In 1985, an Italian entrepreneur made an educated bet that a mongoose could triumph over a snake. Specifically, Giuseppe Balducci decided to create his own boatbuilding business to rival the popular Cobra series from Tecnomarine. Just as a real-life mongoose uses its speed and natural venom resistance to win a battle nearly every single time with a cobra, the Mangusta (“mongoose” in Italian) brand quickly took marketshare from Tecnomarine. From setting records launching the world’s largest maxi opens to expanding into oceangoing superyachts, Mangusta Yachts has had a strong 40-year history.
During the 1980s, Cobra yachts dotted the waters of many Mediterranean ports. They were sleek, fast performers. The first project to result from Balducci’s gamble was the Mangusta 65. Five years later, the Mangusta 80 made history. Not only was she the largest open yacht ever to launch, but also she created a new category, Maxi Open. “Maxi” held great significance. Previously, high-performance yachts were the domain of smaller size ranges, since large length often meant compromising speed and comfort. To say that the Mangusta 80, with design by Stefano Righini, redefined the market is no exaggeration. Dozens upon dozens of hulls sold in the ensuing years, and the series remained in production until 2018.
Of course, size alone wasn’t enough for Balducci. He believed Mangusta Yachts needed to keep pushing possibilities in yachting. To that end, in 1995 the Mangusta 105 premiered. This maxi-open model was the first to incorporate waterjets and a turbine. The combination allowed for a 33-knot top speed and 28-knot cruising speed, along with a 4’3” (1.3-meter) draft, compelling for those who sought flexibility in enjoying shallow waters.
Yet another major milestone occurred with the launch of the Mangusta 165 yacht series in 2007. She became the fastest series-built superyacht in the world, topping 35 knots on the radar gun. Furthermore, the 165 was the largest fiberglass open. About a dozen hulls sold, each with triple MTU engines, waterjets, and a gas turbine.
The year 2012 holds significance in Mangusta Yachts’ history, too. Firstly, it opened a second shipyard, complementing its Viareggio headquarters, in Pisa. The Pisa site was exclusively for metal-yacht construction, a new focus at the time. It was in direct response to clients seeking long-range megayachts that still turned heads with sporty style. The all-aluminum Mangusta GranSport fast-displacement yachts as well as the steel-hulled Mangusta Oceano yachts take shape there to this day. Secondly, it established an office in Miami, to better address the needs of its growing American clientele. The office is still headed by Stefano Arlunno, who was the first to lead it.
Even with customers seeking more traditional cruising designs, Mangusta Yachts still leads the maxi-open market. It partnered with designer Igor Lobanov to introduce the Mangusta 104 REV, which launched in 2021. Perhaps as no surprise, the REV series additionally includes the Mangusta 165 REV—which really pushed boundaries with a two-level master suite (above) and speeds to 34 knots.
Although Giuseppe Balducci (above) died in 2024, the Balducci family still owns the company. In fact, Maurizio and Katia Balducci, his children, took over in the early 2000s. Maurizio’s daughter, Victoria, is an active decision-maker as well. As you might expect, they have more models in the making. Like the small mongoose, the yacht builder remains focused on adaptability and agility in an ever-changing market.
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