This is one of the sexiest boats I’ve seen come to market in a while—and honestly, it’s exciting to see a brand like Palm Beach Motor Yachts lean this hard into outboard performance without losing the elegance that made the marque famous in the first place.
Because make no mistake: the new GT50 RS is not just a tweaked version of the original GT50. It’s a very different animal.
Where the earlier boat was all about refined inboard cruising, the RS feels more like Palm Beach has blended a luxury weekender with a high-performance chase boat. The result is a 50-knot machine that still looks polished enough to pull into Monaco or Waiheke and turn heads at the dock.
And those quad Mercury Racing 500Rs hanging off the transom? They completely change the personality of the boat.
There’s something visually dramatic about seeing four high-performance outboards bolted to the back of a Palm Beach. Traditionally, these boats have carried a more understated, classic luxury vibe. The GT50 RS keeps the beautiful proportions and flowing lines, but the outboards inject real aggression into the design. It suddenly feels younger, sharper, and far more contemporary.
“The launch of the GT50 RS is another exciting new product and a strong sign of Palm Beach Motor Yachts going from strength to strength. As we continue expanding our global presence, advancing technology, and introducing increasingly innovative yachts, we remain focused on delivering an ownership experience unlike anything else in the world.”— Mark Richards, CEO and Founder
The outboards are the story
The move from twin Volvo Penta IPS inboards to quad Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards is massive — both mechanically and stylistically.
Power jumps from 1,200hp to 2,000hp, while top speed climbs into the 50-knot range. But what’s more interesting is how the outboards change the entire usability of the boat.
For owners doing fast coastal runs or island commuting, the setup makes a lot of sense. Easier servicing, easier access, shallower draft, more cockpit space, and serious straight-line pace. It feels very American East Coast in concept — and that’s exactly what Palm Beach was targeting with hull number one, designed around fast runs between Connecticut and Long Island.
Yet despite all that performance hardware, the GT50 RS still looks refined rather than overdone. Palm Beach hasn’t gone full “muscle boat”. The balance between luxury and speed is what makes this package so compelling.
| Specification | Inboard Baseline (2019) | RS Outboard Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Propulsion | Twin Volvo Penta IPS 800 | Quad Mercury Racing 500R |
| Total Output | 1,200 Horsepower | 2,000 Horsepower |
| Maximum Velocity | 37–40 Knots | 50 Knots |
| Fuel Capacity | 396 Gallons (1,500 L) | 660 Gallons (2,500 L) |
| Structural Weight | 30,468 Lbs (13,820 kg) | 26,450 Lbs (12,000 kg) |
Still unmistakably Palm Beach
Palm Beach hasn’t abandoned the things it already does exceptionally well; proportions look elegant and clean.
Inside, the boat walks a clever line between modern performance styling and traditional yacht craftsmanship. The RS50 Outboard Edition is very classy, and offers an interior design, one that is different from almost anything else on the market. There’s Alcantara, carbon-fibre detailing and sporty finishes, but they haven’t gone overboard trying to make it feel like a supercar showroom.
The single-level layout works particularly well, helping the salon and cockpit feel connected and social rather than segmented. The GT50 RS still looks like somewhere you’d genuinely want to spend a weekend.
The side windows and roof make the boat
One of the standout features is the way the large side windows and electric sunroof open the boat up.
With everything slid back, the GT50 RS feels airy and connected to the water in a way enclosed performance boats often don’t. You get that open-boat sensation without fully giving up weather protection.
Then, when conditions turn ugly or the heat ramps up, the whole helm and salon can be enclosed and air-conditioned like a luxury car.
That dual personality feels very well judged.
V-Warp Technology® still central
Underneath all the glamour and horsepower is Palm Beach founder Mark Richards’ proprietary V-Warp hull design, which remains central to the boat’s performance.
Palm Beach claims the hull delivers impressive efficiency and softer ride characteristics while still achieving the big speed numbers. The lightweight composite construction also helps explain how the RS sheds significant weight despite the enormous outboard package.
At 56ft overall with a relatively shallow draft, it’s also a surprisingly practical platform for coastal cruising and island hopping.
The bigger picture
The GT50 RS also feels significant because it signals where premium boating is heading.
For years, large luxury outboard boats were mostly centred around centre consoles and fishing platforms. Now we’re seeing genuinely high-end luxury brands embracing outboards not as a compromise, but as a premium solution.
Palm Beach appears fully committed too, with the GT60 RS and GT70 RS already in development.
Learn more: https://www.palmbeachmotoryachts.com/models/gt50rs
