Best of 2013

2013 was not a bad year for the boating industry, especially compared to the not so hard to improve on 2012. Some countries started turning around from the previous couple years showing a more favourable legislation to boating.  The positive results for 2013 was surely the growth shown in super yacht sizes over 24 meters which looks not so far off from its best 2008 year, with some of the famous brands and popular models having orders going into 2015. Governments of Italy and Spain in 2013 also changed direction; Italy has removed its boating tax for boats till fourteen meters from twelve and divided by half that till twenty meters, with Spain trying to fix the mess it did with it's charter legislation from 2009 till 2013.  For 2014 we have Greece who seems to have come with a tax on yachts which includes even tourists on transit, while France introduces a new berth tax.  The neighbouring countries will be the ones rejoicing at these new taxes, with the bitter remaining on boaters.

PowerYacht 2013 best is the Prestige 750 which challenges conventional yacht design in this size, with two unique details. First is the floating owners stateroom forward, located in between the lower and main deck. The second is an astern galley on a yacht of 22 meters. Well done to Garroni, Prestige and Beneteau Group for challenging convention.

The others.

Astondoa 63 Top Deck. Spain's largest yacht builder go an unedited direction with this nineteen meter sport yacht, using its main deck from fore to aft to make it the ultimate party yacht.  The main deck offers a bar, a jacuzzi pool aft, and side bulkheads which drop down and add space.  

Baglietto MV13. Completely custom and build of alloy, this small thirteen meter Baglietto designed by Paszkowski is inspired to its historical important past from World War One and Two, and the Mas Torpedo boat. It is a pity it is just a one-off. 

Bavaria 420 Virtess. The German mass boat producer has set up nicely in the past decade for its sport cruisers in between eight to twelve meters size. Now it presents its first flybridge cruiser, with three double cabins and the usual competitive price synonymous with Bavaria. 

Carver C34. Its a new design direction for the 1954 founded USA boat builder in this ten meter flybridge cruiser with modern European inspired looks outside and use of space, but also traditional in its shaft propulsion set up.  

Cranchi 53 Eco Trawler LD. The market takes Cranchi into a new direction presenting its first explorer trawler yacht.  Its a spacious offer with green elements as solar panels fitted in the coach roof, and five options for the third cabin space.   

Ferretti 960. Space is reinvented, see aft deck and bathing platform layout but also a new record is set at over 29 meters and a load line of just under 24 meters. Competition of pocket super yachts with an LOA between ninety to one-hundred feet and a load line at 23.9 meters begins.  

MonteCarlo MCY86. Three years after the debut of the first Monte Carlo Yacht, the 76, Beneteau Group shows it means business, by presenting its first super yacht above 24 meters. 

Tiara 50 Coupe. The USA builder from Michigan always makes its own style in the genre, and here it does it again with this sixteen meter sport yacht full of classic contemporary design, including a feeling element of a down East lobster boat without being one.     

British hatrick. Fairline Targa 48 Open. Three new offers appeared in 2013 from the main British builders in this category of hard top fourteen meter sport-cruisers with IPS pod drives, and full beam owners cabin.  Of the three the Fairline's Targa 48 Open is the preferred for its weight conscious central positioned engines, and more spacious main deck layout.  Fairline will use the same hull for the similar patio door enclosed Targa 48 GT, and the flybridge Squadron 48.

PowerYacht wishes to all its followers, friends, readers, and visitors a Healthy and Prosperous 2014 year.