At the MarineMax booth during this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS), Galeon’s sporty looking 375 GTO gleamed under the Florida sun. The atmosphere was electric with the DJ booth raising the energy with upbeat music and the builder’s newest luxury day boat taking centre stage.
“The Fun Machine” looked ready to party, turning heads and attracting visiting passerbys who couldn’t help but stop and stare at its streamlined aesthetics, only able to imagine the pleasure of driving the motor yacht at its renowned top speed of close to 50 knots.
In the evening, everyone aboard appeared luminescent due to the soft, futuristic glow of the blue LED strip lights in the ceiling, deck flooring and hull bottoms which also lit up the water below. With its sleek appearance and smart design, it’s a model that makes a statement for water-loving adventurers.
Powerful Performer
As the second model in Galeon’s young GTO family, the 375 GTO has been making a lot of friends around the world since showings at high-profile events like the Cannes Yachting Festival and Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show late last year, as well as this year’s Miami International Boat Show a month ahead of Palm Beach.
Following the 325 GTO that premiered in early 2021 and debuted in Asia later that year through Asiamarine in Hong Kong (with only five units in Asia) the 375 GTO is another spectacular creation by Tony Castro. Born in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Castro has been designing motor yachts for Galeon for over 20 years from the UK with his company, Tony Castro Design Studio.
With an overall length of 37ft 9in, the 375 GTO has a 35ft-long hull with a 12ft beam and a draft of just 3ft 8in (1.11m) – or 2ft 5in (0.74m) if the engines are up.
As befitting its nickname, “The Fun Machine” offers remarkable performance on the water and can be fitted with three 400hp Mercury Verado V10 or Mercury Racing 450R V10 outboards.
However, the most exciting and powerful option is the twin 600hp Mercury Verado V12s which can power the 10-tonne open cruiser to 55mph or about 48 knots.
Right above the helm, the two-part glass roof can be quickly retracted when needed, increasing ventilation to allow all on board to feel the speed of the yacht as the wind blows through their hair. Starboard and port windows that can electronically open like car windows are amongst some of the appealing options available.
Beach Mode
At rest, one of the special features is the “Beach Mode”, first popularised by the drop-down sides on Galeon’s 500 Fly and since incorporated into many of Galeon’s flybridge models including the 640 Fly, 400 Fly, 440 Fly and new 560 Fly.
The 325 GTO has one drop-down side to port, but the 375 GTO has them on both sides. Once they’re both down, they expand the yacht’s beam by over 5ft and turn the cockpit into a three-sided beach club ideal for both watersports and enjoying the water.
Other “transformer-style features” on this boat include the aft bench sofa with integrated side doors and an adjustable backrest so guests can either face forward while dining or cruising, or face aft for a relaxing view of the water.
Furthermore, the sofa can slide forward or back. It can be set aft for more room in the cockpit or forward so guests have more legroom while facing aft and can sit more comfortably at the dining table.
The dining table also has two outer leaves that can fold inwards to make a smaller coffee table for day time use.
The hard top stops just short of covering the aft sofa, but Galeon offers the option of an extendable SureShade® cockpit awning.
Moving Forward
The forward cockpit furniture includes a fixed seat to port where guests can face inward or aft, while to starboard is an L-shaped sofa which offers remarkable flexibility.
Mechanisms can lift the forward part of the sofa up and aft, while the backrest can flip aft to create a forward-facing bench seat behind the helm, ideal for guests to enjoy a great vantage point while cruising.
To port is the wet bar, which has an electric grill, sink, fridge, storage and a bin along with cup holders and counter space on each side of the flip-up panel.
To starboard is the helm station with two electrically-adjustable captain’s chairs and an electrically adjustable steering wheel. The control buttons, located on the black panel, are mainly in circular, metallic forms with blue LEDs emitting a soft glow.
At night, with the blue mood lighting and the sound system pumping the ambience of the cockpit up, driving the boat and entertaining guests offers an unforgettable luxury experience.
From the covered cockpit, there’s a single side passage to port that leads to the foredeck where Galeon’s transformer DNA comes to the fore again.
The bow lounge can fit three guests facing forwards, supported by two fold-down armrests, while the U-shaped seating continues around the starboard side and the forepeak. The central area can be left clear, fitted with a small table or filled in with sun-pads to create a large sunbathing area.
Versatile Interior
Access to the lower deck is through a sliding companionway door by the helm. The minimalist “floating” stairs lead past beech wood cabinetry to port.
Forward is a convertible dinette, which features U-shaped seating and a height-adjustable table with fold-out leaves on both sides. When the table is lowered and filled in with a large cushion, the area becomes a double bed.
During the day, the interior area is surprisingly well lit due to a large port window facing the side deck and bulwark, with additional sunlight from above when the sliding companionway door is open.
The elegant brownish grey and cream colour tone of the interior coupled with warm LED lights creates a cosy ambience during the day and early evening.
The bathroom with a separate shower stall is to starboard, while at midships is a low-ceilinged cabin with twin beds. Each horizontal step of the staircase looks like a mini table surface stacked vertically on top of each other. If more space is needed at night, the stairway can be lifted to the ceiling, making it easier for guests to get in and out of the midships cabin.
As well as other options like the Seakeeper 3, Galeon offers a Comfort Pack and a Luxury Pack with the latter including a 32-inch TV, 60-litre fridge in the lower lounge, an upgraded Fusion sound system and the blue/white LED lights that made such an impression at the Palm Beach show. Galeon promised “The Fun Machine” and it has certainly delivered. For more information the 375 GTO, click here.
This article was first published on www.yachtstyle.co
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