Skip to main content

Livingstone 24: The 1930s-Style Gentleman’s Yacht Full of Modern Technology

The Netherlands boasts a long history of shipbuilding and exploration. The country’s tiny island of Urk, in particular, is home to some of its proudest fishermen whose rich, centuries-long connection to the sea continues to this day. So, it’s no surprise that one of the island’s most notable shipbuilders has just launched a thoroughly beautiful line of yachts that blends 21st-century innovation with classic Dutch minimalist design to create the perfect gentleman’s yacht, the Livingstone 24.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Shipmaker Hartman Yachts dates back to 1775 and is known among European sailors for their custom builds and ultra-modern Amundsen Series of expedition yachts. But the newly debuted Livingstone Series harks back to their roots, to the shipbuilding days of yore. The line features a clean, classic steel-and-aluminum exterior that recalls the luxurious, old-school ocean liners of the 1930s. The smallest of which, the Livingstone 24, is powered by a single 345-hp MAN diesel engine with a solid 3,000-nautical-mile range and a cruising speed of 11 knots. The 24’s bigger brothers, Livingstone 34 and Livingstone 42, offer substantially more room to roam and twin 345-hp engines. All are designed with high-tech Naiad stabilizers for ultimate comfort on the open ocean.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The vintage exterior belies a wealth of state-of-the-art gadgetry and modern amenities inside. The nearly 80-foot vessel sleeps nine passengers in four staterooms, including a master suite with a king-sized bed, en suite bath, and a large closet. Ample leisure space includes a dedicated bar, a kitchen, and dining and living areas. The interior features a pitch-perfect blend of vintage and modern decorative touches. Beautiful hand-carved wooden tables, leather-wrapped door handles, and glistening chrome fittings share space with all-glass shower stalls, luxurious cloth-wrapped headboards, and bold pops of purple and cobalt in the dining room.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The line’s namesake, Scottish missionary David Livingstone, was a tireless explorer in his day. His famous, 19th-century expedition down Africa’s Zambezi River relied on the first all-steel boats ever built. He once remarked:

“If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

His fierce determination and pioneer spirit are fitting inspiration for the Livingstone Series.

Image used with permission by copyright holder
Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Everything points to Apple TV+ making a change you’re not going to like
Is an ad-supported tier coming to Apple TV+?
The Apple TV Plus Logo

It turns out that TV worked pretty well under its old model. According to a new report from Business Insider, Apple TV+ may be the latest streaming service that's set to introduce an ad-supported tier and charge those who don't stream with ads a premium fee to access their great shows and movies.

At this point, the report is still speculation, but Apple has made several recent hires in the advertising space that seem to suggest the direction they're planning to take. The company recently hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Joseph Cady to serve as executive vice president of advanced advertising and partnerships, a move that comes following the company's hiring of another former NBCUniversal executive, Jason Frum, who joined Apple's video ad sales team.

Read more
From Gilda Radner to Ali Wong, these are the best female comedians of all time
These women from all generations will make you laugh out loud
Ai Wong comedian 2017 Moontower comedy festival

Hot take: I don’t care for straight male comedians. It’s not that they’re not funny, they’re just … I don’t know, boring? Maybe that’s reductive of me, but I never seem to leave a straight male comedian’s set feeling particularly inspired. And though some may argue that it’s not important for a set to "inspire" its audience, I’d actually argue that the opposite is true. For me, I want to see a comedian use humor to address real issues and say real things about the world, even if they do it in a completely goofy way.

Therefore, I tend to prefer female and female-identified comedians. They’re sharp, tough, and have often seen shit that makes their comedy feel raw and true. Undoubtedly there are male comedians who do this, too, but to a much lesser degree, in my very humble and very personal opinion.

Read more
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more