Meet the man billionaires call to fit out their $490k superyacht gyms

Former deckhand Edward Thomas spills on what it’s like to design gyms for superyachts, royal palaces and Hollywood stars.

Edward Thomas was once a deckhand struggling to keep gym equipment clean in the sea air.

Now, he runs a company designing superyacht gyms for the ultra-rich.

His largest project just last year cost about $490,000 and was on the private yacht of an unnamed “owner of a globally recognised brand in the sports industry”.

While based in England, Mr Thomas told news.com.au his company, Gym Marine, also worked for a number of private Australian clients who have commissioned yachts being built in Europe.

“I always admire the enthusiasm of Australian yacht owners and their willingness to push the boundaries of design on their projects,” he said.

“Australians are known as being a very sport-orientated nation, and therefore fitness and wellness forms an essential part of their planning for properties both on land and at sea.”

Gym Marine did this install on the superyacht Arrow, which was listed for sale by billionaire hedge fund manager Michael Platt for $US149m ($228m) earlier this year. Picture: Francisco Martinez

Gym Marine, which Mr Thomas founded in 2014 at 24 years old, works on privately owned yachts and ones available to charter, but they also do residential properties, offices and hotels.

Mr Thomas describes his typical client as ultra high net worth with an extensive property portfolio.

“One billionaire client has just approached us to consult on 12 of their properties globally, plus a very large yacht currently in build in Europe,” he said.

“The brief is to make the experience the same in every property, so wherever he is in the world he can keep to his specific workout plan.”

Gym Marine’s clients are typically billionaires with huge property portfolios. Picture: Luxury superyacht Nero by Blue iProductions

Billionaire’s $490,000 superyacht gym

Mr Thomas’ largest project featured four individual gym spaces.

“There is an extensive 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 which forms part of their master cabin layout,” he explained.

Edward Thomas founded Gym Marine at 24 years old.

The gym equipment had “a very large degree of unique customisations” including custom decals and ensuring the paint finishes matched across different equipment.

“Supplementary services which took the budget to over quarter of a million pounds ($486,000) in total spent on gyms for the project included freight, white glove installation, staff training on care and maintenance, and an after sales and servicing agreement to cover the yacht as it cruises worldwide,” Mr Thomas said.

He did not disclose the yacht owner’s name or pictures of the project, just that he owned a “globally recognised brand in the sports industry”.

Mr Thomas says despite the name some of his favourite projects have been on land. Picture: Ian Armstrong

Creating a gym for a Hollywood actor

Mr Thomas’ favourite project was doing a gym inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Park Lane in London.

“The gym was being refitted for a Hollywood actor who was in residence while filming a Marvel film – and the hotel agreed to beef-up their strength equipment offering to help him stay in shape for the movie,” Mr Thomas said.

US billionaire Terry Pegula’s yacht Top Five II. Picture: Charl Jordaan – Yachting Image

Mr Thomas has also worked in gyms at royal palaces in the Middle East.

“I will always make sure I can attend those installs in person as the scale and magnificence of the interiors is something very few people get to see,” he said.

He has come a long way since he started his career working as a deckhand on superyachts.

Mr Thomas said back then he mostly cleaned and was tasked with looking after the gym equipment.

“There was a particular set of dumbbells that used to rust like crazy, and I would sit up all night polishing them – only to find them orange again in the morning!” he said.

“This prompted me to look into products which were more suitable for the maritime environment and resulted in me starting the business in 2014.”