[dropcap]p[/dropcap]alm Beach Motor Yachts completed testing of hull #1 of their GT60, the new flagship of the company’s GT series that launched in 2018. With the model due to arrive in the US in the upcoming weeks in preparation for its worldwide debut at the Miami International Yacht Show, the ethos behind its development came from the company’s CEO Mark Richard’s vision of delivering an industry-leading high-performance cruiser, with an unparalleled combination of both speed and fuel efficiency.
“The GT60 is an absolute dream result, that our team worked tirelessly on perfecting for the past 12 months. To have such a beautiful boat wrapped around a twin engine system, that out-performs similar sized competing products that use 3 engines, or twice the horsepower is a truly remarkable achievement.” said Richards.
The GT60 heading to Miami is running twin Volvo IPS 1350s, with a total output of 2,000 HP. Initial testing at the company’s Malaysian plant saw an efficient 35 knot cruise speed at 70% load, using a combined fuel burn of 65 GPH between both engines, providing a range of well in excess of 400 NM at this speed. To achieve such a potent pairing of speed and fuel efficiency, the GT60 uses industry leading construction techniques and materials available in combination with the company’s proven unique hull design.
“The entire deck and superstructure is vacuum-infused carbon fibre to reduce weight, while our signature hull is made with a sandwich of e-glass and closed-cell corecell foam. Everything is infused with vinylester resin – the highest grade of modified epoxy – to ensure both durability and longevity of all components.” commented Richards.
The material choices, and their placement means that the boat has a naturally low centre of gravity to aid performance, while the warped semi-displacement hull design takes cues from racing yachts and naval destroyers to deliver a soft and stable ride at all speeds. Palm Beach then takes engineering several steps further to ensure perfect balance, running carbon fibre jack shafts from the pods to the mid-mounted engines, ensuring the bulk weight of the blocks are centred and low. With this in consideration the factory sea trials saw the GT60 easily reaching speeds of 40+ knots, and one can’t help but notice the lengths Palm Beach goes to, to ensure their yachts track like a supercar on rails.
The GT60 features an enormous single-piece curved glass windshield, large electric side and aft windows in the salon and full-beam entertaining spaces in both the salon and cockpit. The layouts are practical and modern, while still retaining the true nautical feel of a cruising yacht.
As with all Palm Beach Motor Yachts, customers can expect to enjoy the ability to customise the layouts and options to ensure their high-performance GT60 is perfectly tailored to their individual needs and desires.
