Best of 2016

2016 marked another growing year for the pleasure boating industry, with important builders reaching new sale highs of the last six years.  This is all positive news considering that the World in 2016 took some complicated decisions, which will make the future a less liberal place to be.  Forecast tell that 2017 is also looking to be another positive year for pleasure boating, with estimates suggesting for another double digit growth compared to 2016.  Interestingly it is not the first time we see this, that when the World feels confused the nautical industry gets a boost and grows with 2002 being an example of this.  It is just that with the bad news, boat people think that it is just not worth to bother and switch into enjoying life.  Why not?  Life is also about enjoying it, and boating apart being an adventurous independent way to do that makes also switching off  from the rest amazingly easy.

The best of 2016 is the Arcadia Sherpa 60. The boutique only six years old Italian from Naples builder does it again, taking PowerYacht's best of the year for the second time with the Sherpa, its new entry level model out of normal thought and designed sixteen meter tug boat inspired explorer yacht.  Arcadia and Francesco Guida shows why they are the builder and designer of the times, thanks to the innovation the Sherpa 60 delivers; unseen for the size exterior spaces, one or two or three cabin layout choice, and Volvo power with IPS propulsion good for speeds up to the mid twenties.  Can Arcadia deliver a third best of the year, in Italy they say there is no two without a three.  

The others. 

Amer 94. This semi-custom yacht builder from North Italy surprises the Volvo world in 2016 by building the largest ever IPS propulsion boat, with triple 900hp powering this 28 meter 64 tons super yacht. 

Astondoa 655 Coupe. For its first century celebration the Spanish Astondoa launches two new ranges, the super yacht Century line and Coupe sport cruiser and yacht series.  The 655 is an innovative ultra modern looking sport yacht designed by Christian Gatto with unedited solutions. 

Bertram 35. Gavio took Bertram from Ferretti Group in 2015, and this 35 designed by Michael Peters is the first model. A modern re-interpretation of the 31, Bertram's and World first production deep-Vee hull boat which sold over 1700 units in a twenty year production run.

Horizon FD85. Horizon decide to offer something new and different, enters the Fast Displacement 85 designed by Dutch designer Cor D.Rover which gives an extra 25% of volume to comparable yachts of the same size. 

Otam SD35. For its largest ever build, semi-custom or as is this case fully custom boutique yacht builder Otam goes to a new different direction, building in alloy and going for a semi-displacement hull shape.  

Overmarine Mangusta 42 Oceano. Famous for building the largest semi-custom super sport yachts in fiberglass, Overmarine make huge investments to enter the important segment of steel hulled full displacement globe trotting super yachts.  Perfection planning for a new product offer. 

Sacs 47 Rebel. While not its largest rib to date, the 47 Rebel designed by Christian Grande is Sacs most innovative product to date, thanks to the use of mouldable semi-rigid tubes and an un-edited layout.

Tecnomar Evo 55 Open. After over a decade Tecnomar return to offer a sub eighty foot yacht, with this semi custom sixteen meter sport yacht designed by Gian Marco Ciampanino. Saying ultra modern is an understatement with the Evo 55 looking coming from a sci-fi movie set into the future far away.

Welcome back. Rizzardi 48 In. In the second part of the 2000s first decade, InRizzardi which at that time featured six brands looked to be the next big yachting Group to come from Italy.  Unfortunately the fall 2008 recession turned the economy upside down, made easy money a thing of the past, and the Rizzardi dream getting lost in all this.  Or so we thought as Rizzardi is back in 2016 with new projects, and its 48 In model, a redevelopment of the 45 Incredible which was the best fourteen meter sport cruiser to come from the Genoa boat show of 2004 and the South Rome builders top success from there onwards.

PowerYacht wishes to all its followers, friends, readers, and visitors a Healthy and Prosperous 2017 year.