Discovery Yachts buy Southerly brand and IP

Whitelighter

Whitelighter

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Hopefully this will mean the yachts get another chance.

I've always quite liked the uniqueness of the Southerly range.
I wonder if this does mean the larger boats will be discontinued so they don't compete with the Discovery models.
 
Bit controversial I know .... Think Discovery have a great mark and have hit on the market correctly , but the two brands they have bought have market difficulties in cost and what they provide for the money in this day and age and that was there failure ... Let's see ...
 
Saguday said:
Good news - I hope they make a comeback, have always liked them.

Maybe a shoal draft Disco 55 with a lifting Southerly-type keel?
Click to expand...

Or a fixed keel 535! the choice is yours sir! Someone on the SOA site has just said they have ordered 485(updated version of the 47) hull no2. Distant Shores are having hull no1 I believe, so I hope this is a good sign....
 
My understanding is the Discovery will run both brands. Southerly as the lifting keels and Discovery with fixed keels. They are moving the moulds now and have already taken orders. I personally think it's a great move for Discovery. They expand their market and keep their factory working. I also understand that they will be exhibiting some Southerlies at the Southampton boat show. As the owner of one of the last Southerly 47's I can testify to what great boats they are. I hope, for the sake of British boat building, that they do well.
 
Good news as they are superb designs and the swing keels provide a versatile cruising yacht

I know Northshore sold the rights to the Fisher years ago but anyone know if anything happened with the Vancouvers?

So the Yard at Itchenor goes on - the property was always the biggest Northshore asset.
 
Last edited:
Whitelighter said:
Hopefully this will mean the yachts get another chance.

I've always quite liked the uniqueness of the Southerly range.
I wonder if this does mean the larger boats will be discontinued so they don't compete with the Discovery models.
Click to expand...


What do you mean in regard to IP?

Suerly not Island Packet-they have only recently been aquired by Hake Marine and their Florida base will make for tricky commuting....................................
 
I wonder if they are going to make all the boats in one factory. I watched Distant Shores test sail a Delphia 46DS as a possible replacement for their Southerly 49, so when they said they were "designing" a new swing keel boat in conjunction with Discovery I didn't put 2 and 2 together. I wonder how they are going to price them. I doubt that they will be much different to the prices of Discoverys, I bet it will cost Distant Shores twice the price of the Delphia.
 
Halcyon Yachts said:
I was in St Peter Port the other day - there was a gathering of Southerlies. I think they are great boats...

Pete
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I was one of those - I and the 16 other owners who were there all agree with you!

I'm delighted by the news, I was drooling over a Discovery 57 at the jersey boat show a few years ago.

I think it is a really interesting idea, I'm sure despite other posters comments it won't have any impact on the yard or former narthshore staff, but will allow Discovery to develop a swing keel version of their own designs built in their own yard.

It was ttrying to go big, and head to head with builders like Discovery that was the killer for Southerly - too much working capital tied up per boat, not enough sales volume....
 
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