10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)
There's no denying that sailors are certainly a passionate bunch. We’re so passionate about our boats that we always try going for the best sailboats. To make it a lot easier for you, here are the best sailboat brands.
Owning a sailboat is an indulgence that many of us only dream about but very few ever have the privilege of sailing the seas in what they can actually call their own.
While there's nothing wrong with renting a sailboat, the honor of owning one is certain what many sailors dream of.
With a perfectly crafted sailboat as company, gliding through the water, waves, and wind brings some sort of unmatched comfort and peace.
Add this to the fact that sailing takes you far away from the daily hustles and bustles that we've become accustomed to in our daily lives and you'll see why the life of sailing is very appealing to the masses.
But without a proper sailboat, all this fun and the good life of sailing are thrown out of the window.
Contrary to the widespread opinion, owning a sailboat isn't beyond anyone's reach. It's something that we can all achieve. But before getting into that, it's important to know some of the best sailboat brands.
The best sailboat brands will make your life as a sailor a lot easier and more fun. The best sailboat brands have, for decades if not centuries, mastered the art of woodworking. They've dedicated their skills and immense amount of their time to designing and manufacturing nothing but the best quality of sailboats in the industry.
So if you've been looking for the best sailboat brands from all over the world, you've come to the right place. We'll discuss the best of the best, something that will give you a perfect getaway from your normal life.
Table of contents
Must-Have Features for Your Sailboat
Before highlighting the best sailboat brands, it would be appropriate to jog your mind a little with some of the features that must be available in your sailboat.
Choosing a sailboat can sometimes be a matter of compromises. In other words, it's sometimes sensible to accept that a sailboat cannot have all the features that you desire.
As such, it's all about going with a sailboat that has the features that matter to you most.
For this reason, let's look at the most basic features that can make the difference in both safety and comfort while improving your sailing experience.
A Safe and Comfortable Sailing Cockpit
You'll most definitely be spending a huge amount of time in the cockpit. Whether you're keeping watch, trimming sails , helming, or just enjoying the scenery, there's no better place to do all these than from the cockpit. That being said, a good cockpit should have the following.
- Have a good depth for safety reasons and adequate drainage
- Should give you a quick and easy access to jammers, cleats, and other important parts of the winch system
- Should have a seat or seats that are about 35 cm high, 50 to 55 cm wide to provide ideal support
- The seats should be adjustable to offer maximum comfort and allow you to change your position
GPS Chartplotter
Use a GPS Chartplotter once and your sailing will never be the same without it. It not only allows you to map a course but is also a great way of ensuring that your sailboat exactly follows that course. It also gives you constant updates on ocean conditions, weather conditions , and potential hazards such as deadly currents and sandbars.
A GPS Chartplotter is also an important safety device that can help you in some very critical situations while out there on the water.
For instance, it has a man-overboard button that is essentially meant to allow you to receive coordinates of the exact location should someone fall off your boat.
Electric Winch System
This is an amazing addition to any sailboat. It allows you to sheet a jib even in high and strong winds with a simple press of a button. It also gives you the chance of trimming a mainsail easily while still carry out other essential tasks in the sailboat.
An electric winch system can be of great importance, especially if you're short on crew. This is because it can free up some crew members to carry other important tasks. In other words, it can make duties that would otherwise require more crew members a lot easier.
More importantly, an electric winch system can maintain safety even in the roughest of conditions, thereby preventing you and your crew from getting injured. In essence, an electric winch system will make your sailing a lot safer, less stressful, and more enjoyable.
Reverse Osmosis Watermaker
This is a very valuable accessory, especially if you're going on long sea voyages. You can spend days on end without drinking clean and safe water.
As the name suggests, you can use this accessory to turn seawater into purified drinking water. It uses the reverse osmosis method that's essential not only in removing bacteria and parasites from the water but also in turning the water into purified and safe drinking water.
Even though this device is pricey, it's a great way to mitigate the over-reliance on huge water tanks. All you have to do is to ensure that it's properly maintained and you'll have an endless streak of safe drinking water no matter where you are.
Wide and Clutter-free Deck
While the deck is often an overlooked feature of a sailboat, it can be the difference between a great sailing experience and a stressful one. In essence, the deck of a sailboat should be wide enough and clutter-free.
This is significant as it can enable you to quickly access different parts of your sailboat with hindrance or getting tangled. As you can see, this is particularly important in improving safety and reducing stress.
With that in mind, make sure that the deck is organized in such a way that you can have easy access to sails, masts, and winches.
You should, therefore, avoid sailboats with decks that are designed in such a way that you have to climb on top of the cabin just to access these features. Needless to say, this can be quite unstable and very dangerous especially when conditions are rough.
The Best Sailboat Brands and Why
1. hallberg-rassy.
Hallberg-Rassy is a Swedish yacht maker that's very well-known in the blue water cruising circles for making some of the highest quality and sturdiest sailboats. For many sailors, this is the number one sailboat brand as it offers absolute comfort, utmost safety, and good and easy handling.
This brand is not only synonymous with sturdy construction but you won't worry getting soaking wet while out there on the water. This is because it has a well-protected deck and cockpit, finished with nice woodwork, and has a powerful engine with a big tankage just to ensure that you can go on long voyages.
