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Jimmy Buffett’s New Surfari 50 Sail Boat

From Boat US: “ Jimmy Buffett: A Pirate Looks at 71 ” by Mark Corke

‘Gulf-and-western’ musician, singer, songwriter, and author, Jimmy Buffet, has a new sailboat. Here’s a look inside the Ted Fontaine designed Drifter.

For boaters of a certain age, there’s a good chance they’ll have a few Jimmy Buffett songs on their playlists. And while you may know him for his songs about his laid-back lifestyle, this celebrity “Son of Son of a Sailor” has long been a “real boater.”

An experienced sailor, Buffett was seeking out his next boat when he ended up at the door of designer Ted Fontaine. The result of their meeting is the Surfari 50, a stylish yet understated, high-tech vessel, constructed by Pacific Seacraft in North Carolina.

Unlike cruising boats of old where the widest part of the boat was somewhere around the midpoint, the widest part of Drifter, as Buffett has named the vessel, is almost all the way aft. With the beam farther back toward the transom, the cockpit has the space of a much larger boat and is a perfect spot for entertaining. The unique single-level, open-cockpit layout features a fully functional galley equipped with a gas grill, two-burner cook top, two-drawer refrigerator, and an under-counter freezer. An oversized sink, a pullout trash can, and icemaker complete the exterior galley-up concept. A fold-down transom is an ideal place to jump off the boat for a swim or to launch water toys.

Down below you’ll find room for four bunks, some stowage, and a generous head. But this is a semicustom boat, so future versions are likely to feature different layouts, and the designer notes that “almost anything” is possible within the overall confines of the hull.

Our best estimate of the sailaway price : $2.8 million

2 thoughts on “ Jimmy Buffett’s New Surfari 50 Sail Boat ”

Hi why’s it gold plated

Someone has “ too much stuff “.

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Surfari 50-A Performance Tender

• By David Schmidt
• Updated: March 3, 2021

Ted Fontaine designed the Surfari 50 sport-utility tender to tackle rough waters en route to surf spots, secluded beaches or weekend getaways. The 52-foot, 11-inch boat’s hull, deck and superstructure are built using e-glass, low-viscosity resin and carbon-fiber reinforcements. Its space-saving, D-shaped sponson tubes are filled with air and foam, and its triple (or quadruple) 400 hp Mercury Verado outboards with joystick control reportedly deliver a cruising speed of 36 knots and a 50-knot top speed.

Whom It’s For: This boat is for adventurous yachtsmen who want to get to the action fast, and for racing teams that need to transfer manpower and materials quickly. Picture This: Tomorrow morning’s surf forecast looks great for New York’s Montauk Point Lighthouse, but you’re in New York City. No matter: The Friendship Surfari 50 Sport Boat’s deep-V hull, Seakeeper gyrostabilizer and air-conditioned helm will get you there comfortably for dinnertime lobster tacos at South Edison. Later, the boat’s accommodations space will help to ensure that you’re well-rested for the next day’s lineup of activities.

Take the next step: friendshipyachtcompany.com

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SURFARI 50 Sport Boat

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The SURFARI 50 features a fully enclosed, heated and air-conditioned helm station. This covered space provides full, all-weather comfort where one controls the triple or optional quad installed 400 HP Mercury Verado JPO outboard engines. The standard triple engine configuration reaches a top speed of 58 MPH and a cruising speed of 42 MPH. The engines are controlled by a Mercury Joystick control and Skyhook station allowing the ability to adjust direction or maintain a stationary position against the wind, waves or currents.

A Seakeeper active control gyrostabilizer system is installed to eliminate up to 95% of the roll at anchor or underway, thereby reducing fatigue and eliminating the normal causes of seasickness. There is a 7.5 kW Westerbeke MCGA low-C generator installed in the insulated machinery space to provide power to the Seakeeper and a 32,000 BTU air-conditioning system.

The hull and deck are engineered and built to meet ISO 9001 certification from Bureau Veritas, CE Mark Category B Ocean. The hull, deck, and superstructure are laminated with low viscosity epoxy resin with e-glass composite construction and carbon fiber reinforcements. The entire hull and deck structure are post-cured in a specially built oven at 180 degrees for 24 hours.

The SURFARI 50 is set up perfectly for coastal cruising. The interior features an open floor plan with a compact, well-appointed galley, a private head with a stall shower and convertible port side settee/berth. A pair of sliding doors in front of the galley makes it possible to close off the forward berth for privacy. There is an aft cabin with double berth located under the helm area providing a private space for invited overnight guests or extended family.

