Ice Bear is a 1988 throwback, partly frozen in time, from its straight-edged De Voogt exterior to the original interior by Paola D. Smith. But the 170-foot Feadship, originally one of the Gallant Lady series, was one of the most interesting vessels at the Palm Beach boat show. Partly for its pedigree, but mostly because it was the forerunner to modern sportfishing-superyachts like Royal Huisman’s just-launched Special One. Feadship had built convertibles such as Catch as far back 1984, but Ice Bear is the first hybrid sportfish/superyacht.
The yacht spent much of its 36-year-old life traveling up and down the West Coast, summering in Alaska, where the owners spent most of their time catching halibut and salmon. During the winters, it moved to Costa Rica as a mothership to a smaller, more conventional sportfisherman that chased big pelagics like sailfish and marlin.
Ice Bear’s cockpit replicates that of a large convertible, with two teak fighting chairs, livewells, fishboxes, an ice chipper, and rocket launchers. A large compartment on the mezzanine deck reveals enough rod stowage to last a lifetime. The yacht also has a tower with a full helm station, designed so the captain has a clear line of sight to the cockpit down below, a key element for a fishing boat.
Forget the beach club: Ice Bear‘s cockpit is set up for serious sportfishing.
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The interior is the other half of the boat worth mentioning. It underwent a partial refit in the early 2000s to replace the 1980s furniture, but it still remains dated with a formal, wood-rich, and sometimes ornate style that is way out of fashion with today’s minimalist interiors. On Ice Bear, however, the look works.
The full-beam, master suite feels palatial, especially with the adjoining office and lounge. The space is defined by the wood trimming. The bridge deck sky lounge might look like your grandparents’ living room, with the formal furniture and wainscot walls, but it’s warm and inviting with excellent views. Even the stairwell and foyer down to the guest staterooms, typically an afterthought on most yacht designs, is paneled in light woods, with a signature oval design on the ceiling.
The observation lounge has a dated, luxe look but offers exceptional views of the water.
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The location of the dining room at the aft end of the main deck serves two purposes: The owner can keep an eye on the fishing action in the cockpit while eating breakfast, but the space also exudes a sense of elegance (even with crimson-upholstered dining chairs) for formal dining.
Most likely a new owner will redo most of these sections, along with the light woods and cream marbles in the bathrooms. (The superyacht is listed for $9.95 million after a $1.55 million price drop.) But the bones are there, says its brokerage firm Burgess, as well as a hull that, given its age, remains in good shape.
One element that remains timeless is the observation lounge. The upper-deck space is dotted with plush, leather chairs and surrounded by windows. A wetbar in the rear section handles the refreshments. Overhead, the leather blue-covered oval on the ceiling adds a stately look. Perched in a chair, one can easily imagine what it must be like to pull into sub-arctic waters of northern Alaska, with a drink in hand, enjoying the sweeping vistas of the state’s rugged coastline. That is a feature that will stand the test of time.