When designing its sailboats, this brand has made it a norm to add some features that stand out from the rest. For instance, the bowsprit is an integral feature that makes sailing a Hallberg-Rassy quite easy and much enjoyable. This is because it grants easy access to and from the deck. Its electric anchor winches facilitate smooth maneuvering. Even more, its large steering wheels makes it much easier to control the boat even in the roughest of conditions. In essence, this brand has features that provide good control and an extra sense of safety.
Although this brand has evolved over the years, you'll easily recognize it even from a distance. And why is this? A Hallberg-Rassy never goes out of style. This is a unique sailboat brand that has always stayed true to its principles and concept. No matter which part of the world you go, Hallberg-Rassy will remain the undisputed king of blue water cruising.
2. Nautor's Swan
For over 50 years, Nautor's Swan has endlessly raised the sailing levels by designing and manufacturing new sailboat models that not only push the boundaries but also meet that many requirements and demands of sailors across the world. Thanks to its wide range of seaworthy, timeless, elegant, and highly-performing sailboats, the Nautor's Swan remains one of the best if not the best sailboat makers in the world.
Based in Jakobstad, Finland, this brand has severally set the industry standard with its speedy and sleek models such as the Swan 48, Swan 65, Swan 98, Swan 78, and Swan 120. These models have one thing in common: they never compromise on safety. As a brand that puts safety first, it ensures that its models are made of foam-cored glass fiber and reinforced both with carbon-fiber and epoxy. In essence, Nautor's Swan is widely revered for its unmatched seafaring and safety records.
Additionally, Nautor's Swan models are incredibly responsive. You can easily tell this just by the feel of the wheel. This brand has models that will gracefully slice through the biggest of waves with ease. That's not all; the interior of these models that are very comfortable even when the going gets tough. This is, without a doubt, a brand that strives to create self-contained worlds with each model.
3. Beneteau
This is perhaps the most selling sailboat brand in the world. For over a century now, this brand has based its models in a combination of simplicity and performance. This is a brand that will serve you just right across all latitudes and in all circumstances. Whether you prefer the Oceanis Yacht 62 or the Figaro Beneteau 3, this brand will never let you down on all fronts.
This brand revolves around a simple concept of creating a link around the world. From the deck space to its design and light, this brand does everything possible not just to uniformly transform life at sea but also to open doors to new horizons in a very luxurious yet practical way. Its models are designed with clear deck plans, stable hulls, simplified maneuvering and interior materials and equipment that can be easily personalized.
Whether you're looking for a racing sailboat or something that's designed to explore and enjoy the world in the company of friends and family, Beneteau is a true combination of sensations and simplicity. This is a brand that brings to the seas fun, simplicity, smartness, toughness, safety, intuitiveness, as well as dazzling reinvention.
4. Amel Yachts
Based on the ethos of designing and manufacturing comfortable, robust, and easy-to-handle boats, this French brand has, for over five decades, offered sailors and other sailing enthusiasts the perfect opportunity to explore the seas with the utmost quality, comfort, and more importantly, safety.
Using 100% French know-how, this brand has brought to the sailing world some of the best boats such as the Santorini, the Mango, the Super Maramu, and the Maramu. We would be doing this brand total injustice if we said that they're distinctive. Truth be told, there's nothing comparable to an Amel model. Well Amel was and still is, the ultimate standard by which other sailboat models are measured.
From items such as electric winches and furling, to generators, Watermaker , and washing machine down to the simplest of items such as towels. Spare filters, bathrobes, deck brush, and a boat safe, the Amel is in reality with what the real life of a sailor is and should be.
Although some may say that Amel still has room for improvement in terms of specifications and personalization, it cannot be denied that the Amel is a serious brand that designs and manufactures complete boats. With this brand, you'll be guaranteed of a higher degree of reliability, safety, and an edge of fun while out there on the water.
5. Hinckley Yachts
Based in Maine, United States, Hinckley Yachts is a brand that has been building robust, luxury, and safe sailboats for more than 90 years now. In its sailboat class, you'll find several sailboats that have classic shapes, inner strength, dramatic lines, and features that are absolutely essential in dealing with the challenges of the North Atlantic.
This brand has been successful in integrating impeccable craftsmanship with new technologies to ensure that their models always stand out while articulating advanced sailing practices, timeless aesthetic, robust construction, and the utmost safety. Whether you choose the Bermuda 50, the Sou'wester 53 or any model for that matter, you'll never be short of advanced performance based on the best design and technology.
In terms of features, this brand provides sailboat models with modern performance hulls. These hulls are constructed with inner layers of carbon, outer layers of Kevlar, and are aligned with computer-designed load paths. Every feature is designed without compromising comfort.
To this end, this brand offers you a perfect combination of both fun and sail. This brand offers more than just sailing. Instead, it offers a unique sailing experience that's combined with the pure joys of sailing in the blue waters with an ease of ownership and maneuverability.
6. Oyster Yachts
If you've been looking for luxury more than anything else, Oyster Yachts provides you with numerous solutions. This British brand is widely known for manufacturing a wide range of luxury cruising sailing yachts. Its sailboats are among the finest in the world and are immensely capable of taking you to some of the far-flung places in the world without having to worry about high winds and hellish waves.
