Back to the Future
That trend doesn’t apply, as owners are focused on more luxury vessels. SB: You’ve designed all kinds of boats. Can you list and describe your most notable creations? TF: The most notable in terms of boating is for sure the 135-meter Axe Bow from 2012, and the IF60 Luxury Powerboat. The first craft happened to be also the biggest—it was in 2009 when the 170-meter Gigayacht Princess Renee emerged from my studio. SB: Your experience riding in the Magnum 50 is classic. Tell us more about it. TF: It’s a remarkable vessel, built by Magnum Marine in the Aventura area of Miami. It was powered by a double MTU V12 diesel producing around 1,250 hp, coupled to a DDC transmission system. In 2001, it was pretty much the biggest engine set you could fit in that hull. At that time, it was a real forerunner.
back in 2003), John Cosker of Mystic Powerboats and Stu Jones of the Florida Powerboat Club. SB: Your expertise is in designing superyachts. Are there any specific challenges that come with designing a powerboat? TF: Yes, there is—space. The challenge is in the layout, and how to combine luxurious and lightweight as it comes to terms of materials, textures and shapes. SB: Your IF60 is a very state-of-the-art luxury powerboat introduced a couple of years ago. It’s a twin-step vee with carbon fiber and lightweight construction. How did this boat come to be? How,
and to whom, is it being marketed? Are there any in the USA? How many have been built? Does it have an American dealer? How fast does it go, and with what power? What sets it apart from other powerboats? TF: The IF60 was designed to fill the gap between the “naked” powerboats and the [Italian yacht] Mangustas in the need to create something new that will not just be fast, but capable of a smooth ride and cozy overnights. It’s a design introduced two years ago marketed through our yacht brokers in the U.S. Emirates, as well as Europe. It is going to be made by Mystic Powerboats in Deland, FL. We have a European who wants to build four identical boats and use them in four different locations.
SB: Are there powerboats currently on the market, either from the U.S. or internationally, that inspire you or that you admire? TF: Nor-Tech is building superior hulls, but for sure Mystic Powerboats stands out. They’re a company that breaks its own records with an unbreakable hull and incredible knowhow. This is why I chose to build my IF60 Powerboat design with Mystic. SB: Do you travel to any boat shows? Who are your friends in the U.S. marine industry? TF: Due to my busy schedule, I choose to visit only two boat shows—the one in Monaco and then the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. I haven’t been to Miami for the last two years, but it will get back in our agenda soon. I do have a lot of friends in the U.S. marine industry. One would be my dear friend and mentor in the yachting industry, Capt. Mike Stocker, who is also the trial captain of Magnum Marine (also skipper on Ozlem 50
S P E E D B O A T | November 2014
Two more overhead renderings of the IF60. speedboat.com