Episode 165: Interview With Yacht Designer Rogerio Mariani

From his early days as a visual artist in Germany to designing some of the most forward-thinking vessels on the water, yacht designer Rogerio Mariani has built his career on blending creativity with cutting-edge engineering. Now, as founder of RM Design Pro, Mariani is spearheading a project set to change the future of yachting—the SXR 68 XL, a 68-foot hybrid yacht designed from the keel up for sustainability, performance, and self-sufficiency.

The SXR 68 XL is the first U.S.-built yacht to fully integrate atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology, producing clean drinking water directly from the air. Developed in partnership with Florida-based Altitude Water, the AWG system eliminates the need for desalination or bottled water, while avoiding the taste and maintenance issues of traditional marine water systems. “Once we have this system integrated into the first build, it can be scaled to larger yachts and even superyachts,” Mariani explains. “There’s no limit to where this can go.”

The yacht also features hybrid diesel-electric propulsion, hydro-regeneration, solar power, and AI-based Yacht Integrative Control Systems & Monitoring (YICSM), allowing for real-time optimization of every onboard system—from power production to climate control. “We wanted to create the perfect yacht in terms of autonomy,” Mariani says. “This is about what the yacht can do for you, how it can sustain itself, and how it can operate with minimal environmental impact.”

The project came together through M2 Holistic Studio, a design firm that integrates wellness, sustainability, and technology into luxury environments. As early adopters of Altitude Water’s technology, M2 introduced Mariani to founder Jeff Szur, sparking a collaboration that would unite innovation across water generation, propulsion, and design. “It was amazing how neatly everything came together,” Mariani recalls. “We all had a piece of the puzzle, and together we’re creating something that will set a new benchmark.”

Unlike conventional reverse osmosis water makers, which require seawater plumbing and are prone to salt corrosion, the AWG system draws humidity from the air to create pure, great-tasting water—no ocean required. Combined with solar regeneration and modular construction, the SXR 68 XL is built for extended off-grid living, offering charter owners and private buyers both increased return on investment and a dramatically reduced ecological footprint.

For Mariani, the project is as much about vision as it is about technology. “I look at the world as it can be, not just how it is,” he says. “If you can integrate new systems that no one else has, you give owners something to be truly proud of—while creating more jobs and moving the industry forward.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1UcnYkmFu4

🎧 To hear the full conversation with Rogerio Mariani tune in to his episode on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience, streaming now.