A fresh look was also given to the layout of the exterior decks. Decks are expensive real estate, and there just was not enough square footage to meet the owners’ need, so they took a cue from city developers and went vertical. Instead of a two-deck-plus-sun-deck raised pilothouse configuration, a new superstructure was made from aliminum to create a three-deck yacht with a brand new enclosed bridge deck with a huge open aft area, a spacious sun deck, and a flying bridge on top. With such extensive alternations, there was a good chance that everything could go horribly wrong, but with the help of Westport’s original naval architect Jack Sarin and his asistant, Michael Schutte ( who later set up his own practice and finished the Project ) the external appearance of Forty Love has proven to be highly attractive.

The rebuilt – to all interest and purposes a new built by the time it was complated took place in Long Beach, CA where there was a good pool of experienced marine artisans. And if a certain specialist was not available, one was hired from an established yacht yard such as Palmer Johnson, and flown to the task. The interior decoration and final cosmetic touches were carried out in Fort Lauderdale, where there was a finer appreciation of the high Level of finish required.

Internal stairs to port lead to the guest accommodations and to the sky lounge. Aft and to starboard is a formal dinning table for ten that is overlooking another television. Built against the aft bulk head is a combination wet bar and galley ( the latter re-served for the use of owner and guests to make snacks or cook when the chef takes a night off ) that opens to a similar wet bar on the aft deck through a sliding glass window. Amidship on the main deck, port and starboard, doors lead from the saloon to the side decks. All decks are accessible by external stairs starboard aft.

Out through the sliding door, the large aft deck feels good to bare feet – not too hard and not too hot in the midday sun. In fact, it takes a moment to realize that this is not teak, But Marine Deck 2000, a cork composite material made in Holland.

Pleasantly shaded by the bridge deck overhang, it offers alfresco dinning on a three-function table (that lowers to coffee table height and slides aft to convert the sette into a day bed) set against a sette built into the original aft bulwark. Stairs to port and starboard once led down to the Westport ‘s relatively small swim platform, but the hull extension has change the lower area into a huge ‘beach’. This fantastic water sports deck has plenty of room to assemble diving gear, rig a windsurfer, or just relax on a pair of double steamer chairs.

From here, a wide opening in the aft bulwark leads down to a swim platform with U-shaped cut-out, which has steps right down into the water – this access is easier than on most other yacht of this size. A hydraulic boarding platform on the port quarter can swivel and raise for easy Access to dock or quay, alongside or aft, which also makes a great diving board. When stowed, it rotates to lie across the stern, and this still leaves room beneath it for swimming dogs to mount the steps to the aft deck. This is a great area by day, but at night it shines the brightest with under water lighting that creates a fluorescent fish-filled pool. Powerful metal-halide floodlights (set on the bridge deck) illuminate the whole surrounding area. Anyone for night time water skiing? It’s quite possible !

Working out never looked so good.

Forty Love ‘s foredeck has some surprises, too. Considered too valuable to be just a working area (especially as it is visible trough the saloon’s forward-facing windows), the owners positioned a spa pool at the foredeck’s center and added a 13ft bowsprit with a stable walkway to the bow. The spa pool is covered by a solid lid that seals in it’s water, but then rises on airlifts to from a shady top when in use. The anchor windlass is covered by a box that creates steps up to the bow walkway. Easily negotiable and lit by night, this is a great diving board and an even beter viewing point when under way – especially when accompained by an escort of dolphins gamboling around the bow.

Then there is a another surprise- Forty Love’s bow sections are not devoted to the usual crew accommodations, but instead house a full Finnish sauna accessed by a flight of stairs aft of the spa pool. As this is a rather uncomfortable section of a boat, this twist from the standard makes sense – during transits in rough weather, the crew are better off further aft. And who would want to sauna in a storm?

This aft seating area overlooks the exercise area.

Up one level , forward of the pilothouse a huge sun pad was built into the forward slope, while the baot deck stores an impressive arsenal of tenders and toys, as well as good selection of gym equipment. With the boats lunched, the deck’s wide expanse of cork makes a great dance floor for the party deck above, which is a fantastic area offering a combination of bar, dining / lounging, and sunbathing on the forward ‘balcony’. Add to it, of course, a music system, barbecue, and incredible panoramic views - and there is still more.

Up another stairway, shaded by a solid bimini, is the flying bridge – as high aloft as a tuna tower. Here there are full controls for the yacht, a great asset when navigating shallow water filled with uncharted coral heads. This is not just a piloting area, but with swiveling leather seats, it is also a great spot for guests.

With Saloon and deck facilities like these, one is happy to accept slightly smaller guest cabins than usually found on a yacht of this size.