CL Yachts' brand new CLX96, is a Hummer for the sea. Elliott Maurice jumped on board during her global debut at the 2022 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show
Claimed to be the world’s first SAV, short for Sea Activity Vehicle, this rugged 96-footer is described by its builder, Hong Kong-based CL Yachts, as “not just another pretty boat”.
This Rambo-esque CLX96 is the new flagship of Cheoy Lee-owned CL, and comes from the drawing board of Milan-based industrial designer Jozeph Forakis, who did both the exterior and interior.
Love it, or hate it, it certainly has presence. With that polarizing plumb bow, reverse-angle deckhouse and matching pilothouse-cum-skylounge perched on top, it earns CL’s description of the yacht being “workboat chic”.
And it comes with no shortage of cool, innovative thinking with Forakis placing a huge focus on creating expansive entertaining and tanning zones.
Up on the foredeck there’s a vast, full-beam circular space with big, curvy sofas flanked by sizable sunpads. In front of that funky pilothouse, he’s put a new spin on the traditional Portuguese bridge with a huge space for loungers.
Article continues below…
Pearl 95 yacht tour: Inside the British yard’s first proper superyacht
Azimut Grande S10 yacht tour: This Italian stallion is truly out of the ordinary
Behind the pilothouse there’s an equally-expansive deck with sofas, loungers and an outdoor kitchen. There’s more socializing space behind the main saloon, while the stern beach club deck looks big enough to land a Sikorsky. CL Yachts calls the CLX96 an explorer, but we think it’s also the perfect party boat.
One other twist is the completely open-plan, big-windowed saloon, with the galley forward and more oversized sofas up front in place of a helm station. Entertaining is definitely the yacht’s priority here.
Powering the composite-hulled CLX96 is a pair of muscular Cat C32s that can punch this all-new hull to a feisty top speed of 24-to-25 knots at full load, with 22-knot cruising.
CL Yachts CLX96 specification
LOA: 96ft 9ins (29.50m)
Beam: 24ft (7.32m)
Engines: 2 x Caterpillar C32
Top speed: 25 knots
Starting price: $9.5m
