ITALIAN YACHTING’S SPIRIT OF SPEED
From the revolutionary Mangusta 80 to the new displacement lines, Overmarine celebrates forty years of yacht building innovation. Its portfolio includes over 320 yachts, embodying a deep commitment to design and family vision that has interpreted – and often anticipated – the evolution of on-board lifestyle. From the audacious stylistics of Righini to Mancini’s dialogue between performance and volumes and the flowing, futuristic shapes by Lobanov, the Overmarine story is that of a yard combining beauty, technology and pioneering spirit
by Paola Bertelli - ph. courtesy by Overmarine
A group photo of the of the Overmarine team, a seasoned group of people who during forty years of activity have made possible the delivery of over 320 Mangusta yachts, authentic ambassadors of Italian luxury throughout the world
Overmarine is a visionary shipyard with an audacious approach. It has designed and given shape to speed on the water. Founded by Giuseppe Balducci in Viareggio in 1985 – the year the very first Mangusta yacht, the Mangusta 65, was built - it has revolutionised the open motoryacht concept with its iconic Mangusta craft and their daring, dynamic lines. Not simply superfast maritime transport craft, they are genuine design objects that can anticipate and redefine on-board trends and lifestyles.
The Mangusta 80 of 1991 by Stefano Righini was the manifesto of this philosophy – lines as taut as a blade, speeds of over 40 knots and surprisingly generous interiors. A declaration of intent that opened the way to a generation of Maxi Opens destined to become icons. It remained in production until 2018, with 75 units delivered – a testament to its enduring success and appeal. In forty years of activity and with over 320 yachts delivered, including twenty
built in metal, Overmarine has evolved successfully while remaining true to its identity. This family business is now led with great passion by Giuseppe Balducci’s son and daughter, Maurizio and Katia Balducci, with the third generation already active within the company. They are backed by a tightlyknit team of technicians, designers and artisans who push the boundaries of engineering and lifestyle. The brand’s success is built on a constant dialogue between designers, builders and owners. In the words of group CEO Maurizio Balducci, “Happy owners are our best advertisement”, a philosophy that is reflected in the work of a seasoned, talented team that has decades of experience in giving shape to exciting new yachts.
After Mangusta 80, Stefano Righini continued shaping the evolution of the range. Yachts became bigger, windows have enlarged, skylights, sunpads and forward lounges appeared, the aft swim platforms began to assume greater
Overmarine was founded by Giuseppe Balducci (above) in 1985. The group operates ten production sites at Viareggio, Massa and Pisa (above) recently expanded
importance and the sun deck became well-integrated in the athletic profile. The result was the Mangusta 92, 108 and 130 up to the 165 Open, an extraordinary 50-metre yacht with striking dimensions (at the time it was the largest open on the market), not to mention the Mangusta 105, the first Mangusta model equipped with waterjets and a turbine.
When talking about the Mangusta Opens, the discussion is about large, composite-built craft equipped with hydrojet propulsion and featuring structural qualities that enable the yacht to achieve high speeds in total safety and maximum comfort. The technical expertise is drawn from the synergy with Effebi, a group company that specialises in the production of composite military craft and offers know-how that makes every Mangusta a distillation of robustness and performance.
For about a decade Overmarine has been widening its horizons by broadening
its offer. Innovation has evolved alongside design and its yachts have become expressions of the tastes and wishes of a range of owners. And no longer just Maxi Opens. Stefano Arlunno, president of Mangusta Americas, says, “Overmarine has succeeded in introducing Mangusta’s sporting essence into a world where the idea of luxury has gained more importance, embracing a new way of experiencing the sea linked to lifestyle, shared time and the beauty of slow, aware exploration”.
This was the basis for the development of the Oceano displacement line – the first Overmarine build with a metal hull and superstructure – that introduced the concept of the sophisticated yacht. It was a courageous decision by a yard whose history is based on speed and composite construction.