Whether you choose the iconic Oyster 565 or the immense Oyster 595 you never fall short of experiencing the new world like never before. These are models that will enable you to own your adventure, choose your destination, set your courses, pick your anchorage, and stay safe at all times. If you want to hold the wheel and pull the sail while feeling the tang of salt spray on your face, Oyster Yachts is the way to go.
This is, unquestionably, a brand that's meant for you if you want to explore the seas in comfort, luxury and utmost safety. From craftsmanship, sailboat design, to hull, deck, and keel configurations, everything is designed to allow you to circumnavigate the world in comfort, elegance, and style.
7. Tartan Yachts
Based in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, there's arguably no better to begin your sailing adventures than with a sailboat designed and manufactured by Tartan Yachts. With several award-winning designs and construction, this brand is widely known for providing easy handling, great performance, and an ultimately stable platform.
This brand always strives to deliver a unique and the best possible experience to every sailor. As a brand, Tartan fully understands that every sailor has his/her unique sailing needs. As such every component of their models is designed with engineering levels that guarantee optimum performance, excellent on-deck visibility, and luxurious interior.
From the Tartan 5300, the Tartan 4300, the Tartan 345 to the New 365 and the Fantail, this brand makes it a priority to ensure that its models are among the strongest, lightest, and more importantly, the safest in the sailing industry. In essence, this brand can be ideal if you appreciate performance. It has rewarding sailing features both in narrow water lines and wider passages. Add this to its easy handling and you'll have a top-notch performer in virtually every condition.
8. Catalina Yachts
As one of the most popular boat manufacturers in the world, this American brand is widely revered for building the sturdiest boats that can hold up perfectly well in real-world conditions. These are generally family-oriented boats that are intelligently designed to ensure that your entire family can have fun out there on the water.
Some of the models include the cruiser series such as the Catalina 315, the Catalina 385, the Catalina 425 while the sport series include the Catalina 12.5 Expo, the Catalina 16.5, and the Catalina 14.2 Expo. As the current winner of the "Boat of the Year" Cruising World, you'll rarely go wrong with a Catalina model.
It offers a wide range of sailboat sizes that suits your lifestyle. This brand makes it a priority to ensure that all their models are not only safe but offer the best ownership and sailing experience. If anything, this brand is widely known to have one of the most excellent resale values in the sailing industry.
9. Island Packet Yachts
From the IP 525, the IP 439 to the IP 379, the Island Packet Yachts is a brand that encourages its customers not to keep the world waiting. This brand is meant for sailors who want to explore the world in utmost comfort and safety.
The first thing you'll notice in an IP sailboat is its large aft deck. This is not only perfect for sunbathing but can also serve you well if you want an impromptu dinner with friends and family while out there on the water. The living space is also large enough to carry most of your belongings, which is an added advantage especially if you've been planning to spend longer periods in the seas.
With modern evolution and refinement, as well as proven features, this brand is known to offer sailors maximum comfort, luxury, and safety. You'll have better access to the cockpit, have enough space, and are excellently designed to provide superior seafaring and the best features to enable you to spend extended periods when cruising.
10. Sparkman & Stephens
For more than 90 years, Sparkman & Stephens has been at the forefront of the belief that sailboat excellence goes beyond hull lines and deck plans. Instead, this brand believes in excellent naval architecture, innovation, sophistication, and beauty. This is a brand that has laid the foundation of sailboat as a sport not just in America but all over the world.
These models have graced the world for decades and bring immense pleasure to their owners in terms of innovation, performance, and excellence. Though rooted in tradition, the brand has pushed sophistication, technology, and sailing experience to a whole new level. You'll be a proud owner of the Sparkman & Stephens model.
There you have it; these are the best sailboat brands in the world. Although there are several other sailboat brands to choose from, the-above described brands stand shoulder above others in terms of quality, safety, performances and luxury.
Hopefully, you're at a much better place when it comes to choosing a sailboat that suits your lifestyle, needs, and budget .
Happy sailing!
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Common Issues With Island Packet Yacht Sailboats
Daniel Wade
I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.
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Are Oyster Yachts Still Worth The High Price?
Oyster is a privately owned British boatbuilding company building luxury, go-anywhere sailing yachts since 1973.
The iconic British brand continues to set the standard for luxurious, blue-water cruisers that other brands strive to match.
Over the years, the company has been building progressively bigger and better yachts.
From starting with their first yacht, the UFO 34, the company builds a range of exceptional yachts, from their all-new, award-winning Oyster 495 to their exhilarating flagship Oyster 855 SII.
Table of Contents
Here’s Why Oyster Yachts Are Worth Their High Price:
Oyster Yachts are the stuff dreams are made of for most blue-water sailors. These yachts are solidly built and beautifully finished and incorporate some of the best modern, innovative marine technologies available.
In addition, Oyster Yachts are worth their high price because even the base models come with an extremely high spec list.
Standard features include automated hydraulics with touchscreen controls, automated in-mast furling, electric winches, and B&G navigation systems – you will only find the best on an Oyster Yacht.
The company has evolved, refined, and become more sophisticated over the last 50 years.
Today’s fleet remains true to Oyster’s founding principles – “pioneering design, uncompromising strength of construction, exhilarating performance, quality finish, and liveaboard luxury.”