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Jimmy Buffett’s Surfari 50 Drifter

The Surfari 50 fits the bill

Ted Fontaine, of Fontaine Design Group, was working on a 58-foot concept yacht that might appeal to the Baby Boomer generation of sailors— the men and women who, as they eased into their “second life,” might be looking for some sort of hybrid between a sailing yacht and a powerboat, an all-around boat that is fast, sporty, comfortable and low-maintenance. Fontaine was introduced to singer/sailor Jimmy Buffett, who liked the concept but had his own ideas for the boat he would want. “Jimmy and I met and repurposed the boat to suit him,” says Fontaine. “He wanted something he could disappear on by himself and chill out. He wanted a boat he could sail on, fish off of, and carry his SUP fly-fishing board, surfboards and an outrigger paddle canoe.” The result is the Surfari 50, Hull #1, called Drifter , and customized for Buffett.

Designed to do it all, the Surfari 50 is a performance sailboat that can also motor along at a good clip like a true powerboat. As a sailboat designer who had worked with the renowned Ted Hood Sr. for many years, Fontaine has witnessed a lot of changes in the sailboat market. He says, “History will prove that many aging competitive yachtsmen have abandoned sailing altogether, selling their racing or cruising boats and moving on to midsize motor yachts.

“I tried to blend in the desirable features found on catamarans such as a large single-level floor plan with the powerboat feature of an open transom for easy water access,” he continues. The Surfari’s exterior styling has a low deck house that mitigates a boxy power boat look and a unique single-level indoor/outdoor floor plan with sufficient sun protection. The compact on-deck galley has a pull-out drawer-type refrigerator and an icemaker, sink and electric grill. There is easy access to the water via a large flip down swim platform, tailgate-style. Plenty of storage space for a host of water toys has been cleverly designed. The single-level living space makes for comfortable on-deck dining and entertaining. Below deck, there are multiple configuration possibilities for sleeping; one-, two- and three-cabin options.

Lightweight composite materials help make the boat as fast as possible. The mast and boom are carbon fiber and there is hydraulic and electric sail control for sheeting and furling the mainsail, thus rendering the boat easy to use singlehandedly. There is 360-degree visibility from the twin helm stations though a long single windscreen, sliding windows port and starboard and an optional sliding-glass companionway bulkhead. One has the option of a lifting bulb keel, making the draft either 5 ½ feet or 8 ½ feet, or a fixed draft of 6 feet, 5 inches. Either way, one can anchor in shallow anchorages.

DRIFTER Specs LOA: 48ft 9in. BEAM: 14ft.8 in. DRAFT: 6 ft. 5 in. DISPLACEMENT: 37, 798 lbs. BALLAST : 9,900 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY: 250 gal. WATER CAPACITY: 250 gal. ENGINE: 2X 80hp Yanmar JH diesels MAX CRUISE: Top speed under power: 10 knots

Visit fontainedesigngroup.com or friendshipyachtcompany.com for more info.

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Jimmy Buffett’s New Surfari 50 — Love it or Hate it?

The boat is definitely distinctive with a broad stern, (or a fat ass depending on one’s sense of aesthetics,) a wide-open cockpit, and salon which, as they are on the same level, are effectively one open space. Twin rudders, twin engines, a hydraulic lifting keel, a modernist pilothouse, and carbon fiber just about everything makes the boat a love it or hate it proposition. Or, to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, if this is the sort of boat that you like, you will like this boat.

One odd thing about the boat is that it has been variously reported in the media and on the web to be 42, 44, 48 and 50 feet long. The most current reports tend to say that Buffett’s boat, Hull #1 of the series, is 50′ long, so, no doubt the boat grew in the production process.

For more images of the boat click here .  And if you do want a boat like Jimmy’s, the Surfari 50 is expected to cost around $2.8 million US.

Surfari 48 from Onne van der Wal on Vimeo .

Jimmy Buffett’s New Surfari 50 — Love it or Hate it? — 1 Comment

I would rather have a Cat for stability and less need to alter sails for changing conditions. In particular a Privilege 585 Catamaran as the kitchen is in the hull. Giving it a spacious salon

Fontaine Designs New Surfari 50 Rigid Hull Hybrid RIB

Here’s a creative new boat that’s bound to turn some heads when it’s launched: The Surfari 50 Rigid Hull Hybrid Inflatable from the Friendship Yacht Company in Middletown, Rhode Island, an all-around coastal cruiser with an attitude.

Ted Fontaine, president of the Fontaine Design Group and Friendship, designed the boat for a client who had a Protector 41 but wanted a larger boat that would carry him to his favorite beaches and surfing spots on Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and the eastern end of Long Island. He wanted a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, multi-purpose exploration boat that he also could use for weekend cruising or as a support vessel for a professional racing program.

The resulting Surfari 50 is a fast, seaworthy, sport utility vessel with a finely-appointed interior that would make extended overnight cruises comfortable. The clean lines and low profile make the Surfari 50 look something like a combination of a patrol boat and a go-anywhere expedition cruiser.

