Expect an interesting new addition to the fleet of vessels found at this month’s much-anticipated Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) in Florida: Amongst the catamarans, cruisers, schooners, and superyachts will be the all-new Live 44DR by Reina Boats, a model that merges a yacht with a houseboat to create, as the company fittingly dubs it, a “houseyacht.”
The brainchild of Reina founders Hayri Dayi and Emin Günal, the 44-foot-long flagship model is essentially a high-end luxury condo on water, designed to connect adventure-seeking residents to the water via towering glass windows and spacious outer decking, with an interior clad in high-end materials, smart tech amenities, and sleek finishes that complement the two-cabin layout. The layout also boasts a full, C-shape wraparound kitchen, one head with a full shower, and a stunning foredeck dining area. The 44 is one of six live-aboard models that the Florida-based Reina is currently building out of a shipyard in Turkey. They range in size from an expansive 60 feet down to a 24-footer that boasts a floating RV vibe well-suited to day trips and overnighters.
The inspiration for the brand came from a void the creators say they spotted in the marketplace, particularly when it came to the design—or lack thereof—of most houseboats. “The existing houseboat designs were stuck in the 1980s, and almost 90 percent of the houseboats on the water were commercially rented vessels. They were not boats that yacht and catamaran owners would ever consider buying,” Günal explained in a news release. “With Reina, we are creating a whole new way of liveaboard cruising and recreational boating with designs that merge luxury and accessibility.”
Crafted mostly of marine-grade aluminum, the hulls are engineered more like a catamaran, rather than the usual pontoon style of houseboats. They are also powered by Mercury outboard engines and offer lithium-ion phosphate batteries as an alternative power source. In an effort to expand their use, Reina has also ensured they can transcend lake life to be sea-worthy; each model complies with CE Class C, American Boat & Yacht Council, and U.S. Coast Guard standards. For more details on the release of the new line, go to: reinaboats.com