[Quote courtesy of oysteryachts.com]
How Much Exactly Do Oyster Boats Cost?
It’s difficult to determine how much exactly an Oyster yacht will cost. Every Oyster yacht is built to order, and a wide array of semi-custom options are available for the discerning new owner.
These include (but are not limited to) hull color, interior cabin layout, choice of wood finish and upholstery, choice of the keel, mast, and boom options, different sail plans, electronics packages, and many more.
However, we have managed to establish new base boat prices, and these are as follows:
| Oyster 495 | £1.2 million ex VAT |
| Oyster 565 | £1.4 million ex VAT |
| Oyster 595 | £2.3 million ex VAT |
| Oyster 675 | £2.48 million ex VAT |
| Oyster 745 | £4 million ex VAT |
| Oyster 885 Series II | £4.5 million ex VAT |
For more detailed information about each of these models, please read our article, ‘How Much Does An Oyster Yacht Cost?’ here.
While an Oyster yacht will never be cheap, it’s worth looking at the secondhand boat market to see what Oyster Yachts are available. You may be able to pick up an older model for a slightly more affordable price.
At the time of writing, yachtworld.com, the top online boating marketplace in the world, had 76 used or secondhand Oyster yachts available.
These range from the smallest and the cheapest, an Oyster 26 from 1979 priced at $17,248 and goes all the way up to over $11 million for a 125-foot Oyster Displacement Sloop built in 2013.
However, it’s important to note that because not too many Oyster yachts have been built (compared to other brands) and because they are a premium product, Oyster yachts retain their value well, so you probably won’t find too many bargains out there.
Do Oyster Yachts Cost More Than Similar Brands?
Oyster Yachts fall into the category of high-end, luxury, go-anywhere sailing yachts. Similar brands include Amel, Hallberg-Rassy, Jeanneau, and Nautor’s Swan.
These brands are known for their luxurious quality, spaciousness, comfort, and general seaworthiness.
But are Oyster Yachts more expensive than these similar brands? Due to the very nature of these high-end, semi-custom, luxury bluewater yachts, new boat prices are difficult to establish.
So, we’ve made a price comparison on similar secondhand models.
Our criteria were to look for similar-sized yachts from each brand and the same or similar year – let’s take a closer look at the results:
| Oyster | 575 | 2019 | $2,163,697 |
| Amel | 55 | 2018 | $1,034,449 |
| Hallberg-Rassy | 57 | 2019 | $1,622,636 |
| Jeanneau | 58 | 2018 | $798,500 |
| Nautor’s Swan | 60 | 2018 | $1,957,409 |
[Info courtesy of Yachtworld.com]
This quick price comparison indicates that Oyster yachts cost more than similar brands.
However, to establish the true value of each yacht, you would need to compare detailed inventories and the overall condition of each yacht.
Comparing yachts is very unlike comparing cars or vehicles – due to the very nature of semi-custom-built yachts, no two yachts are ever the same, even if they are built by the same factory or come from the same brand.
Why Do People Choose Oyster Over The Competition?
People choose Oyster over the competition because they know they are purchasing a superior quality product – there is no better sailing yacht in the world in this class.
In addition, an Oyster Yacht is built with both comfort and speed in mind. Oyster yachts are world-renowned for having more volume per meter than any other sailing yacht.
Oyster Yachts are internationally recognized and respected for their meticulous build quality, superior performance, and go-anywhere sailing capabilities – you can sail anywhere in an Oyster Yacht and get there quickly.
And all this is backed up with outstanding international customer support.
When you buy an Oyster Yacht, you don’t just buy a boat, you buy into a lifestyle. As an Oyster owner, you become part of the Oyster family with regular invitations to regattas, dinners, and other events.
There are two main regattas per year – one in the Caribbean at Easter and the other in the Mediterranean in September/October. Plus, there are parties and dinners for owners during various boat shows where Oyster participates, including the London, Southampton, and Annapolis boat shows and various other sailing events.
And that’s not all – as an Oyster owner, you will also receive an exclusive invitation to the voyage of a lifetime.
The Oyster World Rally is a fully supported 27,000 nm circumnavigation of the world, which takes you to some of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet.
This exclusive event is only open for Oyster owners to join and is limited to 30 yachts. It’s the ultimate adventure for most sailors and why people will choose Oysters over the competition.
Why Are Oyster Yachts So Expensive? (Explained)
Do Oyster Boats Keep Their Value Better?
As Oyster Yachts are built to such high standards, the rate of deterioration is less than you would expect with other brands of sailing yachts.
This helps Oyster Yachts keep their value better. In addition, Oyster only produces a limited amount of boats each year, so there is a limited supply.
Oyster Yachts are in high demand with entrepreneurs and successful business people, most of whom are seasoned sailors with ambitions to sail the world or race in exclusive regattas.
This demand contributes to Oyster Yachts retaining their value better than other brands.
However, as with any brand of sailing boat, your Oyster Yacht needs to be well maintained to limit its depreciation.
What Are Typical Alternatives To Oyster Boats?
In addition to the brands already mentioned in this article, typical alternatives to Oyster Yachts include Passport Yachts, Tayana Yachts, and X-Yachts.
These brands are known for their stylish good looks, modern and spacious designs, and ocean-going capabilities.