Standard power comes from three 400-hp Mercury Verado outboards, which Fontaine says will hit a top of 58 mph and cruise at 42 mph. If that’s not fast enough, you can order the Surfari 50 with four 400-hp Verados. The boat comes with Mercury’s Joystick for easy handling and its Skyhook station, to keep you in place. It also has a Seakeeper gyrostabilizer and a 7.5kW Westerbeke genset. The helm station offers all-weather comfort, with air conditioning and heating.

The hull has an 18.5-degree deadrise aft. The boat’s hybrid foam-filled inflatable sponson tubes provide protection without reducing the interior volume. They are on a D-tube collar, integral with the hull and deck flange. The boat’s hull, deck and superstructure are laminated with epoxy resin and e-glass composite with carbon-fiber reinforcements.

The interior is set up with an open floor plan, a well-appointed galley, and a private head with a stall shower. A settee on the port side converts to a berth; that area can be closed off for privacy by sliding doors. And there’s an aft cabin under the helm with a double berth.

Specs.: LOA: 52’9”; Beam: 14’7”; Draft: 2’1”; Disp.: 29,500 lbs.; Fuel: 750 gals.; Water: 200 gals.; Power: 3×400-hp Mercury Verado outboards.

http://friendshipyachtcompany.com

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7 Reasons Why We Love the New Jimmy Buffett’s Surfari 50

• The Surfari 50 was designed to afford each owner to customize the interiors and exteriors
• Each arrangement offered maintains the unique single level open cockpit plan

Designer Ted Fontaine has produced a modern performance sailing yacht with as strong an emphasis on speed under sail as speed under power with the Surfari 50 . It is the boat Jimmy Buffett chooses as his new… Why do we love this boat? Keep reading…

The Surfari 50 is a boldly styled yacht in appearance, with powerful sheer line and a low-profile deckhouse. The Surfari 50 is designed with variables between 5.5’ and 8.5’ with the hydraulically operated lifting bulb keel or a fixed draft of only 6’-7” the yacht has been designed to allow access to secluded anchorages and coastal waterfront homes.

The Surfari 50 was specifically designed to afford each owner the option to fully customize the interior and exterior accommodations plans. Each arrangement offered maintains the unique single-level open cockpit plan that features a fully functional galley equipped with a gas grill, two-burner cook top, two drawer 12V refrigerator and an under-counter freezer.

The forward helm station will have navigational repeaters for the radar and chart plotter, engine controls for the twin engines, sail control panels and autopilot. The unique center console control station is ideally positioned to promote a social operating atmosphere.

The Surfari 50 is built utilizing the latest in lightweight “grand prix race boat” construction techniques utilizing infused epoxy/carbon fiber composite materials aimed towards decreasing construction weight and improving performance under power and sail.

360-degree visibility is achieved through the large side windows and full-width windshield, enhancing the “open-air” environment.

The Surfari 50 is a boldly styled yacht in appearance, with powerful sheer line and low-profile deckhouse.

The sail control systems developed for single-handed operation, perfected on the Friendship 40 and 53 will be utilized on the Surfari 50. Hydraulic and electric sail control systems for sheeting and furling the mainsail, self-tacking-genoa and bowsprit mounted code sails.

The single-level floor plan, from the swim platform through the entire length of the cockpit and on through the deck salon creates an incredible outdoor living space.

Photo credits Friendship Yacht Company / Onne Van Der Wal

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A high-performance auxiliary powered sailing yacht, it has as strong an emphasis on speed under sail as it does speed under power, which means…it goes places. And once it’s where it needs to be, it becomes a luxury indoor/outdoor living platform that allows its user to enjoy the destination as much as the journey.

Jimmy Buffett’s delightfully famous lifestyle, infused with copious amounts of “island escapism,” pairs perfectly with the personality of the Surfari 50. Buffett, is the proud owner of hull number one of the new Surfari 50 designed by naval architect Edward “Ted” Fontaine and built by Pacific Seacraft in North Carolina, anticipates that the new design’s more compact length and personally approved adaptations – including those for short-handed handling – will “simplify” his life on the water as he uses the yacht for a home away from home.

“It’s the perfect extension for living the life he enjoys, whether it’s in Sag Harbor for the summer or the Keys and the Caribbean in the winter,” said Fontaine about Buffett enjoying the Surfari 50’s most intriguing features. “A high performance auxiliary powered sailing yacht, it has as strong an emphasis on speed under sail as it does speed under power, which means…it goes places. And once it’s where it needs to be, it becomes a luxury indoor/outdoor living platform that allows its user to enjoy the destination as much as the journey.”

