A luxury yacht that designers hope could revolutionize the boating industry is being made right here in Wisconsin.
The Lexus LY 650 is a partnership between international auto company Lexus and Pulaski, Wisconsin-based manufacturer Marquis-Larson Boat Group.
Work to build the boat's hull began earlier this month.
Workers at Marquis-Larson are currently manufacturing the first Lexus luxury yacht, which is a prototype.
The goal is to have the vessel finished in 2019.
Josh Delforge, Marquis-Larson's Vice President of Design & Engineering, said the company hopes to produce a yacht that's distinctly luxurious, but also high-powered.
The Lexus boat will be powered by two, 900-horsepower engines.
It'll be roughly 65-feet long and 19-feet wide.
"Lexus is asking us to put together a luxurious interior with a high-performance, a combination of those two things," Delforge said. "It's something I think our whole industry will be impressed by."
He added the partnership with Lexus should draw global attention to Marquis-Larson - perhaps even from non-boaters.
"It's going to open a lot of doors, and we'll get exposure to a lot of new people," Delforge said.
He said, once complete, the cost of the Lexus yacht will start at roughly $3.5-million.
"That's depending on your options, but $3.5-million is the estimate," Delforge said.
