Vicem Yachts, Turkish Craftsmen Behind Downeast-Style Classics

From gulet-inspired boats to American-style classics

The company's origins lie in a small Black Sea town in Turkey. During the 1980s Sebahattin Hafizoglu, taken with the graceful lines of the traditional Turkish gulet, started reworking that idea in wood-epoxy cold-molded construction, and his boats soon earned notice for their looks and finish. Yacht building under the Vicem name dates from 1991. In America the brand made its reputation with the Classic line, varnished mahogany boats whose sweeping sheer borrows from Maine lobster yachts and the old commuters.

At Vicem, tailoring a boat to its owner is the normal way of working rather than a costly extra, and that defines the brand. The yard has also relabeled boats over time to reflect true overall length, so Yachting points out that one 2010 launch sold as a 58 Classic now goes by 64. The current website groups its range into Classics of roughly 46 to 82 feet, Cruisers of about 67 to 107 feet, Vulcan sport boats, Sportfish models in the mid-50s to low-60s, and a 37-footer offered as both a center console and an express.

One number, several different 65s

Our covered model, the Vicem 65 Classic, shares its number with a string of earlier boats, which tells you a lot about how this builder works. A cold-molded 65 motoryacht came out in 2007 with Yanmar diesels, a 65 Flybridge was unveiled at Palm Beach in 2016 with Volvo power, and Classic Flybridge and Classic IPS versions followed in either composite or wood, the latter on Volvo pod drives.

The current 65 Classic is an express commuter and marks the yard's shift toward composite on its signature line, using a foam-cored fiberglass laminate in place of mahogany. The first hull went to an American owner late in 2024, Yachting ran it off Miami Beach the following year, and further hulls, each laid out differently, were taking shape in Turkey in 2025. Dimensions, power and test data are on the model page.

Older Vicems, resale and the survey

At this length, most secondhand Vicems are older cold-molded boats, and they can buy a lot of yacht for a fraction of what a new 65 Classic costs; our model page lists example asking prices. With every hull built to its own plan, there are few true comparables, and American owners depend on dealers and independent specialist yards rather than an extensive factory network.

Cold-molded construction rewards owners who maintain it and punishes those who do not.

• Survey moisture levels and epoxy encapsulation on cold-molded hulls
• Look for lifting or sun-damaged varnish and weathered teak
• Ask for the original arrangement drawings and the full options sheet
• Review engine service records and warranty transfer terms
• Test thrusters, interceptors and garage or transom doors
• Confirm the electrics and shore power suit American dock standards