Ferretti’s 731

Ferretti’s 731, introduced to the North American market at the same show, will be the first real test for that network.

The 731 brings a new feature to Ferretti’s range: a pair of waterline-level windows on the lower deck in the master suite that gives occupants views to port and starboard. On starboard, the window illuminates the master bath, while a clever sliding wall visually connects the two spaces. Occupants get an ocean view that is both intimate and breathtaking. According to MarineMax’s Vice President of Sales Tom Houliares, "This feature allows you to become truly one with the sea."

This 74-foot fiberglass flybridge motor yacht maintains Ferretti’s modernist aesthetic. Anticipating the tastes of its growing American constituency, Ferretti has aimed this yacht at a self-assured client who wants a boat with a sporty, slightly aggressive silhouette; say, a celebrity athlete or successful entrepreneur, who may want to pilot it himself. The superstructure is single-piece construction with no caulking lines, which, Houliares points out, eliminates the shrinking and squeezing of piecemeal construction. According to the company, this makes the unit 30 percent stronger while significantly reducing weight—critical for a boat designed to cleave the waves quickly, cleanly and surely at speeds of up to 33 knots.

For the 731, Ferretti chose a symmetrical layout along the central axis, inside and out. The interior design aims for an open, airy feel with understated lines and tones, making the boat suitable for all occasions. Sliding doors on both ends of the salon are a breezy and distinctive touch on a boat this size, complementing the L-shaped seating area in light, neutral leather. The surfaces in open-grain varnished teak have rounded edges throughout. Storage has been carefully and cleverly planned, so that place settings are tucked away but never out of reach.

Belowdecks, the master suite’s exceptional ocean view can be enjoyed from the bed or the shower. Portholes are present on each side of each window. The bathroom features a two-person, glass-enclosed shower and a scallop-shaped teak sink. The crew quarters are placed at the stern for easy access, while keeping them discrete from the guest accommodations.

On the flying bridge, to favor the owner/operator, the helm station has been moved aft. An aerodynamically designed console deflects wind over the pilot seat. The seat itself rotates fully, so the owner or captain can engage the guests at the U-shaped dinette behind. The bimini top, now electronically controlled, is housed in the roll bar rather than the bow.

Mindful of the desires of its American clientele, Ferretti provides spaces for toys and adds a bench astern that opens at sea level to accommodate up to eight for swimming or sunbathing.

But what is truly new and notable about the 731 is its ARG system. Developed in partnership with Mitsubishi, the Anti-Roll Gyroscope has been hailed by Popular Science as one of the past year’s top technological innovations. The system’s several-hundred-pound flywheel mounted in the center of the boat is set in motion to counter the rotation caused by swells and wakes. Unlike fin stabilizers, the ARG also works while at anchor, keeping the 731’s Kevlar hull stable with unobtrusive efficiency. Exclusive to the 731 and its new big sister, the 830, ARG underscores the group’s stated commitment to setting the standard for midsize yachts not only in style but in substance.

Waterfront: At Ease

March 2007