The Superfly GT 42 from Sweden's Flying Flipper looks like a supercar built for the water. And with a retractable hard-top, high-tech cockpit with flat-bottom steering wheel, carbon fiber construction, and up to 1,881 hp of engine might, it sounds a bit like one on paper, too. This super boat is a little more comfy, though, offering two cabins, a full galley, a dining area, sofa seating and plenty of space to stretch the legs.
Over the years, we've seen a few boats styled to look like sports cars, including the Frauscher 1414 Demon and Revolver 44GT. We've also seen a few supercar badges, like Aston Martin and Bugatti, dropped into the drink for an extended float. But we'd say Flying Flipper does a better job of bringing the sharp, performance-forward beauty of a supercar to the water, and it doesn't even mention that as a goal.
But we suppose it doesn't have to say a word. The 42.7-ft (13-m) Superfly's sloped roofline, wraparound glasshouse, retractable glass roof, and intake-shaped overlaid hull work at the rear make the case that sports car imagery was top of mind – or at least somewhere in mind – as designers furiously penned the Superfly to life. Even the triple-outboard layout in back reminds us of a large sports car rear diffuser. The scalpel-sharp bow is necessarily not car-like, but it does lend to the look of all-out performance.
A bit of company history provides some insight into the GT 42's radically distinctive styling. As the company tells it, Flying Flipper began in 1970 as the racing boat project of boat racer and builder Sigurd Isacsson, growing into a leisure boat manufacturer that made racing expertise available to customers. Flipper's boats evolved over the decades, incorporating technologies like air stepped hulls and going on to win major races around Europe.
In 2014, Flying Flipper was purchased by entrepreneur and designer Michael Reimer, a visionary who aimed to fold the company's racing history into a "boat that looks like nothing else on the market," built for enthusiasts, by enthusiasts. He reached out to the Turkish design experts at Red Yacht Design, whose portfolio shows some experience with sports car-like boats, particularly the very Lamborghini-esque Fusion pictured below. Together, they've masterfully blended racing heritage into a stunning boat that looks quite unlike the typical watercraft.
Key to the Superfly's sharp look and on-water performance is what Flying Flipper describes as an aggressive, lightweight twin-stepped hull design. The aggressiveness is evident to the naked eye, and weight is reined in by the use of carbon fiber construction. As an aside, even interior furnishings like the kitchen countertop are made from carbon fiber.
Like any good super-vessel, the Superfly has the power and speed to put its performance-sculpted looks to good use. It comes in a variety of models, with the flagship 42-RS sporting three Seven Marine 627 outboard engines lined up at the stern for 1,881 hp. That equates to a top speed of 65+ knots (120+ km/h, 75+ mph). Lower-level models, like the 42-R and standard 42 have multi-outboard arrays putting out between 800 and 1,254 hp for listed top speeds between 44+ knots (81+ km/h, 50+ mph) and 55+ knots (102+ km/h, 63+ mph).
The Superfly GT 42 is a precisely-chiseled speed machine outside, but its real beauty is that things soften right up on board, providing comfort and entertainment for the whole family. Just aft of the enclosed deck area, through a sliding door, the spacious, air-conditioned master cabin sleeps two on a roomy double bed. The smaller forward cabin sleeps the kids with two single beds. Both cabins offer under-bed storage, windows, overhead lighting, and a variety of available materials to choose from, including teak flooring, wood veneers and leather.
The galley supplies passengers with plenty of countertop space, a sink, and an available microwave and refrigerator. A carbon fiber table with integrated swivel stools complements the carbon fiber countertop, and a sofa on the opposite side provides a more relaxing place to sit. The bathroom next to the air-conditioned living area includes a toilet, sink with shower tap and mirror.
The cockpit and deck area below the retractable glass roof is designed with a careful blend of driver centricity and onboard hospitality. The single pilot seat stands front and center facing a central windscreen panel, wraparound digital dashboard and central steering wheel flanked by additional controls. Behind the captain, passenger seats convert to a six-person U-shaped sofa in minutes. The captain's chair spins around to face this sofa, and a central fold-up table pops out at the push of a button, completing a dining and lounge area under the blue sky. A sound system delivers the soundtrack.
In addition to the models mentioned previously, Superfly offers the 42-l, which relies on two Mercury racing inboards in place of outboards. The 42-E model is Flying Flipper's eco-friendly alternative with two outboard engines complemented by a Torqeedo electric motor, allowing for slow, silent, emissions-free cruising, along with the full speed and range of traditional engine power.
Flying Flipper showcased the Superfly GT 42 at the Cannes Yachting Festival last month. It says that only a few will be hand-built to order each year. Give it a thorough look-over in the video blow and our photo gallery.
Source: Flying Flipper
