For part one of the article featuring Invictus, Capoforte, Fjord, Vanquish, Pardo and VanDutch, click here.
Solaris Power 44 Open
Italy’s other leading day boat builders include Solaris Power – also based in Forli – whose Open models include the 40, 44, 48 and upcoming 52 and 60, while it also produces Lobster and Flybridge series. Key Largo, owned by Bergamo-based Sessa Marine, produces outboard (24, 27, 34, 40) and inboard (24, 27, 34) lines.
Key Largo 34
In Napoli, Fiart focuses on open boats with its Seawalker models (35, 39, 43) and the P54 it debuted at last year’s Genoa International Boat Show, while Apreamare builds the distinctive Gozzo 35 and 45.
Fiart P54
Just northwest of Napoli, Evo’s open day boats include the R4 (43ft) in three versions and super-transformer R6 (58ft). Earlier this year, the young company founded in 2014 announced the sale of four R4 units to the Middle East through dealer Evo Yachts Dubai.
Evo R4
Other Italian builders in the sector include Sardinia-based Maori Yacht, while Wider is moving in with its Wilder 60 launching this summer. Italia Yachts has developed an open design for its upcoming IY 43, the sailing yacht builder’s first powerboat.
Sacs Rebel 47
In Italy, RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) and ‘maxi’ RIBs form a sub-sector of luxury day boats. Leading brands include Sacs (1989), which builds Rebel (40, 47, 55) and Strider (23ft-59ft) lines, and is represented by Boat Lagoon Yachting in Southeast Asia.
Pirelli 42
Sister company TecnoRib (2005) produces Pirelli walkarounds (30, 35, 42, 50), while Anvera (2002) builds 42, 48 and 58 models. Founded in 1961, Nuova Jolly includes Thailand-based Asia Global Yachting among its dealers.
Lomac GranTurismo 12.0
Other historic RIB builders include Lomac (1960), which debuted the GranTurismo 12.0 at Boot Dusseldorf in January and will premiere the Turismo 9.5 and upgraded 45ft flagship GranTurismo 14.0 at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival (September 7-12).
In the Netherlands, leading day boat brands include Wajer, founded in 1992 and whose models include the 46-knot 38, new 44, 55 and flagship 77, which reaches 37 knots and includes Tom Brady among its buyers.
Wajer 55S
Earlier this year, Bekkers released its first yacht, the Azur 45HT, which will debut at Cannes in September, while Flynt is developing the 956 Nova, a Vripack-designed 31-footer expected to top 48 knots with twin 350hp inboards.
Frauscher, the iconic Austrian brand founded in 1927, builds motor boats from the 747 Mirage (24ft 6in) to the 1414 Demon (46ft), along with electric boats from the 610 San Remo (20ft) to the Frauscher x Porsche Fantom Air (28ft) set to debut in 2024.
In the UK, Sunseeker and Fairline – both founded in the 1960s – have targeted different ends of the market with their Superhawk 55 and F//Line 33 respectively, while other storied British builders focused on open designs include Hunton (1979) and Fletcher (1960), which is developing its first new model in over two decades, the F23 bowrider, with an electric edition targeted for late 2024.
Tesoro 40
Spanish builders include De Antonio, whose models range from the D28 to D50, while the newer Tesoro brand offers its T-38, T-40 and upcoming T-55 in inboard or outboard versions, with dealers including The Yacht Sales Co in Asia-Pacific.
In Germany, SAY Carbon Yachts has entered the market with its low-emission, carbon-built 29, 29 E (electric) and 42 models, with the 52 in production. The company was founded by CEO Karl Wagner, a carbon specialist whose background includes two decades developing Carbo Tech into one of the automobile industry’s largest producers of carbon-fibre-reinforced components, working with the likes of Porsche, Aston Martin and McLaren.
SCANDINAVIAN STYLE
After day boat pioneer Fjord was founded in Arendal on Norway’s south coast in 1960, eight years later Swedish builder Nimbus was established in Gothenburg, 135nm to the east. Part of the eight brand Nimbus Group, which recorded US$160 million in sales for 2022, Nimbus has long been Sweden’s most popular boat builder and was associated with tennis star Bjorn Borg in the 1980s.