They are comfortable enough to live aboard and robust enough to sail to the far-flung corners of the world.
Do You Pay Full Price, Or Do Dealers Offer Discounts?
First, if you want a new Oyster Yacht, you will need to deal with the Oyster sales team, as they do not have a network of dealers.
This is due to the limited number of boats they build yearly, so they keep everything in-house.
As each Oyster Yacht is built to order and each yacht is semi-custom, you will typically pay full price for your new Oyster Yacht.
However, there are some reports that a 10% discount may be possible in return for allowing the boat to be used as a demo in a boat show.
Plus, if you’re a good negotiator, you may be able to negotiate bigger discounts on any additional equipment you want fitting by the factory.
But if you are looking to buy a secondhand Oyster Yacht, then depending on the owner’s circumstances or their reason for selling, the price may be more negotiable – but don’t count on it.
References:
Oyster Yachts
Oyster Yachts: A Blue Water Adventure Machine
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The 8 Best New British Yachts on the Water, From Sunseeker to Fairline
Quality among the top u.k. builders is always a given. it's the range of yacht designs that may surprise you..
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As an island, boats have always been the lifeblood of Great Britain. And many British yacht builders continue to uphold the country’s proud naval and maritime traditions. While there are a handful of superyacht builders, the UK isn’t known for eye-wateringly huge megayachts or avant-garde design—though that has changed as its largest international brands compete with the style-obsessed Ferretti Group and Azimut brands.
But what you do find with the Brits is well engineered vessels with a high level of attention to detail in both the interior and exterior design. From semi-custom motoryacht builders like Princess and Sunseeker to the rarefied realm of a highly sought-after Pascoe limousine, there’s something here for nearly every yachtsman.
And thanks to enduring popularity, there is nearly always a British-built sailboat from the Oyster yard, somewhere just over the horizon. In fact, whether you’re cruising the waters of the Caribbean, New England, or the South of France, you’ll find U.K. brands along with the highest luxury offerings from Italy and Northern Europe.
Here are seven of Britain’s finest, newest, and most noteworthy vessels on the water.
Project Fox, Pendennis Shipyard
This 114-foot explorer yacht, overseen by project manager Burgess and in build at the Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, was designed around the owner’s wishes. It has a rugged exterior that will be paired with a bright, contemporary interior by QLondon Design. The owner told Robb Report that he plans to cruise off-grid to remote areas like Norway for heli-skiing with his family and friends (thus necessitating five large staterooms). But he also wanted family-friendly features like a sun terrace, wine lobby, open-air barbecue, and DJ station. Of course, the real breakthrough here: The open stern, measuring more than 1,100 square feet can carry a large complement of toys and tenders, but also scientific equipment (the interior has space for a modular lab) for when the yacht is hosting research scientists. “Flexible cabins and connectivity are key,” said the owner.
The ubiquitous model of the Pearl lineup, the 72 received a creative new interior design earlier this year with the addition of a stateroom that gives it two master suites. The U.K. yard has always been high on haute design, offering different palettes by British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, but this double-master suite idea is a first for this size of motoryacht. The yard has recently won awards for the naval architecture of its 95, which approaches superyacht status, and it will be launching a new 85-foot flybridge next year.
Fairline Targa 40
Fairline is also among England’s internationally renowned yacht brands, famous for seaworthy hulls and top-tier creature comforts. It hasn’t built yachts as large as competitors Princess and Sunseeker but has been equally creative with the design. The new Targa 40’s cockpit is a case in point. It has an enticing exterior layout, with the cockpit featuring a foldout terrace to starboard and a U-shaped dining settee to port facing the rest of the deck, not to mention the two sun lounges on the stern. The 40 is effectively a dayboat, but with two staterooms, it also works as a family weekender. There’s a master in the forepeak and guest cabin amidships which is best suited for children. The galley below decks is also very functional. Top speed for the Targa is 36 knots with the optional Volvo Penta D6-380 upgrades.
Princess Y80
Along with Sunseeker, Princess Yachts is the other heavyweight of British yacht building. These cruisers and motoryachts have proven to be perennial favorites on both sides of the Atlantic. The Y80 debuting at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival looks to continue the tradition. The Y80 brings to the table an “infinity cockpit” with a glass transom and modular furniture for multiple setups. It also has a flybridge that spans about two-thirds of the yacht’s nearly 84-foot length, effectively creating a legitimate third deck. The Y80’s owner’s stateroom is amidships and full beam, while it has a VIP in the forepeak. Two other guest cabins are to port and starboard. The Y80 has an impressive top speed of 30 knots, but at 10 knots the range is an even more impressive 1,000 nautical miles.
Cockwells Duchy Sport
The 37-foot Duchy Sport from the Cockwells’ yard in Cornwall, famous internationally for its custom tenders, is designed for watersports enthusiasts. This Sport offers multiple towing points for waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing, with interior space for nine guests. Bow and cockpit sunpads will be popular spots for tanning, while a Bimini covers the amidships. Standout features include a wetbar, retractable swim ladder, bowthruster with joystick control, and of course ample water-toy stowage. The Duchy Sport comes with twin 370 hp Yanmar 8LVs which can get it up to a top speed of 42 knots—a speed befitting of this model’s name. Cockwells is also building a new Duchy 60, a stylized motoryacht that should rival Downeast offerings from U.S. builders Hinckley and Malaysian builder Grand Banks.
