ONLY ON 3: Yacht on Cape Fear River drawing attention

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A yacht on the Cape Fear River is getting lots of attention for its luxuries and economic impact.

Port City Marina staff say they hope to have a riverfront full of these boats in the future.

This video may look like fun, but Captain Herbert Magney said it is actually just a test.

“Several people have asked questions about the slide,” Magney said. “We’ve had mariners. We’ve had the Coast Guard Auxiliary come up to check out the slide.”

Magney said the owner brought this yacht to Wilmington in November for some renovations and marina staff hopes it is the future for the port city as one of many yachts that will dock here as more restaurants, a concert venue and housing go up along the northern river front.

“The Port City Marina has been a wonderful place to work and easy access for everybody,” Magney said.

The crew is putting together the final touches, so renters can have it all with a price tag.

“Anyone who wants to spend $150,000 bucks to make their dream come true,” Magney said.

The crew is perfecting every inch starting with the angle of the slide.

“It was suggested by my boss that I might be the one going down it,” Deckhand Steve Stier said.

After installation, Stier threw on a life jacket and waited for the signal from the rescue boat below.

“We had the camera going, the rescue going, and the hot tub going ready for him at the end,” Magney said.

“It was ice cold,” Stier said. “It was like a polar plunge.”

Stier said the test run was a success.

“Definitely,” Stier said. “I got two good slides out of it and I got to test the water really well,” Stier said.

After the yacht is ready to set sail with customers in the spring, Captain Magney said it will also leave behind a pretty big impact in the port city.

“A couple hundred thousand dollars will have been spent at local businesses easily,” Magney said.

Officials say the restaurants on the riverfront are slated to open in July and construction on the band shell at the concert venue could happen as early as next week.