| Christensen 157 |  |
The owners next purchased Hanse, a secretive 165-foot
motor yacht that laid claim to one of the most valuable berths in the
Mediterranean, which today is home to Octopus. After sailing to the
United States, Hanse received a complete refit, but before employing her
in the charter trade with Picante and Sea Jewel, the owners
received an offer from a Greek customer that, according to the owner, "was
too good to refuse," and the boat was retired from their fleet.
Several years later, the owner said, events at home caused a
shift in the couple’s thinking. "Post 9/11, we sold everything and took a
respite from the yachting business. We kept a 92-foot Cheoy Lee, which was
basically a Bahamas boat. Then, about a year ago, we bought Savoy, a
126-foot Trident." Pausing in his recitation, the owner chuckled and exclaimed,
"You know, this must sound like you’re talking to a guy in a mental
institution."
Some might agree, but what should be quite apparent is that,
despite their love of boats and an unabashed affinity for refits, this is a
couple that never warmed to the idea of building a new boat. As the owner
continued, however, it became obvious that their state of mind was about to
change. "I’d always been a fan of Dave [Christensen] building boats the
way he did, with a house-builder’s mentality. He and I always got along. I
enjoyed watching what he did, and we stayed in touch, but I had vowed that we’d
never do a new build.
"When this opportunity arose, Joe Foggia (Christensen’s
president) really presented a very good case [for becoming involved in the
build]. I was really impressed with the work that Christensen had done. I had
gotten on Nice N Easy (ex-Liquidity) and looked at the quality of
the work. Then, I went out to visit the yard and saw that it was a great
shipyard. Its people had great spirit, and they were building tremendous
systems. I think they’ve really come a long way and are now one of the top
yachtbuilders in America. I was impressed with their vision and felt that it was
time for me to get back in the yachting business."
Large expanses of glazing provide views that are surpassed
only by those from the sun deck (bottom). (Click images to enlarge)
According to Marathon’s owner, the appeal of the Custom
Series is manifold, and his opinion echoes what other Christensen customers have
reported since the delivery of Liquidity—the first in the series—two
years ago. Overall, the general arrangement of the boats is one of the key
attractions. Although not particularly beamy by today’s standards, the boats
have plenty of space for a spacious master suite on the main deck and a
full-beam VIP suite at the aft end of the cabin deck. Forward of the VIP are
four additional guests cabins, each with ensuite heads. A service pantry for
guests and a private laundry room are located in the lobby at the foot of the
central stairway.
Another feature that makes the arrangement work well is a
companionway that allows the crew access from the crew accommodations to the
guest accommodations without the need to use the central staircase. Whilst this
is a handy feature for any large yacht, it is especially desirable for a yacht
such as Marathon, which will be employed in the charter trade, a business
where discreet service is of paramount importance.
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Email This
Printer Friendly Version
Reprints & Permissions
Most Popular Searches