The Oyster 495 is a 52-foot, 8-inch sailing yacht that entered the U.S. market earlier this year. A new design from the keel up, the U.K. builder was thinking global circumnavigation, or at least serious offshore cruising, from the onset. The yacht is also meant to be able to be singlehanded by a capable sailor. The plumb bow and teak decks imbue the 495 with a definite saltiness with performance and aesthetics. The cabin is noteworthy for being both ergonomic and well-lit. Reported top speeds for the 495 crest the 10-knot mark under sail, while a 100 hp Yanmar diesel pushes it along happily at 9.5 knots.
Sunseeker Superhawk 55
Sunseeker is one of England’s brands that has a global following. For good reason. The Poole builder has a range of vessels that extend from 38 to 161 feet. Sunseeker is known for good oceangoing performance and creative design. The Superhawk 55 is a reimagining of the Superhawks that enjoyed popularity with performance enthusiasts in the 1990s and Aughts before being discontinued in 2009. Sunseeker introduced the Superhawk 38 in 2020, which had echoes of its go-fast past. This 55, however, is more of a performance cruiser than a day boat. With twin Volvo Penta IPS950s the new Superhawk has a very respectable top end of 38 knots and a feature even Miami Vice hot-boat aficionados will appreciate—slow-speed maneuverability offered by pod propulsion. An aggressively raked profile complemented by stiletto-sharp hullside windows augment the Superhawk’s sporty vibe.
Pascoe E-Limousine Electric Tender
Pascoe tenders reside in the garages of some of the world’s biggest and most glamorous superyachts, thanks to the yard’s dedication to customization. The E-Limousine is the builder’s first fully electric vessel, the result of six years of R&D. Top speed is reported to be an impressive 40 knots, with a range of 60 nautical miles at a fast cruise of 20 knots. The builder says not only is this boat greener than a traditional tender but will also offer a smoother, quieter ride thanks to the construction used to mitigate vibration.
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‘Sail could dominate the market’ predicts Oyster Yachts Hadida
Suggesting sail yachts will one day outsell motor-powered vessels is likely to ruffle a few feathers and possibly warrant some industry scoffing, but Oyster Yachts’ Richard Hadida and chief commercial officer Paul Adamson believe in nothing less, Nic Robinson finds out
British luxury sail yacht builder Oyster Yachts saw its first profits this year since Richard Hadida bought the company in 2018 for £6.7M, beating around 30 other investors to the helm. He is now owner and chief executive officer of the 40-year-old brand and has surrounded himself with a team equally as passionate about the business as he is.
Hadida, along with chief commercial officer Paul Adamson, who has some serious sailing credentials under his belt, is bringing Oyster back to the top of its game which for the first time last year saw record unit sales.
Driving the uptick, with no doubt in either leaders’ mind, is the trust that has been reimbued in the company. “Oyster had lost its way and had lost touch with it’s core values”, says Adamson.
The company’s fall into administration after its Dutch investors bailed out in February 2018 caused the already troubled business to collapse. This subsequently led to a significant loss of trust in the brand, Adamson adds.
Part of Hadida’s and Adamson’s plan was to bring that trust back by ensuring customers had the best experience possible, and importantly they knew the yachts they bought were a good investment. “One quick solution was to design and build the yachts to comply with Lloyds Register SSC Rules which gives peace of mind to the design and also that every build leaving the yard is 100% safe,” Adamson says.
“If you think of our customers, they’re highly successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople who are change makers in their industry – they understand how business works. We needed to focus on earning their trust so they would be prepared to commit to building their new dream yacht with us.” Adamson says.
Purchases of superyachts powered predominantly by sail have not been smooth over the last two decades, but in recent years BOAT Pro data suggests change is afoot. In 2000, 51 sailing yachts 24m or over were sold, followed by a sharp drop the following year and then more peaks and troughs.
A record was set in 2004 when 63 units were sold, but after 2009’s sales of 54 yachts, the sector saw a steep decline to a low of 20 deliveries in 2015. The tide turned, however, in 2020 and this year sales so far stand at 40, with 2022 and 2023 orders also looking strong.
- Brokerage sales of motor yachts outstripped sail in the first quarter of this year, with the total number of pre-owned yachts changing hands up 46% in 2021
Oyster sells yachts in all sizes, including the 24m-plus range. BOAT Pro data shows the yard delivered two yachts in the 24m-plus range in 2018, one in 2019 and has another on order for next year.
“We’ve sold 23 boats [of various sizes] in the last year which is a record year,” says Hadida. “40% of our customers are from UK, 30% from Europe and 30% from rest of the world. They’re looking for bluewater, go anywhere in comfort and luxury and safety and that’s what Oyster owns, we own that space. People say Oyster Yachts are the Bentleys of the seas.”
It hasn’t been easy or cheap raising sales to this level though, with Hadida pumping over £26M of his own money into the firm and seeing significant losses over the past three years. In 2020, Oyster made £20M in sales with a pre-tax loss of £10M and for the year ending 31 March 2021, £30M was made with a lower pre-tax loss of £3M.
