Courtesy Yachting Developments
There was a time not so long ago that a 50- or 60-foot convertible would have been the biggest sportfish in the marina. But times have changed, and in the place of those trusty battlewagons of yore has emerged a class of fishing boats that are their own subsect of the superyacht category.
Whether they’re built by semi-production giants, small-town custom builders, or as one-off projects by superyacht yards, these boats are designed to do one thing: catch monster fish. While most have the conventional shape—a long forefoot, tuna tower for sighting schools of fish or birds that are feeding on them, and the fighting chair in the cockpit—others are deviating into new territory.
Vanquish has a new 80-footer, with a plumb bow and cruiser-like profile, that has been modified as a serious sportfishing machine, while Royal Huisman is taking the concept into extreme superyacht territory with its 171-footer that’s a six-deck superyacht shaped like a huge convertible. This category is morphing somewhat with these new designs, but for the most part, the changes are more about luxurious interiors and better technology in the engine rooms.
Have a look at our list of the biggest and baddest luxury sportfishermen, plus one pint-sized classic thrown in for balance.
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Viking 90C
Image Credit: Courtesy Viking Yachts Viking is the leader of the semi-production sportfish market and its latest boat shows why. This new 90C flagship replaced a larger 92-footer so it could avoid the Tier III regulations that impacted the 92C. But the beauty is that this boat has the same size cockpit as the 92-footer and the same interior layouts, which include megayacht touches like a standard underlit Lumix bartop in the salon. This Viking has a top end of about 40 knots, and the company is looking to break that barrier as newer engines become available.
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Jim Smith Tournament Boats 86
Image Credit: Courtesy Jim Smith Tournament Boats This beautiful convertible, named Gina Lisa, has a cold-molded wood hull penned by the world-famous naval architect Donald L. Blount and Associates. The hull is constructed out of mahogany while composite materials are used elsewhere. The 86 features a five-stateroom, five-head layout that means the crew will have some privacy while on the tournament trail. Cruise speed is said to be in the mid-30-knot range, a very respectable gallop for vessel that displaces 125,000 pounds.
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‘Lanakai’ 130
Image Credit: Courtesy Yachting Developments From New Zealand’s Yachting Developments comes this monster of a sportfish. The 129-foot, all-carbon Lanakai is every bit a megayacht, albeit one with tuna and billfish in mind. Case in point, the massive, 59-foot-long Rupp outriggers give this yacht’s bait a formidable spread. Lanakai also has 6,300 hp powerplants, which helps it see speeds in the mid-30-knot range. The owner, who is on his fourth Yachting Developments hull, uses this boat, too. In his first 15 months aboard Lanakai logged 8,500 nautical miles.
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Spencer 74 Centurion
Image Credit: Courtesy Spencer Yachts Spencer Yachts builds its cold-molded vessels in tiny Wanchese, N.C., right in the heart of the Carolina custom sportfish world. Despite turning just a handful of boats each year, a Spencer 64 was the league leader in the 2022 Sport Fishing Championship. This 74 Centurion is the builder’s 100th hull. With twin 2,600 hp MTU V16 M96s, the 70 can top out at a very fast 44 knots while running at a 37-knot cruise. Its transom is done in carbon fiber.
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Rybovich 62
Image Credit: Courtesy Rybovich This may not be the largest yacht on this list, but what’s lacking in size is made up for in pedigree, and arguably the most classic convertible lines in this group. Michael Rybovich & Sons in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is one of the most recognizable names in all of yachting, with a history dating back to 1919. The 62 has a glass windshield that provides excellent natural light and good views in the cockpit—an uncommon feature for serious sportfishing boats. An aft galley arrangement will come in handy when frying up all the mahi this 62 is sure to land. And of course, there is the cockpit, which is designed for boating blue marlin.
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Vripack 171
Image Credit: Courtesy Vripack This 171-foot behemoth from Dutch naval architect Vripack in conjunction with Dutch yard Royal Huisman will hold the title of world’s largest sportfish when it launches. Thanks to clever design, this six-deck megayacht still holds true to the basic exterior lines of a sportfishing convertible. The designers said they were aiming for a penthouse aesthetic with the interior, and many of the decks are designed for optimal viewing of the fish-fighting action happening below. The hull and superstructure are made of aluminum. Vripack execs have described it as a “sportfish on steroids.”
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Jarrett Bay 90
Image Credit: Courtesy Jarrett Bay The 90-foot from Beaufort, North Carolina’s, Jarrett Bay Boatworks—a heavyweight in the Carolina-custom world—is notable for its advanced infusion and lamination techniques in the decks and superstructure. These construction methods were put into place to save weight, resulting in a faster top end and increased fuel efficiency. The cold-molded hull should provide a soft ride. That’s extra important for this boat, which will have a leggy range owing to a 4,000-gallon fuel tank.
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Vanquish VQ80
Image Credit: Courtesy Vanquish Yachts This VQ80 from Dutch dayboat builder Vanquish is a bit of a surprise because of its lines, which are more like a contemporary cruisers. But it’s a formidable steed for anglers, nonetheless. Conceived as a chase boat for a Heesen megayacht, the Guido de Groot design has a sizzling top end of more than 50 knots. As for creature comforts, the vessel has three staterooms and two heads—not lavish for an 80-footer but one has to assume the owner will likely sleep on the mothership. Will it start a new design for sportfish builders? Hardly likely, but it’s nice to see a new profile fishing the canyons.
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Bertram 35FB
Image Credit: Courtesy Bertram Yachts Bertram has always proved that a sportfisherman doesn’t need a megayacht-sized vessel to catch pelagics. Modeled on the Bertram 31, one of the most iconic powerboats ever, the Bertram 35 recaptures that classic boat’s magic with its modern hull and engines. Even at 35 feet, it has a workable cockpit for fighting fish, and flybridge helm for spotting them. The Bertram also has lines that harken back to its predecessor, meaning that wherever the boat pulls into port, it is sure to draw admirers. Most of the 35s are built at Bertram’s headquarters in Tampa, but it will also be built in Italy, though in smaller quantities.