Scout Boats
A dayboat is exactly what it sounds like—a vessel to spend the day on before retiring to somewhere else to spend the night. Traditionally it’s a European style of boating, relegated to boats in the 30- to 50-foot range. But in the last few years, thanks to a flood of new owners, the dayboat market has seen big design changes and enormous growth—literally. The boats keep getting larger to the point where many should be rightfully be called day yachts. The trend started with the HCB Custom 65. The boat, Estrella, was a monster center-console design, powered by six outboards totaling more than 3000 hp. That 2018 launch set a new standard for dayboats.
But the new generation of maxi-sized dayboats aren’t limited to utilitarian center consoles. The 77-foot Wajer that former quarterback Tom Brady purchased last year is a good example of a more yacht-like design, while the 115-ft. Vanquish Veloce VQ115 is an even more dramatic case.
These new designs, all with large staterooms, show how much the definition of dayboat has changed from smaller open boats. The intent of the design is now as important as the form—to maximize exterior space, and with it, the number of guests who can come on board to enjoy a day on the water. There are the usual salons, galleys and heads, but the focus is the exterior, or in most cases, the blending of the interior and exterior through large glass doors that slide and conceal to connect inside and out.
Here are seven of the largest, newest dayboats on the water today.
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Vanquish VQ115 Veloce
Vanquish’s VQ115 Veloce is the largest dayboat on this list. The 115 has an aluminum hull, and with triple 2,650-horsepower MTU Rolls-Royce V16s matched to surface drives, Vanquish says it can hit speeds of 50 mph. The VQ115 has two separate tender garages: one for a VQ16 and the other a VQ11, both bearing a resemblance to the mothership. A Jacuzzi on the boat’s foredeck is sure to be a popular at anchor, while the aft cockpit connects to an open-arrangement salon via sliding glass doors. That arrangement puts the day in day yacht. A boat this size will be able to accommodate four crew members.
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Scout 670 LX
Currently under build in South Carolina, the Scout 670 LX will be the largest center console ever built when it debuts at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show. With five 600-horsepower Mercury outboards, this Scout should see top speeds close to 60 mph. Three different versions of this boat will be made available, including an LXF (luxury fish), LXC (luxury cruiser), and LXS (luxury sport). The boat was designed in conjunction with superyacht design studio Harrison Eidsgaard. It will be constructed in carbon-fiber epoxy. The forepeak master will have its own en suite—a design breakthrough for vessels of this type.
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Wajer 77
When you’re the greatest quarterback of all time, and also find yourself back on the singles scene in your early 40s, what better way to re-acclimate yourself than a hot boat? And that’s exactly what Tom Brady bought for himself. The Wajer 77 is a Dutch-built dayboat with one of the most beautiful sterns in yachting. It has a 40-mph top speed and cruising range of over 400 miles. Wajer’s trademark walkaround design opens up the alfresco entertainment options onboard, meaning the boat can ferry large numbers of guests comfortably to the sandbar and back. The boat also has three staterooms, plus crew accommodations for two, as you might expect from a dayboat this large.
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Pardo E60
With an axe bow and a reverse-rake windshield, mirrored by a reverse-rake windscreen on its flybridge, the Pardo Endurance 60 conjures up the profile of a stylish workboat. But it is built for play. Its walkaround design couples with foldout terraces in the cockpit to open up the deck space for entertaining. A hydraulic swim platform aft holds a tender for easier beach access, or it can double as a beach club. The Pardo has twin 600-horspower Volvo Penta D8s matched to IPS drives, making it easy to dock and maneuver at slow speeds. The boat runs the low-to-mid-20-mph range.
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Bluegame 75
Unveiled last year at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the Bluegame 75 is the first edition in a line of multihulls the Italian builder plans to release. Bluegame is known for its innovative designs, and this boat was penned in conjunction with Bernardo Zuccon and Piero Lissoni with a hullform that mimics an America’s Cup chase boat. The 75 will also be able to carry up to 56 solar panels to minimize its carbon footprint. The interior layout is intended to maximize the boat’s natural beaminess. Open arrangements the norm particularly on the lower deck, where an unorthodox salon lies at sea level, and the upper deck is fully open for social events.
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Zeelander 7
The 66-foot Zeelander 7 is this Dutch yard’s new flagship. Zeelanders all have similar lines as well as high levels of fit and finish. The boat has a foldout beach club from its transom, with a generous amount of tumblehome. A four-stool bar at the bulwark separating the cockpit and salon complements a dining settee in the aft section of the cockpit. The boat’s fully enclosed salon has nearly 360-degree worth of windows. This boat can reach 40 mph at top end.
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Okean 80
From Brazil comes the Okean 80, a boat clearly built for a party. Like its smaller sisters, the builder’s flagship has foldout terraces to port and starboard on its main deck. Also on the main deck is a pane of smart glass between the helm and salon that can become see-through or opaque at the touch of a button. Up top, the 80’s flybridge features a wetbar and modular furniture. A beach club at the hydraulic swim platform is partially recessed into the transom for shade, a design trait which adds a sense of gravitas to the space.