Florida-based Altitude Water has partnered with RM Design Pro to develop the SXR 68 XL, a 68-foot hybrid yacht that is set become the first US-built vessel to generate its own drinking water from air using integrated atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology.
The yacht has been designed with sustainability in mind and also features hybrid propulsion, solar regeneration and AI-based controls.
“This is more than a yacht, it’s an off-grid, energy-efficient vessel that produces clean drinking water without relying on desalination or bottled water,” explained Jeff Szur, founder and COO of Altitude Water.
“By designing the AWG system directly into the yacht’s core infrastructure, we’ve eliminated the taste, reliability, and maintenance issues that plague traditional marine water systems.”
We weren’t just improving this vessel, we were creating a system that could help transform the yachting experience.
Rogerio Mariani
The SXR 68 XL meets standards set by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier IV standards for charter-readiness and fast-track certification.
The partnership was initiated through design company M2 Holistic Studio.
“I knew there was a reason I chose M2 Holistic Studio to lead the interior design of the yacht,” said yacht designer Rogerio Mariani, founder of RM Design Pro.
“We integrated Altitude’s AWG system with our AI-based Yacht Integrative Control Systems & Monitoring (YICSM), a breakthrough that can now be replicated in future builds.
Transforming the yachting experience
“After several meetings with the Altitude team, it became clear we weren’t just improving this vessel, we were creating a system that could help transform the yachting experience.”
Marta Halwany and Mahria Carolihna, co-founders of M2 Holistic Studio, added: “We immediately saw the value of bringing atmospheric water generation into the marine world.
“Our goal has always been to design spaces that nourish the body, mind, and planet. This project was an opportunity to make that philosophy tangible on the water.”
Full integration
Unlike conventional reverse osmosis (RO) water makers, which rely on seawater desalination and extensive filtration,
Altitude Water’s AWG system creates water from the humidity in the air with no plumbing required.
“We’ve placed portable AWG units on yachts for years,” said Altitude Water’s founder Jeff Szur.
“But space is at a premium, and the real vision was always full integration. With this partnership, we’re finally delivering a built-in, self-reliant water solution that can scale across the yachting industry.”
