Yachts For When Money Is No Object

If money was no object many of us would head straight to the dealer to start browsing yachts and drive away with the show boat of our dreams. It’s a wonderful fantasy, but what if it came true? Which luxury yacht would you want to take home?

While it’s tempting to think of massive super yachts that come with a crew, let’s focus on smaller boats you can actually drive yourself. That still leaves plenty of possibilities – here are 5 of our favorites.

Arcadia Sherpa XL

The Arcadia Sherpa XL makes a statement at any time of day – or night.

Arcadia’s Sherpa XL has to be on any yacht dream list even if money is no barrier. The 80-foot Sherpa is definitely XL-sized, but the letters in its name refer to its extra-luxurious amenities.

The Sherpa XL’s sun deck is the ideal spot to wake up with morning coffee, or enjoy afternoon views.

This Italian-made pocket mega-yacht comes with all the bells and whistles, including underwater lighting, a fully hydraulic swim platform, a massive aft cockpit terrace that’s perfect for dining al fresco, and a huge salon with exquisite custom furniture. Want more fresh air? All the windows open at the touch of a button, rolling down automotive-style to flood the interior with the sweet ocean breeze.

The master suite in the Sherpa XL is large, bright, and stylish.

When it’s time for fun, head below to the garage that opens out to the side of the boat, and drive off in a Sea-Doo or the luxury tender. And at the end of the day, a huge master suite and three guest cabins provide every luxury of home. Talk about floating perfection.

Benetti Oasis 40

The Benetti Oasis 40 can’t help attracting attention wherever it goes.

Also made in Italy, the Benetti Oasis 40 is all about big numbers – it sleeps 10 guests, its twin diesels put out a massive 2,800 horsepower, it goes 4,000 nautical miles between fill-ups for legitimate Trans-Atlantic range, yet can churn along at up to 18 knots when it needs to, which is pretty quick for a yacht of this size (the 40 in its name means 40 meters, not 40 feet).

Floor-to-ceiling windows assure a great view from the bridge.

Relax at the massive stern beach club, enjoy the Great Indoors on the Benetti’s two main decks, each with floor-to-ceiling windows, or channel your inner Captain Jean Luc Picard at the control of its all-glass, fully digital bridge. This big yacht is a cinch to drive because you can control the entire thing remotely from anywhere on board – even when standing on the swim platform.

The Benetti’s massive beach club is truly in a class of its own.

The standard interior layout includes five luxury guest suites, but buyers can get just about anything they like – for a small surcharge, of course.

Mazu 82

With its straight lines, the Mazu 82 definitely has a military look.

While many yachts are high on luxury, not everyone appreciates their typically reserved style. So if your tastes run more to the tactical than the traditional, Mazu has a yacht for you in its wonderful Mazu 82.

The salon blends plush amenities with genuine military shock-absorbing seats at the helm.

The styling has a clear naval, military flair but there’s nothing spartan about the big boat’s luxurious appointments. From its bulletproof windshield (seriously) to its elegant stern beach club, this yacht reflects an ideal balance of form and function. No-nonsense features like the genuine military-grade shock-absorbing seats seem to fit in perfect harmony with the Corinthian leather interior and state-of-the-art Dali interior sound system. The juxtaposition is weird, and at the same time, wonderful.

The Mazu 82 master suite offers unique style accents.

Below decks there’s a massive and opulent master suite, of course, along with an almost equally elaborate guest cabin and a large gourmet kitchen. With a range of over 4,500 nautical miles, this bad boy can go a long way between fuel stops, so eating well and enjoying all that life can offer goes hand-in-hand.

Prestige X70

Anyone who thinks luxury yachts are slow and plodding clearly hasn’t seen the Prestige X70.

People who think that luxury yachts are big and slow really need to go for a spin in the jaw-dropping Prestige X70. This is more than just a mini-superyacht with all the comforts of a luxury home, it also goes like a rocket thanks to twin Volvo Penta IPS 1350 engines that push this little liner along at an astounding 30 knots.

The Prestige X70 salon is bright, comfortable and definitely inviting.

Naturally the big Prestige comes with a luxury stern beach club with a huge swim platform, a stand-up shower for rinsing off the salt and an awesome, audiophile Fusion stereo. Twin staircases lead up to the enormous aft cockpit, making it the ideal spot to relax after a dip or enjoy dinner with a view.

Summers are to be enjoyed, and the beach club is the best place to do so.

The indoor space is – in a word – palatial, with supremely comfortable furnishings and tasteful décor accents setting a regal tone. Twin staircases lead below, where huge and mind-bogglingly beautiful overnight suites assure an incredible night’s sleep.

Sunseeker 55 Evo

Sunseeker’s new 55 Evo is a sporty yet comfortable luxury yacht.

When it comes to dream boats, Sunseeker is always part of any conversation and it’s brilliant yachts like the Evo 55 that explain why. While a bit smaller than some of the other yachts on our list, what the Evo 55 might lack in overall length it more than makes up for with its sheer luxury and performance.

The 55 Evo salon is bright and airy – thanks in part to the large electric sunroof.

Standard power in the Evo 55 is twin 725 horsepower Volvo Penta D11 diesels, which juice this speedster to over 33 knots while still delivering a range of over 200 miles with impressive fuel economy. And, doing so in total luxury. Twin facing sofas in the cockpit surround an elegant table, creating the ideal spot for morning coffee or afternoon champagne. The wide salon doors open fully, allowing the cockpit and salon to flow together seamlessly as a single environment for the ultimate in entertaining space.

Even the galley in the Evo 55 is top-notch.

There’s an oversized galley allowing enterprising chefs to prepare full gourmet meals, while the overnight accommodations below for the owner and guests both feature high ceilings, spacious ensuites and enormous windows with one-way glass for total privacy. Really, what more could one want?

Oh right – the money to pay for it.

But hey, if money was no object …..