Mangusta celebrates 40 years: From compact sports boat to "villa on the sea"

Giuseppe Balducci founded the Overmarine Group in 1985, and since the early 1990s it has been known for the Maxi Open under the Mangusta brand. The name is no coincidence, but a symbolic challenge to the Cobra series from Tecnomarine: mongooses are considered the only animals that can defend themselves against cobras.

The beginnings at Mangusta

1991 saw the launch of the Mangusta 80 Open, the first sports boat with more than 24 metres, dynamic lines, a top speed of more than 40 knots and more space below deck than the competition. The success of the model from Stefano Righini's drawing board can be seen in the number of units built: 75. The collaboration with the designer led to a series ranging from 72 to 130 feet. The highlight came in 2007 with the over 50 metre long Mangusta 165 - with a top speed of 40 knots and the interior of a "villa on the sea".

A turning point at the shipyard

In 2014, Overmarine decided to enter the displacement market. A young designer from the automotive industry stepped onto the scene: Alberto Mancini. His Mangusta Oceano 42 was a turning point for the brand and the industry. Over the years, four more Oceano models and the GranSport semi-displacement series were created.

Igor Lobanov ushered in a new era in the fast yacht segment in 2019. With the 104 REV, the designer created a maxi open with elegant lines, dynamic proportions and large glass surfaces. Two years later, Mangusta introduced the 165 REV a ship over 50 metres long with a profile inspired by the sports cars of the 1930s. The two-storey, 92 square metre owner's cabin has floor-to-ceiling windows, a lounge and an office. The main saloon opens up thanks to side-folding terraces, while large glass surfaces and skylights flood the interior with natural light.

Which Mangusta model is suitable for whom

The large series represent different ways of experiencing the sea: The Mangusta Maxi Open is aimed at owners who like travelling fast. Water jet drives deliver top speeds of up to 35 knots. The Mangusta Oceano displacement boats (39 to 52 metres), on the other hand, score points with a transoceanic range. Customers looking for the happy medium between the two lines will find the solution in the Mangusta GranSport with top speeds of between 25 and 30 knots plus long ranges. The very first 54-metre unit ("El Leon"), for example, was one of the first Mangusta motor yachts to circumnavigate the globe.

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Sustainability is naturally on the shipyard's agenda: today, all Mangustas can fill up with environmentally friendly HVO fuels, and overall consumption (at cruising speed) has been reduced by around 30 percent over the past ten years thanks to optimised propulsion, an efficient hull shape and reduced displacement. Today, the Group has built over 320 yachts, including more than 20 in metal. 110 units are over 100 feet long, 130 yachts have been equipped with waterjets.

The Overmarine Group has more than 600 direct and indirect employees and a total production area of over 210,000 square metres, spread over sites in Viareggio, Massa and Pisa. The brand remains in family hands. In addition to the founders' children Maurizio and Katia, the third generation is now working in the company.