The all-aluminum Manta is being built in Turkey and is expected to launch in mid-2028, offering spacious living areas, private accommodations and an onboard gym for a family planning to spend extended periods at sea.
Luxury yachts are increasingly being designed as full-time residences, and Red Yacht Design’s latest project is another example of the trend. The studio has unveiled Manta, an 80-foot explorer catamaran created for a private client who plans to make life at sea a long-term lifestyle.
Currently under construction in Antalya, Turkey, Manta is being built with an all-aluminum structure. The owner has not disclosed the shipyard, and technical details about the yacht’s performance have yet to be released.
Red Yacht Design, which operates in London, Miami and Istanbul, is responsible for the vessel’s interior, with an emphasis on creating a comfortable, practical environment rather than an overly extravagant one.
Red Yacht Design
Spacious Design With a Residential Feel
Manta measures 35.5 feet across its beam and has a reported volume of 298 gross tons, providing substantial room for its residential layout.
The interiors feature soft shapes, understated neutral colors and durable materials intended to withstand the demands of extended life aboard. The design aims to balance an open, airy atmosphere with the warmth and comfort of a traditional home.
Cana Gökhan, co-founder and design director of Red Yacht Design, says the needs of a family living aboard for long periods differ from those of guests enjoying a short cruise. Comfort, practicality and a sense of belonging become essential when the yacht serves as a primary residence.
The dining area in the salon.Red Yacht Design
A Salon for Gathering and Relaxation
At the center of Manta is a spacious, open-plan salon incorporating a lounge, bar and dining area. The layout creates a shared environment where family members and guests can spend time together.
More private spaces are arranged away from the main social area. These include three generous guest cabins and a dedicated owner’s suite, giving the family and visitors separate places to relax.
The owner also receives a private lounge and office, allowing work and downtime to coexist onboard. A fully equipped gym provides another everyday convenience, helping the family maintain its fitness routine while traveling.
The result is a layout designed to support the rhythms of daily life, whether the family is entertaining guests, working remotely or preparing for another leg of its journey.
Launch Planned for 2028
Manta is scheduled to launch in mid-2028, although details about its speed, range, propulsion and other performance specifications have not yet been disclosed.
The yacht’s construction is being documented by Operation FNX on YouTube. The project also follows two other explorer vessels: an 82-foot pocket superyacht and a 72-foot bluewater cruiser.
The series aims to reveal what goes into transforming ambitious designs into vessels capable of ocean crossings.
For now, Manta’s defining feature is its residential approach to yacht design. Rather than treating onboard living as an extension of a holiday, Red Yacht Design has created a concept centered on the comfort and practicality required for a family to spend significant time at sea.
When it launches, the 80-foot catamaran will offer its owners the opportunity to make the ocean not just a destination, but home.
