Pick of the Day: 1978 122’ CRN Nordic Star Yacht

I always get a kick out of the diversity of “classics” that appear on ClassicCars.com. From $15M Delahayes to old Triumph motorcycles, but this non-land yacht takes the cake! If you have ever slept in your classic car and awoke with an aching back, this classic will not only provide a good night’s rest but a lovely view and plenty of walk around space for you and your 10 best friends.

The Pick of the Day is a 1978 122-foot CRN Nordic Star yacht advertised by a dealer in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on ClassicCars.com. The trip from the Gulf of Oman to wherever the buyer wants to dock this massive vessel could be the first of many adventures to be had.

Growing up, I did a lot of boating with my buddies on the Great Lakes. Mainly Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. While my friends’ boats had small cabins and sometimes a kitchenette, nothing quite compared to the large vessels we would sometimes see docked at Reefpoint Marina in Racine, Wisconsin. I would sometimes fantasize of having such a vessel at my disposal.

What to call a boat like this? I remember puttering up the river just north of Reefpoint and seeing the best name ever for a boat. I could even imagine the conversation of how it got its name: “Honey, I bought a boat! What should I call it?”

“You Did What?”

Perfect, isn’t it?

As for this particular lady of the seas, a 229-gross-ton, teak-finished Italian yacht had its most recent refit in 2012. Both the exterior and interior look lovely in the photos with the ad. The superyacht’s 122-foot length and 24-foot beam would make it incredibly spacious and comfortable for you and your guests.

According to the dealer, the boat was, “originally commissioned by actress Virna Lisi, Italy’s answer to Marilyn Monroe, who Brigitte Bardot once described as ‘the world’s most beautiful woman.’ Lisi was born in Ancona, home to the CRN Spa shipyard, thus making the yard the natural choice for her to commission a yacht.

“Featuring sumptuous Italian fittings, hand-carved woods and antique furnishings, and having hosted the Hollywood stars of stage and screen including Frank Sinatra, Jack Lemmon, Anthony Quinn and Tony Curtis, the yacht is testament to the glamour of a bygone era.”

The Nordic Star is powered by twin Caterpillar 3508 diesels making 908 horsepower surrounded by a complete engine room for maintenance and repairs. It features a fly bridge and an enclosed bridge with all the latest navigational gadgetry.

Beyond the five staterooms, sitting and dining areas, the craft comes with a whole bunch of toys. There is the 18-foot tender for going ashore, two Yamaha Waverunners and two Yamaha Sea Scooters, plus a full diving center with equipment.

Clearly an investment like this, with an asking price of $3.5 million would require hired help to maintain and run, not unlike a big car collection. It would actually make a great charter boat, if that is a business you want to be in.

Just make sure you reserve the week of the Monaco Grand Prix for yourself and go watch the race in style from Port Hercules. But of course, parked next to the latest mega yachts, you might get a similar affliction that car guys get with horsepower gains: “50-foot-itis.”

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.