Own a Piece of Maritime History: Converted Benetti Tugboat For Sale!
This stunning Benetti tugboat, refitted with Italian flair, is now a luxurious motor yacht ready for your next grand voyage.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a robust, old-school tugboat gets a touch of Italian flair and modern luxury, the Benetti Tugboat is the answer. Originally built in 1964, this 30-metre vessel has seen a remarkable transformation. After an extensive refit that began in 2012 at the Palumbo Shipyard, she’s been reimagined as a capable and comfortable motor yacht. This is a vessel for those who appreciate the character of a commercial hull but demand the sophistication of a luxury yacht.
The Vessel
Measuring 30 metres in length with a beam of 7.7 metres and a draft of 3.85 metres (12.6 feet), the Benetti Tugboat commands a striking presence on the water. With a gross tonnage of 193 and a solid steel hull, she’s designed to handle serious sea conditions. She retains her CE Category A classification, which means she’s built for long voyages across open oceans.
Under the hood, so to speak, she’s powered by twin Cummins KTA 3BM diesel engines, each delivering 1,000 horsepower. With a cruising speed of 10 knots and a top speed of 15 knots, she’s efficient too, consuming just 90 litres (23.8 gallons) of diesel per hour at cruising speed. Her impressive 55,000-litre (14,529-gallon) fuel capacity gives her a range of around 3,000 nautical miles, making her an excellent choice for long-distance exploration.
Accommodation
Inside, the refit has resulted in a modern, luxurious interior that stands in delightful contrast to her rugged exterior. The accommodation layout offers four cabins for up to eight guests, alongside three crew cabins that house six crew members. The owner’s cabin is a full-beam masterpiece with a king-size bed, a dressing table, a sofa, and an en suite bathroom. The guest cabins are equally well-appointed, with options for both double and twin layouts, each featuring en suite facilities.
The saloon is spacious and inviting, complete with a large sofa and a flat-screen TV. The dining area seats eight comfortably, while the galley is finished in sleek white with induction cooking and premium Bosch appliances.
Machinery and Performance
Her machinery spaces are laid out with practicality in mind, reflecting her commercial roots and the rigours of her original design. Twin Cummins KTA 3BM diesel engines power the vessel, each delivering 1,000 horsepower. These robust workhorses are known for their reliability and performance in challenging conditions. With only 1,300 operational hours logged, these engines are far from their midlife, promising years of dependable service.
To ensure continuous onboard power, she is fitted with twin Kohler 80 kW generators, each consuming approximately 5 litres (1.3 gallons) of diesel per hour during operation. These generators, with 3,700 running hours, are crucial for powering her extensive electrical systems, from climate control to navigational electronics. The integration of a sophisticated electrical layout ensures a seamless power supply, whether docked or underway.
Handling is enhanced by a powerful bow thruster, making docking and manoeuvring in tight spaces remarkably smooth for a yacht of this size. Her propulsion system is coupled with fixed bronze alloy propellers. These propellers are complemented by a robust rudder configuration, providing excellent directional control even in adverse sea conditions—as befitting her origins as a tugboat—demonstrating a heritage of strength and functionality while seamlessly transitioning into her role as a luxury vessel.
Water management onboard is equally impressive, with dual watermakers capable of producing an impressive 300 litres (79 gallons) of fresh water per hour. This system ensures self-sufficiency during extended voyages. Additionally, her bilge system includes both manual and electric pumps, adhering to stringent safety protocols.
Fuel efficiency is a hallmark of her design, with the engines consuming a modest 90 litres (23.8 gallons) per hour at a cruising speed of 10 knots. This allows for a transoceanic range of approximately 3,000 nautical miles, supported by a vast 55,000-litre (14,529-gallon) fuel capacity. Such range makes her an ideal candidate for long-range exploration and adventure.
Navigation and Deck Equipment
On the navigation front, the Benetti Tugboat boasts an impressive suite of advanced Furuno electronics, ensuring ease of operation and confidence on long passages. Her Furuno autopilot, integrated with the NavNet 3D system, provides precise course control, while the Furuno radar and GPS offer seamless situational awareness in all conditions. The radar is capable of displaying high-resolution imagery, making it invaluable for navigation in crowded or low-visibility environments. The NavNet system ties these elements together, creating a centralised interface for monitoring and managing all navigational data.
Additional navigation tools include a magnetic compass for traditional heading reference and a reliable depth sounder to track seabed proximity, essential for those hidden coves or uncharted anchorages. Communication is robustly supported by two GMDSS-certified VHF handheld radios, ensuring compliance with maritime safety regulations and providing redundancy for critical ship-to-shore communications. A Furuno wind sensor, compatible with NMEA 0183/2000 standards, delivers real-time wind data to inform weather routing and voyage planning.
Her navigational setup also includes searchlights for night operations and navigation lights that ensure visibility and compliance with maritime regulations. These are complemented by repeater screens strategically positioned for easy monitoring at secondary control stations, enhancing flexibility during operation.
Topside, the tugboat is equally well-equipped for comfort and utility. A bimini provides shade for relaxation areas, while a thoughtfully designed bathing platform makes water access effortless. Her spacious cockpit features cushioned seating and a dining table, perfect for al fresco meals or social gatherings. The vessel is complemented by two Lomac tenders: a 4.5m model powered by a 50hp engine and a 4m model with a 40hp engine, both capable of supporting shore excursions or water sports. A robust davit system ensures easy deployment and retrieval of the tenders, maintaining their readiness at all times.
With a draft of 3.85 metres (12.6 feet) and an air draft that allows her to navigate under most bridges, she balances versatility with robust capability. While a draft of this depth is not considered shallow, it is indicative of her origins as a tugboat, where a deeper draft provides stability and the ability to generate significant pulling power. This design characteristic ensures she remains steady in open waters, even under heavy conditions. Her air draft, meanwhile, enhances her ability to navigate inland waterways (where depth allows) and areas with restricted vertical clearance, making her an excellent option for varied cruising routes.
The Verdict
At €2,950,000 (VAT paid), the Benetti Tugboat offers a unique blend of character, capability, and luxury. If you would like to find out more, then she is currently listed for sale with De Valk Yacht Brokers - CLICK HERE for more information
Forget Sleek & Shiny: Why Converted Tugboats Are the Ultimate Adventure Machines (Premium Content)
Yachting just got a whole lot more interesting. Forget those cookie-cutter yachts with their polished chrome and predictable lines. We're talking about converted tugboats – vessels with guts, grit, and a history that whispers of hard work on the high seas (and, of course, inside sheltered harbours). In my humble opinion, these aren't just boats, they're floating fortresses reimagined for luxury living.
Why Choose a Converted Tugboat?