This financial year, however, Hadida predicts sales of £60M with a certainty of profit and is adamant the coming years will see more positive figures. As the pair have already outlined, customers now trust the company, which has helped boost sales, but the other factor not yet discussed is how Oyster fits into the global warming conversation.
“I don’t know how motorboats post-2030 will be sustainable because I can’t see technology improving to the point where they’ll be able to travel long distance on only a battery,” Hadida says.
Adamson’s view is similar: “I am so glad we’re a sailing yacht manufacturer because sailing by its very nature is hybrid, it’s the world’s oldest form of transport. There’s less of an impact on the environment [with sailing]. You may be burning some generator fuel on the larger sailing yachts, but it’s a lot less [than motor-powered]. I think the market will pivot to sail.”
He continues: “I think sailing yachts will track up and there’ll be less motorboats built, I believe people will pivot more to sail, because if you think about a person building their new dream yacht, their kids will be influencing them to take care of the planet. I think you’ll find the same number [of yachts overall] built in the future, but more sailing in total.”
These don’t appear to be empty words; you only need to look at the growth in staff at Oyster Yachts over the short three years Hadida has owned the company. All 27 bays across the business’s three yards are full, which has resulted in the need for more employees.
Some 420 new staff have been hired and there are plans to build in and sustain skilled workers through an apprenticeship scheme. There is also an expectation employee numbers will reach close to 500 once Oyster’s new Hythe facility near its Southampton yard is fully operational.
“We have a great number of skills required when building boats and we’ve gone out there and managed to already fill hundreds of positions, and we’re now aggressively setting up an apprentice academy, so every year we’ll take on 25 apprentices and that’ll be as a four-year course,” explains Hadida.
The Oyster Academy apprenticeship scheme will allow the company to scale its operation, he adds. “We can take on these young people and they’re working on boats, earning real skills in the real world which they can keep with them and I’m really proud of that.”
Hadida cites the recruitment problems faced by many other industries as one of the reasons for setting up the Oyster Academy, including a finite pool of skills as well as the location of his operations. “People have options for jobs elsewhere in other industries, but we’ve filled all of the posts in Southampton and Wroxham,” he says. “We’ve taken on a site in Hythe and we’re starting to fill those roles. You’ve got to be able to find the people to build the boats.”
The number employed by Oyster Yachts is an indication of both its growth potential as well as how serious Hadida is about its future. Currently there are four premises, including the main yard in Southampton as well as a new sister site over the water in Hythe where 70 staff have already been recruited. While its site in Wroxham, Norfolk, close to Oyster’s technology centre in Ashmanhaugh, also continues to grow with plans to build new vessels there.
In three years Hadida has turned a lossmaking business into one that has the potential to employ over 500 people and make good profits along the way. Its success is a result of many factors, including trust, a better customer experiences and awareness of climate change, But there’s one other component too.
“There’s no question that we’ve sold boats on the back of this [pandemic],” Hadida says. “People don’t want to be in a situation where they can’t escape in a bad situation, yachts are like villas and I believe the pandemic has made people revaluate where they want to spend their time. You can go from country to country to be in a safe space.”
Success also comes from a deep passion for sailing and Oyster Yachts that is embedded within both Hadida and Adamson. The former owns an Oyster 885 called Lush that he once co-owned with Eddie Jordan, which Adamson previously skippered around the world in the inaugural Oyster World Rally.
The pair are business-savvy and have a deeper understanding of the market and their customer base that is hard to achieve with a private equity owner. They also know that to ensure the brand remains it must be profitable and so they are focussed on sustainable growth. A new three-year strategy is in place which is intended to see Oyster Yachts grow further.
“Over the next three years we’ll focus on consolidating what we’ve achieved and at the same time continue to grow Oyster for the long term.” says Adamson.
“The growth battle for us is won and lost in production and that’s the truth. It’s all about how to increase the capacity of the business to cope with demand and maintain the values of quality, passion and craftmanship.”
And the environment plays a big part in the future of Oyster Yachts too, with both Hadida and Adamson clear on the fact they produce sail yachts won’t always be a strong enough eco message for the brand.
“We need to innovate the boats continuously, we’re looking in depth at sustainability and it’s very easy to greenwash. Therefore we will only design systems into the boats that make a real difference as opposed to being trendy,” Adamson adds.
But their prediction that sailing yachts will one day outsell motors remains to be seen, especially in the superyacht segment where makers are investing heavily in alternative fuels including battery power, but also hydrogen and other areas. It is, however, clear something is going right at Oyster Yachts.
Hadida and Adamson in brief
Richard Hadida :
“Anything that has a spirit of adventure associated with it I like. That’s why I like yachts, because they give me a sense of adventure and freedom and that’s one of the reasons I bought Oyster”
- The owner and chief executive officer of Oyster Yachts
- Bought Oyster for £6.7M in 2018.
- Made his money by building and floating Evolution Gaming
- Owns Oyster 885 yacht Lush , which he once co-owned with Eddie Jordan
- His love of sailing and Lush led him to Oyster
Paul Adamson:
“I came in 100% knowing exactly what to do to make the business work and reignite the Oyster brand for the long-term success and growth of the business"
- Chief Commercial Officer at Oyster Yachts
- Responsible for the all customer facing aspects of Oyster Yachts.
