GT style

Rock-solid

Palm Beach boats are built by hand, with the hulls vacuum-infused with vinylester resin, a bonded-in stringer system for strength, and closed-cell foam coring above the waterline. Decks and superstructures use high-tech materials like carbon fibre to keep weight down.

They are designed to be light and fast, and I was about to find out if the Palm Beach GT60 really is as swift and nimble as she looks at first glance.

Sitting comfortably on the centre island bench helm seat atop hand-sewn, quilted diamond stitching, I cranked up the optional twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13-IPS1350s. The boat accelerated smoothly and easily with no noticeable hump.

The semi-displacement warped hull has a narrow entry that gently curves and flattens aft to create less resistance. This makes the boat rise steadily on to plane, cutting through the water without unnecessary pushing. 

We rocket forward rapidly, but aside from the scenery gliding by at an increasing pace, you can’t tell. The boat feels rock-solid, gently slicing through the light chop. We soon exceed 40 knots, but without looking at the gauges, you wouldn’t know it. As another boat passes, I angle instinctively to cross their wake. The GT60 cuts the wake without a jolt or a shudder; it’s like it’s not even there.

Throttling back to 2,050 rpm, I take some high-speed turns at 35 knots. The boat gently leans into the turns, maintaining speed and carving precise circles. Mark and I have been on many boats together over the years, and he knows just how much fun I am having.

“What do you think, mate – pretty sweet?”

Fast and fun

All Palm Beach boats are fast, but the high-end performance is exceptional in the GT60. Running the boat through her paces, we hit a top speed of over 42 knots, which is faster than most need to go on a 19-metre boat that displaces 21.5 tonnes, but it sure is fun!

At, dare I say, a more reasonable speed of 36 knots, I calculated a considerable range of 366 nautical miles. Cruising at 1,630 rpm and going a very respectable cruise speed of 25 knots, the GT60 burns 128 litres per hour and has a range of 559 nautical miles. The numbers show that not only is this an enjoyable and fast day boat, she is also a serious cruiser.

One of the most remarkable things is that the boat handles superbly at all speeds and rides comfortably even when going fast. And while these performance numbers are based on the optional IPS1350s, many people won’t need that extra power.

Mark also clarified that the Aussie boat will have the standard engines and that he expected a slightly lower top speed but not a lot of difference in range, especially at cruising speeds.

Sunny space

There is great visibility from the helm through a large, single windshield. Controls are all within easy reach of the wheel and twin Garmin 8617 Multi-Function Displays access all navigation, radar, sounder, autopilot and engine data at the touch of a button. A large overhead sunroof and opening side windows bring in fresh air, and a separate forward-facing seat adjacent to the helm seat gives passengers an excellent view while under way.

The saloon has lounge seating with a table and flat-screen TV on a lift. Conveniently located a few steps down from the helm, the galley is equipped with stainless-steel sink, multiple fridges, Westinghouse induction cooktop and Miele convection oven/microwave. A washer-dryer combo is concealed under the galley stairs and storage is plentiful.

The GT60 has great spaces for gathering, entertaining and cruising. There’s a sun pad on the bow and comfy cockpit seating, and the teak cockpit table electrically lowers, converting to a sun bed.

Additional cockpit features include a wet bar with beer fridge, a WeatherMax awning and pop-up lights in the gunnels.

The entire aft section of the cockpit rises to reveal a tender garage complete with 3.1-metre Sirocco Alloy RIB with a 20 hp Yamaha. The tender slides out on a rail system accessed from the carbon-fibre duckboard that lowers with an Opacmare transformer system.

Black beauty

Nearing the dock, I really didn’t want to get off the boat, instead wishing I had time to head up the coast. Sensing I wanted more, Mark told me I should come to Australia to see the second boat: “She’s going to be a beauty – no deck railings and with the black and silver colouring, she’s a real looker.

“I’ll put you in touch with the owner and he can tell you more,” he said before we parted ways.

And he did. When I got back from the show, I was contacted by Marcus Blackmore, the owner of the second GT60 Ammonite, which was nearing delivery in Australia.

Now on his fourth Palm Beach, Blackmore admits he has had a bit of experience with the brand: “One of the amazing things about Palm Beaches is that they hold their value,” he enthused.

“Mark is serious about the way he builds them. He uses good quality materials, so they last better, and that makes them worth more. They are also fairly simple, which makes them easy to run and to maintain.”

As to why he chose the GT60, Marcus says: “I wanted the newest boat in the line, of course, and I really like the look. Built more for the European market with a modern style, it’s unique.

“My wife Caroline and I also wanted a little more space than we had on the PB50.” He explains, “The two separate double cabins with their own ensuites works for us, especially when we have guests.

“All the Palm Beaches I have owned are good sea boats. Mark is a shipwright and uses technology from years of experience with racing yachts to build them stiffer, stronger and lighter. With the engines in the middle and carbon-fibre shafts, they are well balanced, and the wake is flatter, so they are comfortable even offshore.”

When asked about any options or customisation on his new GT60, he said he worked with the yard to get the styling just right but notes, “My wife wasn’t sure about the contemporary look, so I made a deal with her.

“We were building a new house at the time and I said, ‘You can do whatever you want with the house as long as I can do whatever I want with the boat.’”

She agreed, and they shook hands on it. “Now,” says Marcus, “I have the boat the way I want it, a boat shed, an office and a man cave, and the rest is hers. It suits both of us!

“Plus,” he admits, “I know full well she has great taste and the house will be fantastic anyway; I had nothing to lose.”

Complete faith

When asked about the standard engines he chose versus the larger optional engines, Marcus says, “Mark tells me my boat hit 36 knots at sea trial and that’s plenty fast. We’ll keep the boat in Pittwater, and if we cruise outside down to Sydney Harbour for the day or take her north to Hamilton Island, we typically cruise around 22 knots, so it’s fine.”

Before we got off the phone, Marcus explained another reason why he bought another new Palm Beach: “The boats are great, but really, it comes down to customer service.

“I have known Mark Richards since he was a young guy and I trust him implicitly; he is completely focused on his customers.

“All boats have things go wrong with them, but Mark’s passion and dedication to perfection means he builds the boats right in the first place – he then goes above and beyond to keep them right.”

Marcus can’t wait to get on his newest Palm Beach, the GT60 – and I am hoping one day I’ll get on board too.

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