From the first time businessman Arthur M. Blank saw his boat, with its Espen Øino exterior still in pink fairing compound in the outfitting facility at Oceanco, he knew it would be just right for him.
“He was drawn to the combination of Espen’s timeless exterior, Terence Disdale’s elegant, calm interior, and Oceanco’s ability to deliver the boat on time and to the quality he required,” says Dan Jackson, Blank’s representative on the project. “So, after some minor enhancements made to suit him and his family, we got right into it and, 18 months later, DreAMBoat was delivered.”
While Øino and Disdale have been prominent and prolific on the superyacht scene for many years, Oceanco provided the two old friends with the opportunity to collaborate on the 295-foot (90-meter) project. And it was a sizable project, with more than 10,764 square feet (1,000 square meters) of exterior space.
Blank, the co-founder of The Home Depot who had been considering building a custom yacht for a few years, became the boat’s owner after construction started. He wanted a yacht that would accommodate his adult children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. DreAMBoat can comfortably welcome 23 guests and 33 crew.
On the main deck lives one of the yacht’s two touch-and-go helipads. Aft is a 20-foot (6-meter) swimming pool flanked by sunpads and umbrellas. Forward of the pool and under the upper deck overhang are settees and a dining table for eight to 12 people. Additional seating areas are along the side decks. The main deck has direct access to the beach area via port and starboard staircases. The exterior main deck is outfitted with a removable diving board, and the vessel’s AV/IT system provides continuous livestream TV throughout the vessel.
Inside the salon are two separate lounge areas. Formal dining is forward, with a black lacquered table and a hammered nickel centerpiece. Seating expands for as many as 14 guests. There are two mother-of-pearl side consoles, and a television is hidden in a lacquered cabinet with a custom artwork panel by London-based DKT Artworks.
“Following our ethos of beach house, not penthouse, the palette of finishes on board DreAMBoat include many natural, interesting surfaces,” Disdale says, “but also a lot of material resulting from the use of state-of-the-art technology and the highest level of craftmanship, which allowed us to create a relaxed and yet comfortable and timeless interior.”
Four guest staterooms and two VIPs are forward on the main deck. Several have extra beds or sofa beds for overflow guests and children.
The upper deck is home to the largest salon on board. A circular sofa is configured for conversation and cinema watching. The leather inlaid ottomans double as coffee tables. Wall panels are carved oak and rattan.
Sixteen guests can gather at a round, lacquered table here, with a built-in lazy Susan. The dining area is flanked by blue tigereye maple cabinets adorned with gold dust and blue leather. The space also has a ribbed, sponge-lacquered bar. The dining area walls are paneled in oak and leather. The sliding entrance door has parchment checkerboard, while the exterior curved sliding door can open entirely to provide partial alfresco dining.
Forward of the central staircase is the owner’s area, which includes the master stateroom, two staff or children’s cabins, and his-and-her dressing areas and bathrooms. The dressing rooms are clad in high-gloss lacquer with ribbed palm-wood closets. Her dressing room has a makeup table in brown lacquered parchment. The walls are leather and palm wood with mirrors on the doors. The stateroom has balconies, outdoor seating and a private Jacuzzi with a custom-built hydro jet/massage unit.
On the bridge deck are the wheelhouse, ship’s office and captain’s quarters. Abaft the wheelhouse is a corridor leading to a spa that includes a sauna, steam room, massage room and beauty salon. The corridor that runs the length of the spa has hemp leather panels and a cut limestone sole. The ceiling in the salon has a reflective Swarovski surface, while the sole is a bronze stone. As is required on yachts with DreAMBoat’s classification, the massage room can convert into a hospital space if needed.
The gym is also on this deck, with recessed treadmills and a Life Fitness system connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi. The bikes from the gym can also be brought to the outside deck.
The sundeck, Blank says, is the yacht’s most popular space. Nearly 100 feet (30 meters) long, it covers 2,691 square feet (250 square meters). The Jacuzzi with adjacent sun loungers can accommodate eight people. A touch-and-go heli-landing area can be configured for a disco party. Guests can relax in a number of places, including a glass-enclosed informal lounge that has convertible tables and a pop-up television.
The sundeck’s Jacuzzi and bar area are forward and can be separated from the aft lounging space. Kids can be playing loudly in the whirlpool while adults read and nap on the loungers aft. The aft deck also converts to an outdoor cinema with a 12-foot screen—ideal for watching movies and sports.
DreAMBoat lives up to her name and intended purpose. She has proved a worthy vehicle for Blank to realize his dream of a haven for family time on the water.
