Megayachts on the Market: The Biggest Broward

Fluto Shinzawa

04/01/2002

Bruce Schattenburg, managing director of The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals, recalls how he felt when he first saw Inspiration. As he approached the 156-foot Broward Marine yacht, Schattenburg thought it was beautiful and opulent, but Inspiration’s size and lines left him speechless. “It’s almost intimidating when you walk up to it,” says Schattenburg.

By the time you have climbed the spiral staircase from the aft deck to the flybridge, relaxed in the Jacuzzi, and enjoyed a beverage from the bar, intimidation has melted away into pleasure. Inspiration, for sale through The Sacks Group for $15.9 million, is the largest yacht ever built by Broward. Consider amenities such as the yacht’s four-person sauna, baby grand piano, 200-square-foot cedar-lined closet in the master stateroom, and 40-inch Mitsubishi television in the skylounge, and you begin to understand why Schattenburg calls Inspiration the flagship of the Broward fleet.

Inspiration, which was completed in 1997, served its original owner as a floating home in Florida’s Palm Beach. The current owner uses the yacht as a second home and also charters the boat for cruises along the U.S. East Coast and the Caribbean.

Schattenburg and other brokers, however, recommend that you do your homework before committing to such a big-ticket purchase as a 150-foot yacht. Tom George, a broker for MarineMax Motor Yachts, recommends hiring a broker to assist you in your quest for a yacht, rather than trying to find and purchase a boat on your own.

He recently worked with a client who wanted to upgrade from a 92-foot Hatteras. George made some calls, reviewed pictures of possible yachts, and made appointments for his client to tour eight vessels at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last October. The client narrowed down his choices and decided on a 150-foot Christensen trideck, which is scheduled for delivery in August. “If you go to a boat show without a plan, you’re doomed,” says George. “You can’t possibly see them all. The broker becomes important in steering the client the right way. I lined up appointments for every boat. I knew the captains and I previewed the boats the day before. There’s a tremendous amount of homework, faxing, and e-mails.”
The Sacks Group promotes its Try Before You Buy program, in which you can charter the yacht you’re considering before purchasing it. Inspiration is available for charter for $110,000 a week plus expenses. “Would you buy shoes before trying them on?” asks Schattenburg. “Firsthand knowledge is invaluable in making a proper decision. If you charter three types of boats, you can get the feel for each of them.”

One of Schattenburg’s clients bought a 65-foot Hatteras but immediately decided to purchase a larger yacht because it was too small for comfortable family cruising. The client bought an 82-foot Hatteras, but six months later—again, because of space constraints—he purchased a 130-foot boat by the same shipyard. “Now they’ve got two boats on the market, and it’s easier to buy them than sell them,” says Schattenburg. “You might say, ‘Why waste money chartering?’ But it solves a lot of problems. You can have the ultimate vacation experience while learning about a very expensive hobby and lifestyle.”

Whether you charter or purchase Inspiration, you can entertain as many as eight guests. The master stateroom, located on the main deck, includes a king-size bed, two built-in maple dressers, a walk-in closet, and an entertainment center with a 27-inch TV and hi-fi VCR. The master bathroom has a double-door marble shower and a built-in marble bench. The owner’s study, which includes an antique writing desk, two built-in bookshelves, and a leather armchair, is connected to the master stateroom. There are four guest staterooms, each including a 20-inch TV/VCR combo, built-in nightstands, and a private bathroom. (Click image to enlarge)

The main salon has a complete entertainment center, but if you prefer to make your own music, you can plunk out a few tunes on the salon’s Yamaha baby grand piano. There are two chenille-covered sofas, two chairs upholstered with silk, and two cocktail tables. When you get hungry, open the frosted-glass double doors into the dining salon and seat yourself at the 10-seat cherry table. If you eat a little too much, you can work off the calories in the exercise room, which has a treadmill and an adjoining sauna. (Click image to enlarge)
One of the yacht’s signature areas is the skylounge. You can enjoy a drink from the Italian marble bar while you relax on the caramel leather wraparound sofa and watch TV on the 40-inch screen. “The skylounge is huge and very opulent,” says Schattenburg.

Schattenburg says Inspiration is best suited for cruising in U.S. and Caribbean waters, but adds that the yacht has the range to complete a transatlantic cruise. Or you can follow the example of Inspiration’s two previous owners and use it as a floating home. “The boat is probably the nicest boat ever built by Broward Marine,” says Schattenburg. “It’s custom quality, rather than production-type quality. It’s a major megayacht.”

Sacks Group Yachting Professionals, 954.764.7742, www.sacksyachts.com