When asked what inspires the innovative designs and rapid product evolution at Palm Beach Motor Yachts, the answer is always the same: Mark Richards. The company’s founder, CEO, and Chief Designer is constantly refining his ideas, always thinking about the next boat—and how to make it better. That mindset continues to push Palm Beach Motor Yachts to the forefront of luxury yacht ownership.
At the heart of the company’s design philosophy is the customer. Each Palm Beach Motor Yacht is a product of close collaboration between client and designer, resulting in highly personalized vessels that reflect individual lifestyles and preferences. The new Palm Beach GT60 Jet Drive is a perfect example of this approach.
“The GT60 Jet Drive was born out of many conversations I had with a longtime Palm Beach owner,” said Richards. “He has one of our yachts on the West Coast, but wanted a second boat specifically for summers in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Top of his list was jet propulsion—to navigate around Maine’s dense lobster trap fields. He also enjoys entertaining, so we tailored the helm deck, cockpit, and interior for exactly that. This is the third boat I’ve built with him, and each one has been a joy to deliver.”
Like all Palm Beach models, the GT60 Jet Drive offers a luxurious, performance-driven experience that sets the brand apart. Power comes from twin 1,000-horsepower Volvo Penta D13 diesels paired with Hamilton HJ403 waterjets. This combination delivers a cruising speed of 35 knots with smooth, quiet performance and superb handling. Thanks to the Hamilton AVX control system, owners benefit from excellent maneuverability, quick acceleration, and reduced drag—all with a shallow 2’9” draft ideal for coastal cruising.
The GT60 Jet Drive marks the first Palm Beach GT Series model to feature jet propulsion, building on the brand’s success with custom jet builds in the past. “This isn’t a new hull design we had to develop from scratch,” Richards explains. “We integrated the jets seamlessly into our proven V-Warp® Technology platform without sacrificing performance or ride quality. Jet efficiency relies on light displacement and strength—we’ve been perfecting that for 30 years.”
With the addition of jet drives, Palm Beach Motor Yachts now offers straight shafts, IPS pods, outboards, and jets across its lineup—all built on the same efficient, unmodified V-Warp® hull platform.
For more information: palmbeachmotoryachts.com