Nimbus T11
Another leader in the historic and recent waves of Scandinavian boat builders with global appeal, Nimbus continues to build rock-solid, multi-functional boats ranging from 26-49ft across four lines: Tender, Day Cruisers, Commuter and Coupe Cruisers, the latter two featuring enclosed designs.
Its Tender line of walkarounds features the T8 (26ft), T9 (31ft) and T11 (41ft) – which can all be fitted with a T-top – while Day Cruisers include the 305 Drophead (33ft), Weekender 9 (31ft) and newly launched Weekender 11 (41ft), which will premiere at Cannes in September.
Asiamarine represents Nimbus in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and has sold the T8, T9 and T11 (Review, Issue 65) across the region. The dealer represents Fraser in multiple markets
and has sold several Nimbus models to owners of superyachts.
“Nimbus boats are not cheap, but they’re pricey for the right reason because they’re so strong, seaworthy and safe. I now consider Nimbus the ‘last boat’ that clients buy, after they’ve tried other brands,” says Eric Noyel, founder and CEO of Asiamarine, who owns a T11 in Thailand.
Nimbus T11 and W9
“Each time I use mine, I’m still finding out more about the boat, how it has everything you need. Nimbus is building on 45 years of feedback from clients, so the designs are so practical, with everything you need in the right place. The more I use it, the more I admire it.”
Asiamarine’s portfolio also includes Galeon and Swan, who are targeting the day boat market with the dynamic, multi-functional GTO series and elegant Shadow/Overshadow models respectively.
“We see more interest in day boats in Southeast Asia than Hong Kong, although overall I think the market is still relatively small for these types of boats compared to enclosed and flybridge yachts,” Noyel says.
In neighbouring Finland, Axopar has helped popularise Scandinavian-style motor boats since displaying its first model at the 2014 Helsinki International Boat Show, having been co-founded by Jan-Erik Viitala and Sakari Mattila, who has since left and set up Saxdor.
Axopar 37 ST
Axopar builds its adventure-themed boats in Poland and has produced over 5,000 in less than a decade. It currently offers multiple designs across its 22, 25, 28 and 37 models, plus the 45 XC Cross Cabin.
Its dealers in Asia include Thailand-based Derani Yachts, which organised five Axopars for last December’s Kata Rocks Poker Run in Phuket, while Europa Yachts in the Philippines and Amal Yachting in Taiwan are also among dealers in Asia.
Axopar is also behind Brabus Marine, which was created in 2017 with German company Brabus, a specialist in ‘aftermarket tuning’ and special editions of cars, especially Mercedes-Benz models.
Brabus Marine offers Axopar 25, 28 and 37 models (named Brabus Shadow 300, 500 and 900) with upgraded horsepower and in a wide variety of colours and designs, often military-inspired such as Blacks Ops and Stealth Green. It appointed Derani as a dealer last year.
Saxdor has further strengthened the Scandinavian offering of day boats since it was set up in 2019. Ranging from 20ft-40ft and built in Poland, models include the 200, 205, 270 (GTO, GT), 320 (GTO, GTC) and upcoming 400 (GTO, GTC), all open or with cover options apart from the enclosed GTC editions.
Saxdor 320 GTO
Its dealers include Motor Field and Pattaya Boat Club in Thailand, Xtreme Machines in Singapore and Pacific Leisure Boat in Hong Kong and mainland China, which has already brought in the 200, 320 GTO and 320 GTC models, with multiple 270s arriving in the summer.
It may still be early days for luxury day boats in this region, where Southeast Asia’s year-round warm weather could prove more welcoming to open designs than East Asia’s northern markets.
However, NextWave, for one, is a believer in the sector, while emphasising that clients across the region will continue to prioritise quality, design and detailing over price.
“The luxury day boat sector has experienced significant growth in recent years because of owners increasingly seeking the freedom to cruise without requiring a crew or with only a minimal crew on board,” co-founder Frankie Chau says.
“Boat builders in this sector are competing on factors such as exterior styling, craftsmanship in luxurious interior details and performance, all of which are highly valued by buyers in this market segment.”
