowski Design; Ferretti Group

For his first collaboration with the Ferretti Group, Francesco Paszkowski drew upon automotive and residential influences to give the Custom Line 120 a powerful profile and a contemporary interior with floor-to-ceiling windows. The glass door between the saloon and aft deck lifts up, in addition to the usual sliding, to make one large indoor-outdoor space. Up on the plane, she can reach 25 knots.

Length: 32.64m
Builder: Numarine
Design: Can Yalman

Coming in just below the 300GT threshold, this compact explorer offers big volume inside her steel displacement hull and GRP superstructure. Thanks to the yard’s partnership with noise and vibration specialist Silent Line, the owner’s suite is super quiet under way, registering just 37 decibels. Also showing is the first 26XP, equally silent with a lithium-ion battery system that allows all systems, including air conditioning, to run without generators for up to 12 hours.