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For more than a decade now, I’ve found myself driving that familiar dusty lane in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to the Michael Rybovich & Sons boatyard. Over the years, I’ve reviewed several of its builds, but whenever I ask Michael or Dusty Rybovich what’s next, Michael’s answer has often been the same: “I want to go back to simple, just build a fishing boat.” Hull No. 9, Da Bait, is exactly that.
Cockpit and Bridge
Simple doesn’t mean stripped down—it means back to the basics, with every system refined for reliability. The cockpit is tournament-ready, outfitted with new Rupp outriggers, a Release fighting chair, and electric-reel outlets tucked neatly behind custom doors. Freezer space abounds, with storage in the step and beneath the mezzanine seat, plus a starboard Frigibar ice dump feeding the transom fish box. Flush in-deck fittings allow for livewells or tuna tubes powered by a variable-speed Hooker pump. Everything is built for one purpose: chasing marlin.
At the helm, three Furuno TZtouchXL displays pair with a Furuno CSH-10 omni sonar and 25 kW radar. Furuno autopilot and VHF units are housed inside lockers, while a full Palm Beach tower carries redundant controls. True to the back-to-basics theme, manual toggle breakers dominate the helm, giving the captain tactile control over all systems.
Salon and Interior
Inside, the salon is open and welcoming, with an L-shaped sofa aft to port and a generous dinette forward. A blue quartz countertop with white accents ties the galley and interior together. The galley is equipped with Wolf induction appliances, a hidden microwave and six Sub-Zero drawers for long trips offshore. A pop-up TV sits opposite, above a clean manual breaker panel and Termodinamica air-conditioning controls. With all systems and lights running, the boat draws just over 30 amps, underscoring her efficiency.
Below, Da Bait offers a four-stateroom, three-head layout. Two twin-bunk rooms share a Jack-and-Jill head, with one including a full tackle closet. A spacious VIP with a private head sits starboard, while the forward master features its own head, ample storage and Rybovich’s signature teak accents. Every cabin incorporates backlit sliding storage cabinets, practical touches for extended trips.
Performance
On our sea trial, Michael Rybovich eased Da Bait through Palm Beach Inlet before calling out: “Hold on.” He wasn’t kidding. Powered by twin CAT C32Bs, the boat leaped forward with authority. She cruised comfortably at 36 knots at 2,000 rpm, burning 80 gph per side, and topped out at 42 knots at 2,320 rpm with fuel burn at 105 gph per side—impressive numbers for a 70-footer still in final tuning. CJR’s new propellers and flow-aligned rudders proved efficient, while a Seakeeper 18 smoothed out the ride.
At Rybovich, nothing leaves the yard until it’s perfect, and Da Bait was nearly there on this run. Purpose-built for marlin, this sport-fishing weapon embodies Michael’s vision of getting back to simple: no unnecessary frills, just performance, reliability and craftsmanship at the highest level. With her delivery deadline looming for the Marlin Moon in St. Thomas, the excitement among the crew was palpable. Da Bait is proof that sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
Rybovich 70 Specs
- LOA: 70’
- Beam: 19’6”
- Draft: 5’7”
- Displ.: 99,000 lb.
- Fuel: 2,050 gal.
- Water: 350 gal.
- Power: Twin CAT C32B – 2,000 hp
- Generators: Twin Cummins Onan 29 kW
- Propellers: CJR 5-Blade
- Climate Control: Termodinamica
