The 911 of the Sea

DECEMBER 2024

Palm Beach’s new GT50 RS will do for yachtsmen what Porsche does for car enthusiasts. Read that again.

Palm Beach chief Mark Richards is known for his zealous enthusiasm for all the boats his company builds. But it’s easy to tell when speaking with him that the GT50 RS is something that holds a special place in his heart. “I say this with no exaggeration, this boat is going to be the Porsche 911 of the boating world,” he says with the clear-eyed conviction of a man who knows what he is talking about.

A car enthusiast himself, Mark Richards has long toyed with the idea of producing a yacht that would match the legendary 911’s reputation for performance, comfort, and all-around high quality. And while all Palm Beach Motor Yachts' are known for comfort and quality, what they lacked to make the comparison complete was eye-popping speed numbers—until now.

The GT50 RS slated to debut in spring 2025 has quadruple 500-horsepower Mercurys hanging off its tail end. These beastly motors pack a proper wallop, and will have this Palm Beach rocketing across the water’s surface at speeds up to 65 mph, while cruising efficiently at 57 mph. “Americans in particular might be used to speeds like that with a center console,” says Mark Richards, “but here’s the beautiful thing: with the GT50 RS, you’re totally enclosed, it’s super quiet, it’s a smooth ride, and the wind isn’t going to whip anybody’s hair into a mess on the way out to dinner.”

Riding in exceptional comfort at near poker-run speeds is a very rare quality for a boat to have, and one that will certainly prove tantalizing as the model readies for market. Just imagine a sea trial where you shove off from a South Florida dock, make a one-hour trip to Bimini for lunch, and make it back to America before the afternoon is even over. And you can do that all in the peace and quiet of an enclosed cabin, with no need for sunscreen, and riding on a hull that splits a nasty chop like scissors gliding through wrapping paper.

But it’s not only at speed where this Palm Beach’s extra comfort comes in handy. If you take an open boat to the sandbar and the weather changes, you’re more or less out of luck. But with the GT50 RS, you just head inside and keep the party going until the sun pokes its head out again. And with the outboard engines offering a shallow draft, nearly any sandbar becomes a welcoming venue.

This boat’s interior will be like nothing in its class. Directly inspired by Porsche GT interiors, the seating, detailing, and stitching will be at a level that puts the competition to shame. Matte-black carbon fiber and Alcantara surfaces throughout add to the feeling of high-class adventure that the GT50 RS oozes. “Even the toilets are carbon fiber,” Richards likes to remind people with a chuckle.

With a starting price of $2.75 million, the GT50 RS is likely to be a runaway success once she makes her debut. And she’ll also be setting the table for her big sister, a GT60 RS that is currently under development. Each of these boats is uniquely positioned to make a massive dent in the market by offering a combination of comfort and performance that until now was more likely to be seen on the Autobahn than the Atlantic Ocean.

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WHAT OWNERS SAY ABOUT PALM BEACH MOTOR YACHTS

PB65 “TRIPLE TREAT”

“I was very impressed with the first boat I bought, a PB50. It was a great boat but more-so, it was Mark’s commitment to quality... getting things right. He is a perfectionist. His whole approach to building a boat… we both come from sailing backgrounds - he likes to build them light and fast and strong. His attitude is ’Near enough is not good enough!’”

STEPHEN AINSWORTH, PB65 “TRIPLE TREAT”

PALM BEACH 45, “LE REVE”

“My relationship with Palm Beach has been excellent since first meeting. My PB45 has classic good looks and is a “head turner” in every harbor, but more importantly it has excellent build quality and all onboard systems, including power and electronics, work flawlessly. And the performance, ride, and handling of my PB45 in any seaway are second to none. There’s always been full access to the entire Palm Beach team, including the president, Mark Richards. Buying my PB45, Le Reve, is one of the better decisions I’ve made in my life.”

DAVE SPALDING, PALM BEACH 45, “LE REVE”

PB65 “RENA G”

“They’re big, fast, with superior sea handling. I’ve been in 7m (23’) swells behind us with a 2m (7’) chop on top, and on the beam coming from the left-hand side was about a 100 Km/h (54 knots) wind. And not once did any of the waves break over the bow...the bow always came up, which is testimony to how light and strong the boat is. It’s just an incredible sea-handling boat!”

ANDY GREIG, PB65 “RENA G”

PB52, “SOUTHERN DRAW”

“Our experience from the outset of introduction to the team, all the way through the sales process, delivery, and now follow up service has been extraordinary. We have built and owned many yachts, and the response that we have received from Grand Banks/Palm Beach has been truly exceptional. Every detail is addressed, which very obviously filters all the way through the organization. A true first class operation.”

BRIAN DARNELL, PB52, “SOUTHERN DRAW”

PALM BEACH 45, “BLACKSWAN”

“It was love at first sight when we first saw a PB45 at a Florida boat show. Now a few years on, our PB45 BlackSwan looks brand-new, performs flawlessly and easily handles even the heaviest seas. Of course it is still a head turner. The ownership experience has been outstanding with the people of Palm Beach Yachts going the extra mile to ensure it remains so.”

DAVID CLARKE, PALM BEACH 45, “BLACKSWAN”