Fontaine, best known for the romantic classic lines of his Friendship sailboats (in models ranging from 36 -79 feet), is a waterman himself and explained that his love of paddle boarding, surfing and kayaking inspired the Surfari 50’s 39” high and 11 ½ foot wide “tailgate.” (The yacht’s   max beam is 14’ 63”.)  The tailgate lowers while the yacht is at rest and integrates with a single-level floor plan that extends from the swim platform through the entire length of the cockpit and on through the deck salon and steering station. “It creates a unique, clutter-free area for storing and launching all sorts of watersports equipment and water craft,” said Fontaine.

Fontaine added that 360 degree visibility from the interior helm station enhances the open-air environment. It is achieved by a large sliding glass companionway bulkhead, sliding side windows and full-width windshield. Electrically powered sail handling gear provides fingertip control of the fully battened mainsail (with Harken Battcar system), roller furling genoa and furling asymmetrical spinnaker, while all lines are led internally to the helm station. Lightweight “grand prix race boat” composite construction, a carbon fiber mast and boom, and twin 75 HP auxiliary engines are further features that differentiate the Surfari 50 from semi-custom and production yachts in the same size range.

“Buffett epitomizes the demographic that would get the most out of the Surfari 50,” said Fontaine, adding that target markets include experienced performance racing yacht owners who have exhausted their appetites for competition and the extensive demands of their campaigns. “Having honed their sailing skills to near-professional levels, these potential owners associate high performance with high technology. They want to go fast and get there in style, and now that they are approaching their retirement years their need for speed is being seasoned with a newly appreciated desire for comfort and versatility afloat.”

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Surfari 50 (2024) for sale in NC, United States, North Carolina, United States

£2,141,101 GBP Listed price $2,830,000 USD Get a foreign exchange quote

• Transport It

The Surfari 50, recently designed by renowned naval architect Edward "Ted" Fontaine and built by Pacific Seacraft in North Carolina, is a high performance auxiliary powered sailing yacht. Featuring a 14.81m length, 4.42m beam and 2023 manufacturing year, this yacht has plenty of advantages including short-handed handling, electrically powered sail handling gear, a carbon fiber mast and boom, and twin 75 HP auxiliary engines. Its unique "tailgate" feature creates a clutter-free area perfect for storing and launching watersports equipment and watercraft, while its single-level floor plan and steering station provide 360 degree visibility. This model will make the perfect extension for living the life of island escapism.

About this Surfari 50

Jimmy Buffett’s delightfully famous lifestyle, infused with copious amounts of “island escapism,” pairs perfectly with the personality of the Surfari 50. Buffett, is the proud owner of hull number one of the new Surfari 50 designed by naval architect Edward “Ted” Fontaine and built by Pacific Seacraft in North Carolina, anticipates that the new design’s more compact length and personally approved adaptations – including those for short-handed handling – will “simplify” his life on the water as he uses the yacht for a home away from home.

“It’s the perfect extension for living the life he enjoys, whether it’s in Sag Harbor for the summer or the Keys and the Caribbean in the winter,” said Fontaine about Buffett enjoying the Surfari 50’s most intriguing features. “A high performance auxiliary powered sailing yacht, it has as strong an emphasis on speed under sail as it does speed under power, which means…it goes places. And once it’s where it needs to be, it becomes a luxury indoor/outdoor living platform that allows its user to enjoy the destination as much as the journey.”

Fontaine, best known for the romantic classic lines of his Friendship sailboats (in models ranging from 36 -79 feet), is a waterman himself and explained that his love of paddle boarding, surfing and kayaking inspired the Surfari 50’s 39” high and 11 ½ foot wide “tailgate.” (The yacht’s max beam is 14’ 63”.) The tailgate lowers while the yacht is at rest and integrates with a single-level floor plan that extends from the swim platform through the entire length of the cockpit and on through the deck salon and steering station. “It creates a unique, clutter-free area for storing and launching all sorts of watersports equipment and water craft,” said Fontaine.

Fontaine added that 360 degree visibility from the interior helm station enhances the open-air environment. It is achieved by a large sliding glass companionway bulkhead, sliding side windows and full-width windshield. Electrically powered sail handling gear provides fingertip control of the fully battened mainsail (with Harken Battcar system), roller furling genoa and furling asymmetrical spinnaker, while all lines are led internally to the helm station. Lightweight “grand prix race boat” composite construction, a carbon fiber mast and boom, and twin 75 HP auxiliary engines are further features that differentiate the Surfari 50 from semi-custom and production yachts in the same size range.

“Buffett epitomizes the demographic that would get the most out of the Surfari 50,” said Fontaine, adding that target markets include experienced performance racing yacht owners who have exhausted their appetites for competition and the extensive demands of their campaigns. “Having honed their sailing skills to near-professional levels, these potential owners associate high performance with high technology. They want to go fast and get there in style, and now that they are approaching their retirement years their need for speed is being seasoned with a newly appreciated desire for comfort and versatility afloat.”

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