Westport 164

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There are repeat yacht buyers, and then there's Tilman Fertitta. Fertitta is chairman, president and CEO of Landry’s Restaurants, one of the largest privately owned restaurant, entertainment and gaming firms in the United States. Given that his company owns eateries ranging from the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to the Chart House, as well as operating the Golden Nugget casinos, Fertitta knows a thing or two about hospitality. And in his role as a father of four, he understands how to keep kids entertained.

No wonder, then, that his 164-foot Westport Boardwalk reflects a mix of spaces meant for grown-up fun and family-friendly gatherings. Fertitta made Boardwalk fully his own, and different from the six deliveries in the Westport 164 series that came before her. He took full advantage of the customization that the Pacific Northwest builder offers, a level that other series builders rarely permit.

Prior to commissioning his 164, Fertitta owned a Westport 112 and then a 130, both christened Boardwalk. While each of the three models differs from the others they share some similarities. You’ll spy the first upon stepping inside from the main afterdeck doors. Directly to port, there’s a stone-top wet bar with leather-clad bar chairs. The setup worked well aboard the smaller Westports, without impinging on the rest of the salon’s space, so why not incorporate it aboard the 164, especially given the extra floor space afforded by the length overall and nearly 31-foot beam?

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The other major similarity is also on the main deck. Boardwalk’s galley has a dining spot much like a country kitchen does. Fertitta’s 112- and 130-footers featured Westport’s standard country kitchen arrangement, and he preferred this to the stainless-steel commercial look that Westport offers as the standard galley design on the 164. Whether cruising stateside or in the Med, as Boardwalk did this summer, Fertitta wanted an open, warmer ambience where he and his family could feel welcome while the chef and stews were at work. As a result, the galley is rich with stone-top counters and wood-clad cabinetry. The welcoming feel is aided by bar stools that pull up to the island cooking area, ideal for observing the pros at work or for sneaking samples out of the pots when the chef isn’t looking.



Boardwalk incorporates a handful of other customized touches as well. There are loose furnishings on the afterdeck, easily moved when entertaining large groups or rearranged into intimate relaxation areas on private trips.