Classic Harbor Line begins the 2026 summer season with its most ambitious fleet expansion in New York, welcoming Manhattan III, its largest and most accessible wooden motor yacht.
Manhattan III was christened on May 19, 2026, by President of Sail4th 250 Chris O’Brien. “Our partnership with Classic Harbor Line has been a huge part of the coming together of the New York harbor community for Sail4th 250 and it’s a thrill and honor to be here,” said O’Brien. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, tall ships from across the globe will parade up the New York harbor from the Verrazano Bridge all the way to the George Washington Bridge “A once-in-a-generation moment,” according to O’Brien.
Classic Harbor Line Managing Director Sarah Pennington welcomed guests and introduced the new vessel, saying, “The genesis of the Manhattan motor yachts is the vision of John and Rick Scarano of Scarano Boat Building to build the most comfortable, elegant sightseeing boat with big overhead skylights and observatory windows to give passengers a superior New York harbor cruise.” Manhattan III expands on that vision with a larger, more spacious vessel, a broader outer deck, and a taller cabin with wider panoramic windows. It also boasts new accessibility features of a stairlift to the lower level for guests with limited mobility and an induction loop audio system.
Construction of Manhattan III started in 2025 at Scarano Boat Building in Albany, N.Y., and finished in 2026. The 114’ long, 24’ beam vessel features an all-wood hull and, according to the company, is the largest U.S. Coast Guard-certified wooden boat built in the country this century. It is the third iteration of the Yacht Manhattan by John Scarano, which drew inspiration from the commuter yachts of the 1920s and was designed for an elevated sightseeing experience of the island with which it shares a name. Signatures of their boat building style include big skylights and a comfortable interior with visual warmth and texture from polished wood surfaces throughout. Building Manhattan III entailed 28,000 BF (board feet) of Douglas fir, 5,600 BF of ash locally sourced 15 miles from the shipyard, and 4,000 BF of mahogany. From design to finished build involved 36,011 hours of labor.
Classic Harbor Line will offer a range of new cruises and experiences featuring exclusive views of the 50th Annual Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks and over 60 international tall ships from more than 20 nations visiting the New York City (July 3-9) and the Boston (July 11-15) for Sail4th 250 and Sail Boston.
Classic Harbor Line is dedicated to helping guests enjoy the unique wonders of New York City; Boston; Newport, R.I.; and Key West aboard classic yachts and schooners, which are available for ticketed cruises and private yacht charters.