Ad Lib is a rare beauty that any millionaire would be proud to own. It’s one of the award-winning luxury yachts built by a legendary shipyard that is no longer operating today, which makes it even more special and a collector’s item.
In the Fall of 2006, one of the stars of the Superyacht Society Awards, held together with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, was a sleek and elegant beauty made in New Zealand. The jury declared Ad Lib to be the best yacht in its class. The Alloy Yachts pleasure craft had also won a prestigious Boat International award. There was no doubt about it – Ad Lib was one of the most successful launches of 2005.
Like most Alloy Yachts builds, it was designed by Ed Dubois and styled by Donald Starkey. Built entirely in aluminum, it sported a dark navy hull and a contrasting superstructure. As its name suggests, Ad Lib was mainly about pure pleasure and entertainment at sea and was less concerned with technical or eco-friendly innovations.
Photo: Burgess
The spacious vessel under 300 GT was designed to accommodate nine guests and a six-person crew. The four-cabin configuration includes a master suite on the main deck and three guest cabins on the lower deck. The master suite is classically configured and decorated, reminiscent of the gentleman’s yacht era.
Located forward on the main deck, this sophisticated private space reveals a spacious sleeping area, large his-and-her bathrooms with a shared shower room, and a separate lounge easily accessed via the owner’s private office. There’s also ample space for a large dressing room.
The main deck also houses Ad Lib’s stunning formal salon. It feels more like a self-contained apartment with a surprisingly vast seating area and gorgeous panoramic views. This beautiful lounge sits on the rear part of the deck, with a smooth transition into the forward dining room. This sumptuous space is also remarkably wide, boasting enough room for a massive dining table and enough seats for all guests onboard to dine together.
The salon connects to an inviting outdoor area on the aft deck. From the salon, guests can step outside to this chic entertainment area with an al-fresco dining setup. A stylish wet bar creates the perfect ambiance of an exotic resort, while a retractable sun awning keeps everyone comfortable outdoors.
Photo: Burgess
From the master suite’s office, the owner can easily access the raised pilothouse and then the flybridge. Ad Lib flaunts a vast sundeck with an attractive forward flybridge area. It acts as an informal lounge with comfortable bench seating. The best part about it is enjoying uninterrupted views, thanks to the forward placement. The sundeck also houses a second al-fresco dining area with ample seating on both sides. Moving towards the rear, there’s a second wet bar complete with a BBQ setup. Of course, everyone’s favorite part of the sundeck is the spacious jacuzzi, surrounded by a wide sunpad area.
The lower deck houses two double-bed cabins, one with twin beds and an extra Pullman berth. All the rooms are extra spacious and come with en-suite bathrooms and separate shower compartments. The crew quarters are located on the same deck as the guest cabins, as well as the galley and the crew mess. A well-equipped gym, the ubiquitous superyacht amenity, is also found forward on the same deck.
When it’s time for fun and adventure, Ad Lib invites guests to access its side-opening tender garage for water toys. It also has room for a Waverunner and a rescue tender on the foredeck.
Twin 1,450 hp Caterpillar engines propel the Kiwi yacht at 13 knots (24 kph) and a maximum speed of 16 knots (29.6 kph). At an economical speed of 10 knots (18.5 kph), the 131-footer can cover up to 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) thanks to generous tankage.
Photo: Burgess
Unlike most luxury yachts of a similar age, Ad Lib has kept its unusual name throughout the years, and that’s because it has stayed under the original ownership. Plus, it has only been used privately ever since 2006, even though it was built to Lloyd’s Register classification, which allows it to operate as a charter yacht.
After more than 15 years since its debut, this rare Alloy Yachts vessel is ready to change hands and explore new territories in the coming decades. The only bad thing about it is the price tag, asking for no less than $10 million. However, the right owner will be happy to pay the price for this fine example of Kiwi craftsmanship and a proven ocean cruiser.
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