The Mazu 82 Superyacht Is Menacing, Fast and Perfect for a Bond Villain (Or Two)

Turkish shipyard Mazu Yachts usually puts out some 10 vessels a year, which is a comparatively small number. This is due to the high levels of customization on each, and the extended period it takes for it to make the transition from paper to reality.

Mazu 82, measuring 82 feet (hence its name) / 24.5 meters, was delivered to an anonymous buyer in the summer of 2020. It was supposed to make its debut at the 2020 Cannes Boat Festival but, well, you know what happened to most events scheduled for this year: they were canceled due to the international health crisis.

If there ever was a superyacht that would best fit a Bond villain, it’s the Mazu 82 designed by Halit Yukay. Whereas most shipyard favor flowing lines, ample curves and a sunny, light color palette, this one is somber, menacing, edge-sharp and... bulletproof. We told you it’s perfect for a villain – or two. Or more: you can bring along at least five of them, since there is accommodation for all you bad guys onboard.

Built from carbon composite and painted a somber dark gray (which translates to black in some photos, but that’s just a trick of light), Mazu 82 looks – and is – fast. It’s a strange but very stylish mix of superyacht and cruiser, with the centerpiece being a spacious deckhouse made of bulletproof-tempered glass. You never know who’s coming for you when you’re cruising the French Riviera, right?

On one side of the deckhouse is a swimming platform, while the other houses a multi-functional area that can serve for anything from al fresco dining (with room for a party of 12), to a sundeck and an open-air private cinema. Inside the deckhouse, a staircase leads down to a private saloon basking in natural light coming in through the expansive glazing or through the retractable sunroof.

All interiors were done by Tanju Özelgin and are defined by generous spaces furnished in custom-made pieces, with plush, dark accents. Accommodation on board is for six guests in a total of three cabins: a master suite, a stateroom and a twin cabin. Matching the somber exterior, there are plenty of muted tones, and a mix of natural and custom lighting that creates the impression of intimacy.

According to Özelgin, he “aimed to create an onboard ambiance more in tune with land-based architecture.” “The space has to be as compact and light as possible without losing the illusion of feeling at home or in a cozy hotel. This was one of our key aspects during the design phase of the yacht: to create a space that feels more as if you were in your own house with all the familiarity and comfort that comes with it,” the designer adds.

If your house doubles as a fortress of some sorts, then mission accomplished. The Mazu 82 is definitely comfortable and, to a certain extent, even cozy-looking, but it feels more like a villain’s super-fancy lair than a hotel room.

Since looks aren’t everything, the Mazu 82 delivers a performance to match its stunning design. Powered by three Volvo Penta IPS engines of 1,000 hp each and thanks to its deep-V hull, it’s able to reach speeds of 40 knots, and cruising speeds of 35 knots.

“The hull lines of the new Mazu 82 were designed in-house to provide a perfect balance between top speed, seakeeping capability, and fuel efficiency,” Halit Yukay, lead designer and CEO of Mazu Yachts, explains. “At cruising speed the yacht burns around 600 liters [158.5 gallons] of fuel per hour for a range of just under 400 nautical miles or around 12 hours cruising.”

Clearly, the Mazu 82 won’t win any green points for the owner, but we reckon they won’t be letting that keep them up at night.