Fun and (Mine) Games

Given how polished these computer-generated illustrations look, the owner of Mine Games will probably be floored when he sees the finished product.

Currently in build at Trinity Yachts, the 164-footer features the interior handiwork of Patrick Knowles Designs. There will be a multitude of architectural details, such as hand-forged black iron railings, intricate marble inlays, and hand-painted murals and overheads. Cherry, maple burl, and bubinga woods will provide a dramatic backdrop for the combo bar-saloon (top image) and split-level master suite as well as the rest of the yacht, which will also accommodate 11 guests and ten crew.

Exterior areas aren't left out of the equation: Furniture will range from teak to woven materials with a deep Java chocolate finish.

Maybe it's because I'm posting this at lunchtime, but that sounds good enough to eat.

Customer Service Awards

I don’t think I’ll be taking a particularly controversial stance by asserting that customer service is a big, big deal. No matter how great the product, if you’re dealing with lousy service, your buying experience is bound to be a painful one. That's particularly true when it comes to buying a boat or an engine—shoddy service can lead to a lot of hair pulling.

On the flip side, great service is, well, really great. Today, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) announced their 2007 Marine Industry CSI (Customer Service Index) award winners. The CSI awards recognize boatbuilders and engine manufacturers that maintained a customer satisfaction rating of 90 percent or higher in 2006-2007. This year, 64 boatbuilders and manufacturers were acknowledged and we salute them. Keeping customers happy isn’t always easy, but it sure is important.

Here are just a few of the big winners (see the 2007 CSI Award Recipients for a complete list).

Albemarle Boats
(Inboard Fishing Express Boats)

Carver Yachts
(Inboard Motor Yachts & Trawlers)

Grady-White Boats Inc.
(Fiberglass Outboard Boats)

Honda Marine
(Outboard Engines)

Regal Marine
(Sterndrive Cuddy Express Boats)

Fourth of July on a Boat

With so many different ways to celebrate the Fourth of July, how do you choose? If you're one of the 73 million boaters in the U.S., you'll probably want to watch the fireworks from your own aft deck. Here are a few cruising spots where you can get a front-row view of the festivities, courtesy of Discover Boating:

Austin, Texas: Rent a kayak or bring your own boat and enjoy beautiful symphony music while you watch the fireworks display on Austin's Town Lake. (July 4, 9:30 p.m., Zilker Park)

Chicago, Illinois.: From Lake Michigan you can see Chicago's skyline illuminated with background accompaniment by the Grant Park Orchestra and U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants. (July 4, 9 p.m., Grant Park)

Los Angeles, California: Head over to Marina Del Ray for free family fun and an exciting fireworks display. (July 4, 9 p.m., Marina Del Ray)

Memphis, Tennesse: The Beale Street Fourth of July celebration offers great food, live music, and, of course, a grand finale of fireworks over Tom Lee Park. (July 4, 9 p.m., Tom Lee Park)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Milwaukee's annual Summerfest returns to defend its title of Discover Boating’s "2006 Top City to Watch Fourth of July Fireworks from a Boat." Cruise out on Lake Michigan for the best view of the U.S. Bank fireworks show. (July 3, 9:30 p.m., Veterans Park)

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Broadway at the Beach has everything you need for a fabulous Fourth of July celebration. Check out the entertainment megaplex, featuring shops, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, a miniature golf course, Ripley's Aquarium, and a 23-acre lake. (July 4, 10 p.m., Broadway at the Beach over Lake Broadway)

New York, New York: Prepare to be dazzled by Macy's half-hour celebration featuring more than 35,000 pyrotechnic shells. It's the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display in the nation. The best view is from the East River. (July 4, 9 p.m., East River between 23rd & 42nd Streets)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.: July 4 isn't just about music, fun, and fireworks in the city of our nation's birth, it's also about history, which you can honor by visiting the Liberty Bell and Independence Mall before cruising the Delaware River to witness a roaring fireworks display. (July 4, 8:30 p.m., along the Delaware River)

These are fun ideas, but I'm sure you have a few of your own. How do you plan to celebrate, and what is your idea of the perfect Independence Day bash? Do you have a traditional way of spending the the Fourth of July, or memories of past celebrations that stand out? Please share with us!

Reefrunner 70

Outer Reef Yachts, a company noted for its line of large passagemaking vessels, is launching a new line of fast deep-V motoryachts. The Reefrunner series will offer vessels ranging in size from 55 to 80 feet LOA. The first Reefrunner to launch will be the 70-footer you see here. This vessel can be built as a sedan or in a flying-bridge configuration offering three or four staterooms. With standard 1,550-hp Caterpillar diesels, the Reefrunner 70 should be able to hit a 35-knot cruise speed and top out in the 40-knot range.

The World Marinas

If you were a marina, where would you be? Of course, you wouldn’t be just any marina; you’d be top-notch: the George Clooney or Julia Roberts of marinas, and you’d want the best spot the world had to offer.

In that case, The World, the group of islands off the coast of Dubai, is the place to be. And they’re getting exceptional marinas under the management of Island Global Yachting (IGY), a leading developer of luxury marina facilities and the exclusive provider of design, development, and management services for Nakheel, the property development firm that created The World.

The partnership will entail 40,000 new marina slips in Nakheel’s $30-billion waterfront development, which will “establish Dubai as a global yachting destination and facilitate the growth of the marina industry in the Middle East,” says Andrew L. Farkas, founder and CEO of Island Capital Group, an affiliate of IGY. Not a bad move on IGY’s part, considering Nakheel’s project is establishing itself as the star destination for business and luxury tourism.

So now the question is, if you were an IGY marina, in which “country” of The World would you be located?