- Edward Thomas has spent nearly ten years specializing in the design of yacht gyms.
- His most expensive installation was over $300,000
- Thomas’ company Jim Mullin uses products of the highest standards
When it comes to gym design, these ultra-sleek fitness studios pack a punch.
Installed on multi-million dollar superyachts, these gyms are in a league of their own, with equipment catering to fitness enthusiasts with exceptional taste.
Edward Thomas He has spent nearly a decade specializing in designing superyacht gyms, and his commissions range from the sublime to the ridiculous, he told DailyMail.com.
His most expensive installation cost over $300,000.
He said of the project: “The largest facility we have worked on will be completed in 2022. On the yacht he has four separate gym spaces.
“There is a large gym for the yacht’s full-time crew, a separate gym for the owner’s personal staff, a gym for the owner’s guests, and a private gym space for the owner that forms part of the master cabin layout.”
“This project was implemented with a large amount of unique customizations and additional services, resulting in a total budget of over $300,000 spent on the project gym.”
Thomas’ company, Gym Marine, uses the highest standards of products for its high-flying customers.
A set of 12 rust-proof dumbbells and a rack made from brass and premium wood costs just over $50,000.
Meanwhile, Matrix’s high-tech treadmills cost around $7,000, and German brand Nohrd’s nice-looking bikes cost around $4,500.
During his time in the superyacht industry, Thomas says he received some pretty unusual requests.
Recalling one incident when all the instruments had to be wrapped in Hermès-style leather, he said: “A few years ago, a customer asked us to deliver a selection of cardio equipment for a yacht, but they said they didn’t want to.” You can see the gray plastic.
“In the end, the only way to achieve this was to manually wrap the machine in leather.
“The client decided that a Hermès-inspired tan material should be used to match a famous handbag he saw in his Parisian atelier.
“We did this project in collaboration with our partners in Northern France, and the results were astonishing.
On another occasion, Thomas said he was contacted by the “wife of a retail tycoon” looking for gym equipment for a family yacht being built in Italy.
Looking back, he said: “This family chose a custom leopard print finish for all of their jet skis and other water toys and asked us if we could replicate this with Kettlebells.
“We considered many methods to achieve this, such as hydrographic immersion and airbrushing, but unfortunately the project never went ahead.”
Originally from the UK and working with clients around the world, 32-year-old Thomas originally entered the world of superyachts as a deckhand.
One of his main duties was cleaning vessels, and part of his duties were looking after gym equipment.
He said seeing rusty gym equipment inspired him to design a yacht gym and started looking at ways to source long-lasting products that wouldn’t discolor from sea air.
Recalling the moment the light bulb came on, he said: “One particular set of dumbbells was rusting like crazy, I spent all night polishing the dumbbells and in the morning they were back orange!”
“This prompted us to look for products that are better suited to the marine environment, and in 2014 we started our business.”
Finding a gap in the market helped Thomas’ consulting firm Jim Mullin go from strength to strength and now has offices in the UK, Italy, Holland and Fort Lauderdale, USA.
In addition to sourcing rust-free gym equipment, Thomas’ company works hard to prevent heavy equipment from being damaged when dislodged in rough weather.
To achieve this, his staff works with yacht builders to “ensure weight distribution and equipment placement to maximize the safe operation of the yacht”.
The company has also developed its own bespoke marine fixing brackets for equipment available in a variety of finishes including gold.
Key elements of a “great” yacht gym, Thomas said, include panoramic ocean views, state-of-the-art equipment and sophisticated interiors.
He said there is a “minor difference” between a yacht gym on a privately owned boat and a yacht gym that can be chartered.
The entrepreneur explains: “Private Yacht Gyms are customized to the owner family and reflect their unique fitness habits, while Charter Yacht Gyms are more like hotel gyms with something for everyone and a wealth of accessories and workouts. It’s going to be.” A tool that will keep you ready for your fitness-obsessed guests.
“On smaller charter yachts, the gym space may double as a massage area, but larger yachts have their own very large spa decks.”
Before departing for his next port of call, Thomas concluded: “At Jim Marine, we are fortunate to have worked on 60 percent of the world’s largest yachts currently sailing, and from our design studio, he currently consults on an amazing 331 active gym projects. .”In the world.
“These vary between yacht projects, residential gyms, hotels and office commercial properties.
“Right now we have an amazing client who has entrusted us with the management of properties all over the world. One billionaire client owns 12 properties around the world and a very large property currently under construction in Europe. They contacted us to discuss yachts.”
“The point is to ensure that the experience is the same at each facility so that you can maintain your specific training regimen wherever you are in the world.”
