Boats, Engines & Equipment Reviews

If you assume Port Hercule in Monaco (above) is the most expensive place to berth a superyacht, think again. In fact, five other places – three in Italy alone – cost owners much more per night. Those are the findings of a report from Wealth Bulletin, an online news service for the global wealth-management industry. Using a 70-meter (230-foot) megayacht as the base example, Wealth Bulletin found that Capri costs an average of €2,900 ($3,958) per night, followed by Porto Cervo in Sardinia at €2,500 ($3,412) and Portofino at €2,350 ($3,208) per night. This makes Port Hercule seem downright reasonable at an average of €1,200 ($1,638) per night. Note “average” – each of these, plus the other six marinas on the list, charge more for peak periods. While some of the marinas will negotiate rates due to the global economic crisis, don’t expect fire-sale prices. That’s because there are still a limited number of places worldwide that can accommodate the super-size superyachts. At the other side of the financial spectrum, sometimes captains and owners pay a lot more than the published rate for a slip, through insider deals. Andrea Pezzini, general manager at Floating Life and who assisted Wealth Bulletin with the list, related the story of a client who paid €15,000 (nearly $20,500) for one night during the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009. I have heard of similar arrangements for slip space in Europe during high-profile events. Here’s the full top 10 list of the world’s most expensive marinas for megayachts: 1. Capri, Italy: average daily fee: €2,900 ($3,958); number of berths: 10 PHOTO: copyright ROLEX/Daniel Forster2. Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy: average daily fee: €2,500 ($3,412); number of berths: 60. (Interesting note about the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, pictured above: The Wealth Bulletin found that its daily fee can actually cost more than €2,500, although prices were reduced last year. In addition, the annual fee for a 40-meter, or 131-footer, costs around €115,000, or nearly $157,000.) 3. Portofino, Italy: average daily fee: €2,350 ($3,208); number of berths: 6 4. Ibiza Magna, Ibiza: average daily fee: €2,300 ($3,140); number of berths: 12 5. St Tropez, France: average daily fee: €1,300 ($1,775); number of berths: 30 6. Port Hercule, Monaco: average daily fee: €1,200 ($1,638); number of berths: 20 7. Miami Beach, Florida: average daily fee: €883 ($1,206); number of berths: 45 8. Cannes, France: average daily fee: €655 ($894); number of berths: 35 9. Gustavia, St Barts: average daily fee: €500 ($683); number of berths: 15 10. Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi: average daily fee: €421 ($575); number berths: 40. …Read More

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I recently spent an afternoon battling some Pacific Ocean afternoon chop off the coast of San Diego. It was the kind of day I usually dread — not calm, not big, predictable swells, but just messed-up, confused slop — but on this afternoon I was fortunate enough to be on one of the best big-water machines in the business — Kawasaki's Ultra 260 LX. …Read More

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With summer just around the corner, Yamaha has launched the "Perfect Choice" sales event, offering choices of zero down/low interest offers, three years warranty coverage, or $1,000 of free parts and accessories on new Yamaha boats. …Read More