Boat Builder

Cox Marine Expands Distributor Deal With Ring Power

Cox Marine, the manufacturer of the CXO300 diesel outboard engine, announced an expanded contract with U.S.-based distributor and Cox investor, Ring Power, to cover additional regions as the exclusive distributor. The Florida-based company is increasing its territories beyond the state of Florida and the Caribbean to include Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, as well as Bermuda.Appointed by Cox Marine in 2019, Ring Power has a growing order book and is also hiring a team of qualified technicians and a skilled sales team to support the Cox Marine operation in the region…

Highfield Named Oyster Yachts CEO

Ashley Highfield has been appointed as the new CEO of Oyster Yachts. Highfield, who was previously Executive Chairman of the British-based luxury boat builder, has been fulfilling the interim CEO role since September 2022 following a reorganization, and was formally offered the role last month.“I have known Ashley for literally decades, and been hugely impressed by his energy, experience, and vision across a number of businesses. In more recent years, Ashley and I have been closely working together on the successful turnaround of Oyster and growth of its topline revenues and brand.

Repeat Success: Long-Range Catamaran

When word spreads of a good design well executed, the reward for the boat builder is a customer who says, “Make me one just like that other one.”That is where the discussion starts and then come the clients requests for modifications. Such was the case when a high-level surfer from the western shore of Java approached James Dewing at his yard in Thailand. James had delivered one of his Powerplay catamarans to a customer in Tahiti in December of 2019. Now, the word was spreading for a true long-range luxury power catamaran.This wasn’t Dewing’s first boat…

Berg Tapped to Drive Cat's New Course in the Yacht Sector

Caterpillar has recently announced a new industry development team, organized to focus on the key segments of the overall marine business, and appointed Alex Berg as new global head of pleasure craft & yachting.Berg brings more than 20 years of international and cross-functional experience in the yachting industry to the new role. He served as director OEM & integration for a global marine electronics supplier and earlier headed the entire product, development, and innovation activities of a major German boatbuilder.In his new capacity…

Interview: Douglas Prothero, CEO, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

As privately owned, luxury yachts near the size of the average cruise ship, behold a new option, which is anything but commonplace: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. At 624 feet and 11 decks, her exterior profile resembles a sleek superyacht design, not a cruise ship on the horizon. Launched in October 2018 at Hijos de J. Barreras Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, the flagship of the new brand is now in outfitting and interior finishing. The project was co-managed by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Marriott and Tillberg Design of Sweden.

Galeon 640 Flybridge Receives Accolades

The Galeon 640 Flybridge premiered at the 2018 Düsseldorf Boat Show, dubbed by its builder a game changer for yachts of this range. The 640 FLY offers a pass-through windshield to an expandable bow space, and folding balconies that extend the beam to 23 feet (7 m).“The Galeon 640 Flybridge has been awarded internationally since its debut,” exclaims Bob Burke, Galeon Brand Manager for MarineMax.-    World Yacht Trophies, Best Innovations 2018 at the Cannes Yachting Festival-    Most Innovative Yacht Builder in the 30-70-foot (9-21 meter) range…

Fairline Appoints de Roos

Luxury British boat builder, Fairline Yachts, has announced that Dennis de Roos has joined the company as Commercial Director. de Roos will be responsible for managing the Fairline Yachts design, sales and marketing teams, and overseeing the dealer network.Formerly Commercial Director with Morgan Cars, de Roos brings a wealth of experience from across a range of business industries, starting his career across the hospitality and services sector, followed by 10 years with General Motors and 5 years with Ingersoll Rand…

Yanmar, Catana Partner

Demand for catamarans is increasing, especially in the burgeoning charter market, as a result, a new partnership between a pioneering French boat builder and a Japanese marine engine manufacturer is already making big waves in this growing sector of the maritime market.For Catana President Olivier Poncin, enabling customers to discover new horizons was one of the main reasons that drove him to design a new ‘Bali’ range of catamarans. Launched in 2014, they have attracted a phenomenal…

Currie to Step Down as MD at Fairline Yachts

Fairline Yachts announced Russell Currie is stepping down from the role of Managing Director after three years at the helm. Currie will return to leading his dealership, Fairline North Mallorca.Under Russell’s leadership Fairline Yachts has secured many significant achievements including winning two World Yacht Trophies for best exterior design of the Targa 63 GTO and Targa 43 OPEN and receiving the Motor Boat & Yachting Judges’ Special Award 2018 for ‘the best turnaround of a business.’ Part of the boat builder’s turnaround has been the acquisition of the 200…

Keeping Cool: Dometic to Supply AC to Sunseaker

Dometic signed a three-year exclusive air-conditioning supply contract with boatbuilder Sunseeker. Under the new commercial agreement, Dometic will operate as the sole air-conditioning equipment supplier for Sunseeker’s model range from 50 ft. to 131 ft.Working directly with Sunseeker to design systems into new craft, Dometic supplies the OEM with three types of system that can be installed depending on the size and lay out of the vessel. These range from the self-contained direct expansion system, to the split-gas direct expansion system, up to the high-capacity chilled water systems ideal for superyachts.

