Yet the 120 is still a Broward and as such features elements that have long been valued by America buyers, most notably in regards to headroom, sound damping, and space utilization. For example, headroom in the saloon, where sound levels at cruise speed are reportedly 68 decibels (65 is the level of normal conversation), is an impressive 7’2″. Forward and down in the accommodation spaces, headroom is still in excess of seven feet, and sound levels are reportedly still less than 70 dB-A, thanks to Soundown acoustic insulation throughout the hull and insulated panels that separate each of the four staterooms.

Sightlines in the wood-accented pilothouse are good in all directions, and the traditional chart table to the right will surely come in handy.

Also noteworthy is the master suite, which is forward on the main deck, a trend that is popular in the American market because of its added privacy. The master on the 120 is, as you’d expect of a yacht in this size, full-beam, but instead of its TV hanging on a wall across from the bed, it disappears into a piece of furniture at the foot of the bed at the push of a button. And instead of a traditional door that leads into a his-and-her head with an exquisite Italian marble soaking tub, there are room-saving pocket doors. The result is a wide-open feel with spaces that flow into one another. However, since the 120 is semicustom, owners who prefer a more traditional arrangement can forgo the pocket doors in favor of conventional doors.

But the real gem of the 120 is, as her name implies, her wide body: Her beam is just shy of 24 feet. To maximize such breadth, Broward engineers designed much of the piping and wiring to run under the saloon, instead of outboard. In addition, the first 120 has no side decks, although a version with them is also available.

Utility was another big consideration. “I like the challenge of trying to figure out what people want. So we tried to think of how people would use their boat and went from there,” says Lewis. For example, the country kitchen responds to a growing demand from American owners for a more family-oriented, casual cooking and eating space. By placing the crew quarters forward—they’re also accessible via a hatch from the VIP so crewmembers can make up the staterooms without being seen—Broward designers were able to integrate a garage into the transom. And having a second laundry in the lazarette means crew won’t have to drag dirty, sandy beach towels and the like through the saloon down to the regular laundry in the foyer outside the guest quarters.

In addition to space planning, engineering, and selecting designers, Broward also focused on fun and relaxation. The sundeck is huge and has seating galore—it’s big enough for at least 20 guests. Sun worshippers will enjoy the three sun beds aft by the four-person Jacuzzi tub, and six other guests can have a good time savoring the fare the chef whips up on the grill at the C-shape bar with stools. The rest of the gang can relax on another U-shape area aft with seating for ten.

So all the elements of a fine vessel are here. But why should you buy a yacht from a guy who has no experience in boatbuilding? “You absolutely shouldn’t,” says Lewis, “you should buy a boat from the team I created to build these boats, who I believe are the best in the business.” Apparently other people agree. At the boat show the company had already sold four 120s and as of this writing is preparing to deliver a 155-foot trideck with a 28-foot beam.

For more information on Broward Marine, including contact information, click here.

Specifications

  • Boat Type: Megayacht (> 80′)
  • LOA: 120’0″
  • Draft: 6’3″
  • Beam: 24’0″
  • Fuel Capacity: 9,000 gal.
  • Water Capacity: 900 gal.
  • Construction: aluminum hull and superstructure
  • Classification: ABS; MCA certificate
  • Engines: 2/2
  • Gensets: 2/65-kW Kohlers
  • Watermakers: 2/1
  • Windlass: Steen
  • Air Conditioning: 12
  • Electronics: Simon monitoring system; Icom VHF; Furuno radar; Admiral chartplotter
  • Exterior Paint: Awlgrip
  • Interior Design: Genesis and builder
  • Naval Architecture: builder
  • Exterior Styling: Evan Marshall Designs
  • Builder: Broward Marine

This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.