In a milestone that further cements 2026 as a banner year for German shipbuilding, Lürssen has officially announced the delivery of the 117-meter Boardwalk. Marking the shipyard’s third delivery of the year on May 13, 2026, Boardwalk is described as a vessel unlike any that has preceded her from the North German sheds. While her silhouette pays homage to traditional maritime architecture, her scale and internal volume place her among the largest traditionally styled yachts ever constructed.
The project represents a deeply personal endeavor for her owner, who was intimately involved in every stage of the design process. From refining structural elements to optimizing spatial flow, the owner’s commitment to "the minutest detail" has resulted in a vessel that Lürssen describes as highly coordinated and deeply considered.
Exterior Design: Sculpted by the Sea
The exterior of Boardwalk is the vision of designer Frank Woll, who drew inspiration from the natural world to define the yacht’s streamlined geometry. Woll’s design philosophy for the project was rooted in the fluid agility of marine life, aiming for a form that appears "sculpted by water itself". This "timeless clarity of form" is particularly striking at night, when a complex constellation of approximately 3,000 exterior lighting points—roughly a third more than is conventional for a vessel of this magnitude—illuminates her profile.
Despite her delicate structural styling, Boardwalk is built upon a formidable steel and aluminum foundation. The shipyard describes her as "a true ship wearing the guise of a yacht," engineered to exceptional standards that allow her to maintain a fine-lined profile while concealing an immense internal volume of 5,602 GRT.
Engineering Innovation: The Retractable Deck
While the styling remains classic, the engineering beneath the surface is groundbreaking. Boardwalk introduces a mechanical innovation never before featured on a Lürssen yacht: a retractable deck section installed over the stairwell connecting the main deck to the beach club.
This "sliding structural plate" was inspired by a development pioneered on Hadar (built as Flying Fox) in 2019, but Boardwalk represents the first time the mechanism has been used to reveal a stairwell with automatically deploying upper steps. When closed, the deck is hermetically sealed—meaning it is airtight and watertight—and carries full class approval for safety. This allows the sweeping main deck aft to remain a flush, uninterrupted social space when the stairwell is not in use.
Interior Mastery: A Gallery of Light and Material
The interior spaces are a collaborative triumph involving Frank Woll and the late Amy Halffman, along with Suzanne Glover and Teresa Francis. The design team utilized a sophisticated palette of mixed natural materials, including expansive stretches of high-gloss burled mahogany, stainless steel polished to a mirrored finish, and onyx.
To maximize guest volume, the shipyard’s engineers pushed corridors to the absolute structural limits. This required an extraordinary concentration of technical systems—piping, cabling, and insulation—to be integrated into tight voids behind walls and overheads. Key interior highlights include:
- 11 Guest Staterooms: Spacious accommodations for a large party, each designed with direct access to wide side decks via glass doors that create private terraces.
- Forward VIP Suite: A generous suite featuring an onyx ensuite and a private al fresco lounge offering panoramic views over the bow.
- Engineering Gallery: A glass-walled catwalk that allows guests to view the engine room as a curated display of maritime technology.
The Ultimate Adventure Platform
Boardwalk is equipped for extensive global operations, carrying a fleet of vehicles that would rival a small marina. Her substantial tender garage houses:
- Three custom 40-foot (12-meter) Hodgdon tenders.
- An amphibious tender capable of transitioning from water to land.
- Off-road 4x4s and various other land-based vehicles for shore excursions.
On-board amenities are equally comprehensive, featuring a dedicated cinema, a spacious spa and gym, a putting green for golf enthusiasts, and two helipads to facilitate global access. The main deck aft serves as a central hub for relaxation, featuring a large swimming pool and Jacuzzi set flush within the Tesumo deck. (Tesumo is a high-performance, sustainable wood alternative often used in luxury maritime applications for its durability and aesthetic similarity to teak).
A Vision Realized
For Peter Lürssen, the delivery of Boardwalk is a testament to the power of clear communication between owner and builder. "Our singular job as a shipyard is to translate a vision into an operational vessel," he stated, noting that the "exceptional clarity" of communication throughout the build was instrumental in exceeding expectations.
Technical Specifications at a Glance:
- Length Overall: 117 meters (384' 2")
- Beam Overall: 18.55 meters (60' 9")
- Volume: 5,602 GRT
- Builder: Lürssen
- Exterior Designer: Frank Woll
- Naval Architect: Lürssen
Boardwalk stands as a landmark vessel where engineering ambition and a singular design vision converge. As she departs the shipyard, she does so as a modern icon of "timeless clarity" and a "true ship" ready for the world’s oceans.
Stay tuned to NAVIS for more updates on Lürssen's 2026 delivery schedule and exclusive technical deep-dives.
