Vicem Yachts 77

PMY's first look at the Vicem 77.

By Kevin Koenig

April 9, 2013

Two of the most important attributes any yacht must have if she aspires to be truly exceptional are onboard elegance and aesthetic appeal. It seems fairly clear that Turkish builder Vicem understands those tenets quite well, if history is any precedent. And it appears that they have done it again with one of their latest launches, the 77 Flybridge. The boat’s classic lines instantly evoke an old-school nautical vibe replete with grace and sophistication. Indeed, this boat is so pretty from the outside she feels like she could be the setting for a film from Hollywood’s golden age—with a gauzy glamour shot of the heroine, and the 77.

Onboard the high style continues, particularly with the help of the rich, warm mahoganies throughout. The saloon features a wet bar and entertainment system, while the galley down below has a four-burner stove, dinette, freezer, and microwave. Suffice to say, no one will go hungry.

On the same deck there’s the VIP stateroom, another guest stateroom with twin single berths, and crew’s quarters. (There’s also an optional layout wherein the dinette can be turned into another guest cabin. This layout would be exceptional for chartering.) However, the jewel of the accommodations level is certainly the master, which has a king-size berth, an en suite head, its own entertainment system, and giant windows that offer an impressive amount of natural light.

The 77’s exterior areas are just as well equipped as her interior for all your cruising wants and needs. The cockpit has an L-shaped settee that can seat eight for alfresco fun, while the foredeck sunpad makes sure guests do not lack for that unmistakable vacation glow.

A circular staircase leads up to the flying bridge, where a barbecue will be the center of attention, particularly if you should hook into some fresh mahi or tuna during your travels.

All these onboard delights should not lead one to believe that the 77 isn’t a serious cruising vessel as well, however. She’s well served by a cold-molded, hand-laid, laminated mahogany hull and has two highly capable, 900-horsepower MAN diesels thrumming away in the engine room. Vicem estimates her top speed at a brag-worthy 24 knots, while a 19-knot cruise is not too fast, not too slow, and just about right. What’s more, throttled down to 10 knots the 77 can run for 1,000 miles without needing to refuel. That’s some serious cruising, particularly for a boat as beautiful as this one. It just goes to show: You can’t judge a book by its cover, or a boat by her lines.