When the Custom Line range, now part of the Ferretti Group, was introduced almost 25 years ago, it quickly became a favorite among owners looking for tailor-made, fiberglass yachts over 100 feet. Fast forward to this year, when 19 launches are scheduled across a five-strong fleet of planing yachts and semi-displacement navettas, not including the first Custom Line 140 due to hit the water next year.

The original series was designed by Zuccon International Project, but more recently the designer Francesco Paszkowski was tasked with refreshing the planing series in collaboration with Ferretti Group’s Product Strategy Committee.

“We were entrusted with both the exteriors and interiors, starting with the Custom Line 120 before moving on to the 106 and 140,” the Florentine designer says. “When we were called in, we felt honored and accepted without thinking, but we were also aware from the start that it would be a delicate undertaking because of the success of Custom Line.”

The new-look Custom Line 106 with a raised pilothouse personifies the brand while highlighting the evolution between the old and new generation. With her low-slung superstructure and imposing bow, the yacht shares the athletic profile and powerful presence of the 120—and the same spirited performance. The 106 is capable of 23 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots, with standard 2,217-horsepower MTU 16V 2000 M86 engines. (Optional 2,638-horsepower units take her to 26 and 22 knots, respectively.) Based on my time aboard, I can say that even at high speed in oncoming waves, the hull tracks as if it’s on rails with little or no heeling.

Determined efforts were made to break down the architectural boundaries between the exterior and interior with sole-to-ceiling glass doors and windows, as well as cutaway bulwarks for uninterrupted sea views from the main salon. Perhaps the highlight of these efforts—and an unusual feature on a yacht of this size—is the private balcony that folds out from the hull in the owner’s stateroom on the main deck forward.

Up top, there is 570 square feet (52.9 square meters) of flybridge with a lounging area, but there’s also a “sunset lounge,” as the Ferretti Group calls it, on the open foredeck that covers nearly 390 square feet (36.2 square meters) and includes two sun beds. The latter open-air space is cleverly shielded from view on a slightly lower level than the hull bulwarks, so as not to interrupt the sleek sheerlines when the yacht is viewed in profile.

Another standout feature is the latest version of Ferretti’s Dual Mode Transom system, consisting of two hatches that cleanly cover the stern staircases when underway. At anchor, the hatches slide out of sight into the transom door that folds down to extend the swim platform and reveal the tender garage, with space for a Williams Dieseljet 505 and a three-seat personal watercraft.

The interior layout follows convention with four ensuite staterooms on the lower deck (two VIPs, and two twins with optional Pullmans). There are quarters for five crew with a separate captain’s cabin, and a crew mess doubles as a laundry. A spacious galley on the main deck links directly to the dining area via a pantry. Thoughtful stowage throughout the yacht includes cupboards for linens, a luggage hold, and an outside garbage unit. Crew circulation is kept separate from the guest areas.

Francesco Paszkowski Design, working in collaboration with interior designer Margherita Casprini, is noted for its tastefully sophisticated interiors. The Custom Line 106 more than lives up to expectations, helped no doubt by the fact that the designers had over 2,360 square feet (219 square meters) of floor space to play with.

“The brief was for a welcoming and stylish interior, which, in line with the leitmotif of the entire project, eliminates the boundaries between the inside and outside,” Paszkowski says. “In terms of aesthetics and functionality, the décor and layout are very much inspired by residential design for an elegant, home-away-from-home feeling.”

Flamed and sandblasted oak are used for the soles, with polished ebony for the wall furniture. These contrasting woods and finishes are balanced with bronze travertine in the bathrooms and transparent glass for the closet doors. Combinations of natural color tones range from cream for the soft furnishings in the salon and clay-colored leather headboards in the master stateroom to light gray ceilings in the dining room and brushed bronzed tops for the coffee tables.

Most of the freestanding furniture is by Italian designer brands such as Minotti, Flexform, Casamilano and Longhi. Custom pieces include a lazy Susan dining table with a bronze-backed, painted-glass top, and ebony bedside tables in the master stateroom.

Apart from choosing the interior materials, finishes, furniture and fittings, the owner of the first Custom Line 106 further personalized his yacht with some striking works of contemporary sculpture. Colombian artist Fernando Botero’s Ballerini (“The Dancers”) is displayed in a polished ebony niche in the main deck lobby, and the bronze bust Eros Pietrificato con mano (“Eros Petrified with Hand”) by the Polish artist Igor Mitoraj stands at the entrance to the master stateroom.

Simply put, the Custom Line 106 oozes class and distinction. A picture of power and grace, it represents a significant step up in relation to its predecessors and is one of the most desirable semi-custom yachts in the 100-foot range available on the market. With six hulls already launched and more on the way a little more than a year after the model was announced, it is already proving to be another best seller. 

For more information: customline-yacht.com

Custom Line 106 Specifications

LOA: 107ft. 8in. (32.82m)
BEAM: 23ft. 11in. (7.3m)
DRAFT (full load): 6ft. 8in. (2.03m)
CONSTRUCTION: GRP
GROSS TONNAGE: 210
SPEED (max./cruise): 23/20 knots
RANGE: 450 nm at 20 knots
NAVAL ARCHITECTURE: Ferretti Group Engineering Department
INTERIOR DESIGN: Francesco Paszkowski Design/Margherita Casprini
EXTERIOR STYLING: Francesco Paszkowski Design
BUILDER: Custom Line

This article was originally published in the Summer 2020 issue.