- Spent 25 years sailing professionally from the age of 18
- Set up a successful business consultancy in Ireland developing sales teams to fulfil their potential in a variety of industries.
- Skippered Lush around the world in the first Oyster World Rally for Eddie Jordan
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1. Hallberg-Rassy. Hallberg-Rassy is a Swedish yacht maker that's very well-known in the blue water cruising circles for making some of the highest quality and sturdiest sailboats. For many sailors, this is the number one sailboat brand as it offers absolute comfort, utmost safety, and good and easy handling.
2018. $798,500. Nautor's Swan. 60. 2018. $1,957,409. [Info courtesy of Yachtworld.com] This quick price comparison indicates that Oyster yachts cost more than similar brands. However, to establish the true value of each yacht, you would need to compare detailed inventories and the overall condition of each yacht.
Oyster 495. The Oyster 495 is a 52-foot, 8-inch sailing yacht that entered the U.S. market earlier this year. A new design from the keel up, the U.K. builder was thinking global circumnavigation ...
Oyster Yachts' top 4 competitors are Fairline Yachts, Azimut Yachts, Sunseeker and Crewseekers. Together they have raised over 0 between their estimated 2.7K employees. Oyster Yachts's revenue is the ranked 5th among it's top 10 competitors. The top 10 competitors average 99.9M. Oyster Yachts has 50 employees and is ranked 4th among it's top 10 ...
Oyster Yachts has a revenue of $276.9K, and 50 employees. Oyster Yachts's main competitors are Fairline Yachts, Azimut Yachts and Sunseeker. Oyster Yachts has 3 followers on Owler. CEO. Add. CEO Approval Rating - -/100. 1973. Newport Rhode Island. Providence Metropolitan Area.
Brokerage sales of motor yachts outstripped sail in the first quarter of this year, with the total number of pre-owned yachts changing hands up 46% in 2021. Oyster sells yachts in all sizes, including the 24m-plus range. BOAT Pro data shows the yard delivered two yachts in the 24m-plus range in 2018, one in 2019 and has another on order for ...
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In 1978 Oyster Marine introduced a 46 ft cruising ketch designed by Holman & Pye, pioneering the Deck Saloon feature that has since become the company's trademark. [4] Oyster continued to increase the size of its vessels, launching a 53 ft design by Rob Humphreys in 1997 followed by a 62 ft Humphreys' design in 2002. [5] Today, Oyster Yachts builds sailboats ranging from 56 ft to 125 ft, all ...
View Oyster Yachts's top competitors like BAVARIA YACHTS, BENETEAU, and Carver Yachts. BENETEAU. BENETEAU's story began in 1884 in Croix-de-Vie, in the West of France. That year, Benjamin BENETEAU (1859-1928) decided to create the boatyard whose eponym would give birth to the first fishing boats. 130 years later, his visionary spirit is still ...
Oyster Yachts has 5 employees across 5 locations. See insights on Oyster Yachts including office locations, competitors, revenue, financials, executives, subsidiaries and more at Craft.
Oyster Yachts information A thoroughbred, British luxury sailing yacht builder who has been designing, building and supporting the world's finest liveaboard sailboats since 1973.The DNA of our 50ft to 90ft ocean cruising yachts is rooted in over 20 million bluewater sailing miles and more than 90 sailing circumnavigations.
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Oyster Mushroom Market Segments, Drivers, Restraints, And Trends For 2024-2033. Aug 29, 2024. News Provided By Share This Article Oyster Mushroom Market Trends, Strategies, and Outlook by 2024-2033 You Can Now Pre Order Your Report To Get A Swift Deliver With All Your Needs" — The Business Research Company LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, August 29, 2024 / EINPresswire.com / -- The ...
Craft can deliver 250+ data points of financial, operating, and human capital indicators on companies via API. Learn more. Mjm Yachts's main competitors include Clearvac International, Flexboat, Oyster Yachts and Onboard Marine. Compare Mjm Yachts to its competitors by revenue, employee growth and other metrics at Craft.
Since new owner/CEO Richard Hadida took the helm in 2018, the company has gone from strength to strength, with the first new model, the new Oyster 565, winning Bluewater Cruiser of the Year at the British Yachting Awards in 2019 Our range of new 60ft-120ft sailing yachts models include the Oyster 565, Oyster 595, Oyster 675, Oyster 745 ...
Hallberg-Rassy's top competitors include Princess Yachts, Dehler, and Viking Line. ... Oyster Yachts specializes in the design, construction, and support of luxury sailing yachts for bluewater cruising. The company offers a range of services including yacht charter, brokerage, and personalized ownership experiences, with a focus on providing ...
Timmerman Yachts has more than 1,000 employees working at the Moscow Shipyard. Timmerman has delivered a number of semi-custom luxury yachts between 26-47 metres in length, including TM26 and Timmerman FD-51, designed by Francis Design Ltd. Other notable Timmerman yachts include Victoria M, Alexandra (now Latitude) and Olsten 125′.
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Melt the butter with the olive oil in the skillet. When the butter is bubbly, add shallots to the skillet, stir well and saute for about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic and parsley and saute until aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the oyster liquor and bring the mixture to a heavy simmer.