MICHAEL RYBOVICH & SONS 94

Leave no amigo behind

Whenever I begin a boat review, it’s typically the first time I’ve ever stepped foot on the boat. However, I’ve watched this 94-footer transform from a literal pile of lumber into one of the finest examples of craftsmanship displayed in boatbuilding today. The last time I saw her was this past spring, and my anticipation grew as I pulled into the Michael Rybovich & Sons yard in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. My entire focus was on the much-anticipated III Amigos, wondering how she called the south barn home for almost three years. And then, I stepped on. I felt like a kid on Christmas Day.

I was happy to see Michael at the helm with his son— and naval architect—Dusty by his side. We immediately pulled off the dock, chatting about the boat’s future travel plans. The enclosed bridge was library-quiet. Fascinated, I quickly downloaded a decibel-meter app on my phone: 62 dB, same as a typical business office.

TOWER AND BRIDGE

The satin-finished tower structure by Bausch Towers provides a fully equipped platform with everything needed to run the boat from the top. Dual Seatronx 19-inch multifunctional touchscreens and enginedata displays, bow thruster and autopilot controls, and an omnidirectional sonar remote are just a few of the items you’ll find in the generous tower pod. Teaser reels and controls for the hydraulic outriggers are close at hand as well. As you descend the tower, you’ll quickly notice the amount of electronics firepower this yacht possesses: powerful 25 kW

X- and 30 kW S-band Furuno radars, a Furuno solid-state dome radar for when the larger radars prove to be too much, as well as a KVH VSAT dome for satellite internet.

Outside on the enclosedbridge deck, an aft-facing lounge allows you to watch all the action unfold in the cockpit below. The curiously wide armrest accommodates a third pop-up navigation station, with an additional 19-inch Furuno NavNet3 touchscreen display, and a box above houses two additional teaser reels.

Only when entering the enclosed bridge do you get a feel for how large it really is. Easily the size of a standard sportboat salon, the L-shaped sofa, pop-up 55-inch television, half-galley and private head drive this point home. The sofa provides custom storage for rod-and-reel setups of every class, and a walk forward to the helm reveals a centered chair with elevated bench seating on either side. The console consists of four 24-inch Seatronx touchscreen displays that are networked via a Crestron NVX video-over-IP platform, providing the best of the best, including the Furuno Omni sonar and MTU joystick control and dynamic positioning. Intentionally missing from the bridge is a staircase to the salon, giving both areas clear separation and privacy; no need to worry about bridge chatter interrupting the game while you relax below.

DESIGN AND INTERIOR

The interior was designed by Patrick Knowles Designs of Fort Lauderdale and fabricated by Metrica of Germany. The finishes resemble what I’ve seen firsthand on superyacht leaders such as Feadship and Oceanco. The interior is bright and welcoming yet sophisticated and complex. A white U-shaped sofa with a navy-blue welt is located to starboard, directly across from a flush-mounted 75-inch TV that brings an element of home to the yacht. The navy Florida alligator bar stools and curvilinear bar top bring a real “wow” factor to the interior, and the galley will make any five-star chef feel right at home with a fullsize Sub-Zero refrigerator and Miele range and oven.

The cabinetry is a combination of limed oak and wenge veneer with elegant backlighting. Starboard of the galley, the dinette and salon are separated by a horizontallouvered wenge-wood wall that adds a feeling of privacy

to the space. The seating is done in diamond-quilted navy that was inspired by Ferrari to create a perfect contrast with the rest of the interior.

Forward of the galley is a huge audio-visual and electronics room where all the system controls can be found, and a brief glance at the wiring by Poseidon Marine Electronics will make any boating nerd blush— everything neat, perfectly organized and spaced. The uncontested attention to detail is a work of art in itself.

As you proceed down the companionway stairs, you’ll notice that the stateroom doors are a hefty 2¾ inches thick, nearly 1½ inches deeper than a standard household door. The full-beam master is located aft and features a king bed, with the nightstands sporting marble tops. The master head is spacious, with uber-impressive Azul Bahia granite flooring that is luxuriously heated.

A large VIP stateroom sits to port, and an additional double-twin guest stateroom is located in the companionway to starboard. Both of the guest heads employ Iranian Rosso Imperio marble flooring. Forward are two dual-bunk crew cabins, with private heads, that are appointed with teak finishes and plenty of storage.

COCKPIT

The 94’s cockpit is immense, with plenty of room for the unlimited-class Bluewater fighting chair and space for mates and anglers to move around freely. On either side of the chair, in-deck fittings are provided for the external livewells. A customengineered sea chest resides in the lazarette, and controls,

among other things, three Eskimo ice chippers. Rybovich affirms that in all manner of sea states and directions, they were unable to make the sea chest air-lock.

The mezzanine steps house a bait freezer, plumbed ice box, a massive livewell/ fish-box combination, and enough lead storage to keep you bottom- and swordfishing for months. The day head is cockpit-accessible, with a grand window allowing natural light to flood in and the beautiful white quartz countertop sparkle. The mezzanine seating was created to be comfortable and relaxing, complete with air conditioning coming from both the headrest and overhead vents; a large custom drink box resides in the armrest.

ENGINE ROOM AND PERFORMANCE

Slipping into the engine room, you immediately enter a pump room with twin 2,200-gallon-per-day Dometic SeaXchange-Spot Zero watermaker combos. The Seakeeper 30HD is located aft; and under the ladder, forward of the gyro, is custom storage for large electric reels and a mounted toolbox. Forward through a watertight door are two 2,600 hp MTU engines and twin 40 kW Kohler generators.

I was graced with an extended offshore sea trial in 2- to 3-foot seas and a moderate southeast wind. At a comfortable cruising speed of 30 knots, III Amigos turned 1,850 rpm at a 70 percent load and burned 152 gallons per hour. A more vigorous cruising speed at 2,150 rpm and 82 percent load produced 36 knots and burned 206 gph. Wide-open throttle tapped out at 41 knots at 2,450 rpm, burning 266 gph.

As the builder finished up the sea trial, I settled down with the crew, traded a few fish stories, and fired up Captain Ron on the Kaleidescape 4K movie server. You would never know you were traveling 30-plusknots offshore if you didn’t look out the side windows. And as we continued talking, I considered speaking up to ask if they were looking for a fourth amigo.