Alberto Mancini created his first model, the Mangusta Oceano 42, with an emphasis on space, liveability, emotion and elegance. Glass plays a significant
Overmarine is currently building 26 yachts between 32 and 54 metres in length. Every stage, from design to fitting out, are handled in-house. The Overmarine designers support the client in creating the bespoke interiors and exteriors
Above: the Mangusta 80 (left), a symbol of speed and comfort; right, the Mangusta Oceano 44, an expression of the brand’s displacement models
role on board. Mancini is also the name behind the new GranSport line, a link between the Maxi Opens and the more relaxed spirit of the Mangusta Oceano yachts. “The style of this range”, says Arlunno, “is a fascinating dialogue between Righini’s soft, sensual curves and the taut, contemporary geometries Mancini introduced in the Mangusta Oceano line”. Here, the key concept is equilibrium – large interior volumes designed for modern, cosmopolitan owners combine with sparkling performance and a design that doesn’t compromise on athleticism. After the launch of the first Mangusta GranSport 54 – a majestic fast displacement yacht with audacious curves and sculpted surfaces – it left on world tour that will last three years. In both lines large window areas, spectacular skylights and an infinity pool on the foredeck redefine the concept of connecting with the marine
environment. It is Igor Lobanov, though, who has been given the challenge of revamping the Open line, renamed Open REV. A delicate task, a play of innovation and new trends, without ever compromising on the distinctive stylistic cues that have made these yachts so iconic. This tension between the brand’s future and its roots is what makes Overmarine so exceptional. The Open REV yachts reflect a change of stylistic direction - while retaining Righini’s legacy, they look decisively to the new scenarios, with futuristic hints and forms inspired by nature. Their lines recall space craft, with soft, essential, unbroken curves that are, however, always guided by a functional logic. An aesthetic suspended in time, one that can both amaze and seduce. “You can’t approve the design of a new ship if it doesn’t have attractive external lines”, says Maurizio Balducci.In developing the Mangusta 165
Top, left, Maurizio and Katia Balducci, now at the helm of the group founded by their father Giuseppe. Top, right, the Mangusta Oceano 42, Overmarine’s first displacement model. To side, moving the yachts and engine installation
The
REV, one radical design choice was to concentrate all the 499 GT volume on two decks – an unconventional configuration for a sports yacht, but it has enabled the yard to create spaces that are more generous and comfortable than ever without losing out on speed – the Mangusta 165 REV can reach 35 knots with ease. As Arlunno says, “The numbers say it loud and clear – four yachts sold since the launch in 2022, confirming that if you design ample spaces, operational efficiency and an authentic spirit the sports yacht remains an iconic choice for anyone seeking uniqueness and prestige. This success is echoed by the “little sister”, the Mangusta 104 REV, which has rapidly conquered the market with ten units sold in just a few years”. Mangusta is also looking to the future in terms of sustainability. All its yachts are compatible with ecological HVO fuels, and over the past ten years the
optimisation of propulsion systems, hull development and reductions in weight have led to fuel savings of 30% at cruising speed.
Today, the Overmarine group employs over 160 people directly, and collaborates with around 600 external professionals. Production facilities cover a total area of 210,000 square metres in Viareggio, Massa and Pisa, where a recent extension has doubled the amount of space dedicated to production. There are currently 26 craft being built, varying between 32 and 54 metres in length. With over 320 yachts built, a solid international presence and an identity that is deeply rooted in Italian flair and expertise, Overmarine celebrates its first forty years with a vision that continues to trace new routes, because every Mangusta isn’t just a yacht, it is a precise idea of how to experience the sea. www.mangustayachts.com
brand icon, the Mangusta 165 (bottom), has remained in production for around twenty years. The year 2022 saw the launch of its reinterpretation, the Mangusta 165 REV (below left). Below right, the Mangusta GranSport 54, flagship of the GranSport line