Fairline Yachts Teases New F-Line 33

British luxury boat builder Fairline Yachts released new images of its brand new 33ft express cruiser, the F-Line 33. The new boat is slated to launch in Spring 2019, with an immersive virtual reality experience of the boat launching at Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2018.With a large forward sun bed and a spacious aft seating area, configurable to another sun bed, the 33’s deck is made for summer time entertaining. The sociable self-contained cockpit galley features a high spec BBQ, fridge and ice maker.

HRH The Earl of Wessex Visits Sunseeker

Sunseeker International welcomed HRH The Earl of Wessex last week to its manufacturing facilities in Poole.During his visit, The Earl helped the company to recognize a sales milestone for its 76 Yacht, a model which launched at the Southampton Boat Show in September last year.His Royal Highness was in Poole as part of his commitments to promote The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), the world’s leading youth achievement program.Sunseeker, which has a very successful apprenticeship program that was recently awarded ‘Best Apprenticeship and Training Scheme’ at the International Boat Builder Awards…

Fairline Hong Kong Partners with Simpson Marine

Fairline Yachts announced in June 2018 that Simpson Marine would act as a new dealer partner for Hong Kong and the Philippines. With almost 35 years’ experience and twenty offices in seven countries, Simpson Marine is Asia’s leading yacht sales and services company. The regional head office for the group is situated in Hong Kong, which is also home to the company’s senior management and technical marine services team.In Hong Kong, Fairline was recently announced its express-cruiser F-line series. Other Fairline yachts popular in Hong Kong are the Targa range and the Squadron flybridge models.

Fairline Yachts’ last Squadron 78 leaves factory

British boat builder, Fairline Yachts, yesterday (28 March) saw the last of its range topping Squadron 78 luxury motor yachts leave the Oundle, Northamptonshire factory. The flybridge yacht has finished its series production run to make way for an even larger new flagship Fairline model, to be built at Fairline’s new production facilities in Southampton - the details of which will be released in the coming months. Fairline’s Squadron 78 has been in production for an incredible 15 years and 115 have been built in that time.

Hylas Introduces M44 Power Yacht

Hylas Yachts will debut the M44 at the Palm Beach Boat Show March 22-25. Presenting the newest addition to the Hylas fleet - the M44 power yacht (LOA 44'). Designed for the active cruiser this vessel provides a perfect platform for entertaining, relaxing, weekend cruising and recreational fishing. The unique saloon layout, well thought out storage and galley arrangement gives the feel of a much larger craft. The signature craftsmanship of this third generation boat builder is clearly evident.

Rambler Introduces New American Yacht Line

Rambler Yacht Co. has announced the Rambler 38, the first model in a line of new American yachts. Rambler revolutionizes yachting with emphasis on style, sustainability and ease of use with the most environmentally conscious center console to ever hit the market. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, an iconic American naval architecture firm since 1929. Built by Lyman-Morse, a revered and distinguished American boatbuilder. The Rambler 38 is a head-turner in the harbor. Refined hull lines and sophisticated design blend beautifully to produce a center console yacht that is stunning…

Raymarine: Make Your Boat a 'Smart Boat'

Digital switching makes it easy and intuitive to control all of the interior and exterior lighting on this high-performance centre console powerboat. Anchor lights, Aerators, Bilge Pumps, Blowers, Cabin Lights, Courtesy Lights....does this sequence sound familiar? It's the switch panel on your helm and it's just part of the A to Z listing of your boat's electrical equipment. In addition to switches and alarms, indicator lights and gauges cover many portions of a boat's helm and interior.

Honda Marine Enters OEM Deal with Crevalle Boats

Honda Marine, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and marketer of a complete range of marine outboard four-stroke motors ranging from 2.3 to 250 horsepower, announced a new OEM supply agreement with Wildwood, Fla. based boat builder Crevalle Boats. Honda Marine is now supplying Crevalle with its BF250 outboard motor, equipped with Intelligent Shift and Throttle (Drive by Wire iST), to power the 2018 Crevalle 24 Bay and 24 Bay with full second station. Honda Marine said…

Race Boat to Attempt US-Cuba Speed Record

An upcoming world speed record attempt by Nigel Hook and the crew of SilverHook will be a two-for-one as they set out to achieve the fastest crossing from the U.S. to Cuba, and then back. Captain Hook has chosen August 17 to try to set two speed records in what is considered the most technically-advanced offshore monohull race boat in the world. The first objective is a one-way speed record from a point just off the Florida Keys to Havana. If that record is established, then part two will be an equally-fast or faster return trip and a two-way record.