Between tradition, modernity and excellence

Dayboats and design

Statistics on motorboat registrations on Swiss lakes show a steady increase over the past forty years. The fleet has obviously diversified since the 1980s, when the classic wooden runabout was still king.

The number of motorboats registered on our lakes has been rising steadily since the 1980s, while the number of sailboats has been falling for over forty years. The figures show that the world of motorboating is attracting more and more enthusiasts. The market has always adapted to a wide and varied demand.

Timeless wood

Although composite materials have largely taken the place of wood in the marine industry since the advent of fiberglass resin, wood still has a place in powerboating. Enlightened enthusiasts have never given up on mahogany and other precious woods, which are still at the heart of boatbuilding.

Markus Boesch, who represents the fourth generation at the helm of the famous Lake Zurich boatyard – which produces only wooden boats – has observed a relatively constant demand for his boats. Although the company produces ten times fewer boats than it did half a century ago, it has managed to adapt by cultivating excellence. We still build between twelve and fifteen boats a year exclusively to order,” points out the owner of the shipyard, which has produced over 4,000 boats in 95 years. There’s an emotional aspect to it, and those who grew up in families that had such canoes carry on the tradition. They have a passion for craftsmanship and manual work. Markus Boesch makes no secret of the fact that this market segment remains a niche. But a perfectly viable niche in an economically privileged country like Switzerland. He also asserts that, in terms of cost, wooden boats are not necessarily more expensive over the long term. “You can always restore these units, which will retain their value, unlike composite boats, which reach the end of their life and are scrapped after thirty years. In fact, we have a very active refitting department, which brings new life to old boats.”

Pedrazzini, another refined and prestigious Swiss brand, has also produced only wooden runabouts for four generations. Keeping just three models in its catalog, the shipyard, which operates in the same niche as Boesch, manages to support its thirty or so employees by producing around eight canoes a year. In a similar vein, the Italian Riva brand – famous for its Aquarama boats – has not used wood since 1996, but has retained a “Classic” department specializing in refitting, to ensure the survival of models still in circulation.

New designs

In addition to this specific market, which contributes to the sector’s good health, over the last ten years or so we have seen a real evolution in design, and a search for versatility characterized by new lines. Straight or inverted bows have taken the place of the slender, stepped shapes still found on purely sporty units. Similarly, whistling roofs have disappeared in favor of panoramic superstructures, offering much larger and more comfortable protected spaces. These new designs make better use of space,” explains Balthazar Witzig, head of Genevaboats, a company active in motorboat brokerage. Several brands have launched models along these lines. Fjord – originally a Norwegian shipyard, taken over by Hanse in the 2000s (ed. note) – was certainly a forerunner in this style. They were followed by Saxdor, Pardo and De Antonio, who all offer ranges of weeken-ders and cabin-cruisers in this new wave. It’s worth noting that an increasing number of models feature innovations such as opening cockpit sides that create a spacious platform at anchor.

Thermal propulsion remains the rule

Unlike the automotive market, alternative engines have not yet made their mark in powerboating. The development of lighter materials and carefully studied hull designs mean that today’s boats are much more fuel-efficient than ever before. Thermal engines remain the rule for the majority. Balthazar Witzig continues: “The problem with electric power remains autonomy, and the lack of equipment in ports. These solutions can be adapted to canals, where speed is proscribed, but they clearly show their limits for other uses.” It’s also worth noting that multihulls haven’t supplanted monohulls either, even if their energy efficiency can be notable.

These few examples demonstrate that the world of motorboating is evolving in step with customer expectations, but is not experiencing any real break with its fundamentals. Foilers, for example, are not yet part of the catalog, as they are mainly used in research for commercial purposes. But things could change faster than anyone imagines.

Some specialized yards:

Léman

Chantier naval de Corsier Port : corsier-port.com The unmissable shipyard at the end of the lake, where many canoes were built in the 1950s, still boasts extensive renovation and construction skills, as well as a dry dock and general services for routine motorboat maintenance.

Wood & Boat : woodandboat.ch For almost ten years, Wood & Boat, located in Meinier, in the canton of Geneva, has specialized in the restoration of wooden boats, particularly runabouts. For modern boats, the yard is also the importer of the De Antonio brand, which is very successful on Lake Geneva. Lake Zurich

Boesch Motorboote: boesch.swiss. In addition to sales, the builder of this prestigious brand offers renovation services worthy of its standing. The yard also works on other brands, such as the famous Riva.

Portier Yacht : portier-yachts.com. Highly versatile, Portier Yachts offers a wide range of boats for sale, including alternative propulsion boats. A meticulous refit service for all units, as well as a dry dock, are also available.

Lake Zug

Weiss Yacht : weissyachts.ch. Renowned for its sailing expertise, Damian Weiss’s team is no less active in the renovation and maintenance of a number of classic motor yachts.

Lake Neuchâtel

Bois Marine : bois-marine.ch. Stéphane Allemano, successor to builder Egger, is renowned for his fine renovations, particularly of motorboats such as Rivas. The yard is equipped with a dry dock.