Wayne Gretzky, long hailed as “The Great One,” is widely regarded as one of the most talented athletes ever to lace up skates. Now retired after 20 seasons in the National Hockey League, he and his wife Janet spend summers at their Lake Coeur d’Alene vacation home in Idaho. Recently they added a striking, custom-built 34-foot powerboat to their dock—a wooden dayboat that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern performance and comfort.
The Gretzkys commissioned Coeur Custom, a shop led by master craftsman Jim Brown that has produced elegant wooden boats for nearly two decades. “They wanted a luxurious wooden powerboat designed to entertain family and friends in comfort and style,” Brown says. The result, called the 340 Steinway HT, is the most ambitious boat he has built to date and reflects intensive collaboration between the owners and the Coeur Custom team.
The hull is double-planked in sapele, an African hardwood prized for its beauty, strength, and natural resistance to rot. Coeur Custom showcased the sapele by leaving the topsides exposed beneath multiple coats of high-gloss varnish, giving the boat a warm, handcrafted character reminiscent of fine instrument making—hence the Steinway name and piano-like design cues.
Interior customization was a major focus. The Gretzkys specified bespoke upholstery and pillows embroidered with a stylized rendition of Wayne’s famous No. 99 jersey. Interior and exterior LED lighting accentuates the boat’s lines both above and under the water, while fenders are stowed neatly in a wooden rack behind a flip-down panel. One standout feature is a retractable teak swim step that disappears into the stern at the push of a button, preserving the boat’s clean profile when underway.
The deck layout prioritizes socializing and flexible entertaining. A large upholstered sunpad sits aft with a backrest facing the swim platform. The main deck forms a capacious lounge with a sectional-sized seating area placed behind a removable teak table, plus a two-person bench and a compact galley equipped with a sink, icemaker, and refrigerator. An electric Sureshade provides shade over the social area, and a discreet boarding door is integrated into the starboard topsides.
Under a solid hardtop, twin benches provide comfortable seating: the starboard helm station and a companion seat to port. A wraparound windshield directs airflow upward and away from the cockpit for a drier ride. Steps between the seats lead to a walkthrough to the bow lounge, which includes two forward-facing chaise lounges and an aft-facing bench with a backrest. A convenient head with an electric Nano toilet and sink is located at the walkthrough, adding to the boat’s day-cruising practicality.
Lake Coeur d’Alene is largely sheltered, but strong southwest summer winds and weekend traffic can churn the water. To keep guests comfortable in variable conditions, Coeur Custom engineered a hull that delivers a dry, stable ride. The hull’s pronounced forefoot and plumb bow push spray down and outboard, while sapele spray rails further deflect water. The V-shaped hull eases into a 21.5-degree transom deadrise for a controlled, comfortable run even in choppy water.
Power comes from a pair of 430-hp MerCruiser gas inboards paired with Bravo III sterndrives, digital engine controls, and Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Sterndrives. The package produces strong acceleration and a top speed around 43 knots, according to Brown. The joystick system makes close-quarters handling intuitive, allowing the operator to move the boat sideways and position it precisely at docks—a feature Brown calls a “gamechanger.”
The wood-clad helm blends traditional styling with modern electronics. Twin 12-inch multifunction touchscreen displays provide navigation, engine integration, and system monitoring, while a thoughtfully crafted wooden armrest houses the joystick control for a seamless mix of form and function.
Brown remembers the moment the boat was delivered. “Seeing their faces light up as they each took the helm for the first time—that was very special,” he says. The 340 Steinway HT is a showcase of bespoke wooden boatbuilding: refined materials, tailored interiors, thoughtful systems, and performance tuned for lake cruising and entertaining.
Specs
LOA: 33’6”
Beam: 9’6”
Fuel: 100 gals.
Water: 25 gals.
Power: (2) 430-hp Mercury inboards with sterndrives
This article was originally published in the November 2021 issue.