Entrepreneur Josh Golder may have owned 13 production boats in his lifetime, but the 154-foot King Benji is his first full custom new build. Determined to get it right, he spent five years planning and $45 million building his Dunya explorer. He engaged Gregory C. Marshall for the exterior and British studio Design Unlimited for the interior. His brief was simple—to build a yacht that facilitates the same five-star experience off the boat that guests are guaranteed on board.
His first boat was an 84-foot Azimut that he bought in 2009. “In the first year, I was probably on board 270 days or more. I just love being on the water,” Golder tells Robb Report. In the following years, he experimented with RIBs, speedboats, and flat-hulled party boats. “I just became obsessed with every style.”
With King Benji, Golder has created an explorer platform kitted out with a 20,000-pound capacity crane, four 300 hp Jet Skis, and a 40-foot Nor-Tech tender, his favorite brand of speedboat (and the seventh that he’s owned.) He made the decision to put King Benji on the charter market partway through the build, which led him to swap out the planned gym and steam room for two additional guest cabins, bringing the total to five.
A hatred for televisions and white fiberglass dictated other design decisions, from the split plunge pool on the owner’s deck that had to be tiled to the hidden television screens in every room. Massive opening panoramic glass doors—with no sills—was another non-negotiable. “That four-inch lip you get on production boats used to really annoy me,” he says, which also shows how fastidious he was with the design.
King Benji was delivered in March and headed straight to the MYBA charter show in Genoa. In the coming weeks, Golder will cruise Croatia, Montenegro and Albania. He also has Alaska in his sights.
Here are 10 cool features about the newest explorer on the charter market.
-
Canine Credits
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown Golder loves his dog so much that he named the boat after him. Just under the KBG on the stern is an illustration of a dog. No special provisions have been made for the King, however, since he only joins the yacht for short trips. Golder’s 4-month-old son is also named after Benji. “I thought, if my son grows up with a few dollars to his name, then there is nothing more humbling than being named after a dog,” he says.
-
Hot and Cold Running Water
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown When stepping out onto the private owner’s foredeck, all eyes are on the custom tub by Headhunter, which is both a cold 39-degree Fahrenheit plunge pool and a roasting 140-degree Jacuzzi. The central divider means guests can enjoy hot and cold or remove the divider to enjoy just a more tepid soak. This feat of engineering is included in another onboard pool system, which empties, fills, and heats independently.
-
Best Seat on Board
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown The crow’s nest—or observation pod—is one of owner Golder’s favorite features. “It was an area that I feel is often overlooked, and therefore had to be done.” The enclosed space lets guests sink into sofas and admire the 360-degree views. Bright prints from Osborn & Little add color, while a fridge provides cold drinks.
-
Visual Intelligence
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown When Golder asked Design Unlimited for “photo-quality concept renderings” to help with his visual decision making, the brand responded with 15 unique schemes based on landmark interiors. They ranged from a Medellín apartment with a polished concrete floor to a Costa Rican treehouse. Golder eventually settled on a combination of 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami and a restaurant in North Miami called Chica. “I don’t like the headache of expensive art, so instead of artworks on the wall, the walls became the artwork,” he says.
-
Open Communications
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown One of the more unusual features is the sizable open galley. It’s split in two, with a service area and pantry on one side and a dining area with a breakfast bar and large picture window on the other. An open hatch to the galley puts the chef on full display with freshly prepared food laid out on the divider. In addition to the yacht’s formal dining arrangement, the bridge is also “yacht quality” in case guests want to eat in the wheelhouse.
-
Tapping into Teppanyaki
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown Oversized sun lounges on the bridge deck aft double as clever storage for the inflatable slide and climbing wall. The biggest crowd pleaser on this level, though, is the six-seat teppanyaki bar for an immersive outdoor cooking experience. Clad in bamboo and topped with Turkish marble, it also includes a TV screen that is hidden behind a gnarled wood panel.
-
Master Mariner
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown The dedicated owner’s deck enjoys a private lounge with a William Garvey games table, black-crocodile-print leather floor tiles and a bamboo ceiling. The California king bed with an extra-deep mattress was a special owner’s request. It’s paired with a live-edge timber headboard and mirrored kickback boards to give the illusion that the bed is floating. Jungle-themed Tecnografica wallpaper brings the outdoors in, as does the supersized, color-changing rainshower that doubles as a steam room.
-
Picture Perfect
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown The four guest cabins each cost around $370,000 to outfit. They’re differentiated by color and underwater themes reflected in their names and bespoke wallpaper—Adam Ellis gold-leaf prints in the triggerfish cabin and coral wallpaper by Pierre Frey in the twins. They also have the largest panoramic guest cabin windows on any boat under 500 gross tons.
-
Fast Tender
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown A large tender that facilitates fun away from the yacht was a must for Golder. “I love my Nor-Tech as it’s an extremely fast boat with a stable hull,” he says. The 400 Supersport center console reaches speeds of up to 80 mph and can cover around 150 miles a day. It has a fully enclosed bathroom and spacious seating. “I didn’t want the yacht’s only tender to be a glorified lifeboat,” he adds.
-
Step by Step
Image Credit: IYC/Jeff Brown The central stairwell runs across the yacht’s three decks, doubling as a feature wall. Glass balustrades, open treads, and brass strips that reflect light are set against a backdrop of reclaimed eucalyptus wood tiles.
