The future for the motorboat

[Adrianwool]

1). Has the motorboat over the past few years become more of a architectural and style statement rather than some thing you put to sea in?.

2). Many, especially those in the larger catagory, have wonderful fit out and technical innovation, but what is the future for these boats say ten years down the line. Will it be possible to economically refit them, or will they become part of the 'throw away' cycle as they will no longer be the style items they once were?.

3). The drive for size is ever upwards, it is not uncommon for people to consider 40 or even 50 foot boats as entry level. Finding a mooring for boats of every increasing size is problematical in some areas now, let alone for the future. The environmemtal lobby kicks hard against the development of new marina facilities and the expansion of existing ones.

4). Engine power seems to increase year on year, with increasing engine sizes for the same length of boat year on year. Can this continue to happen bearing in mind the cost, and the perceived hostility of the environmental lobby, who I suspect would like to portray motoboaters as enviromentally insensitive.

So the question I would like to put to the forum is which direction are we are heading in over the next (say) five years?

 

[oldsaltoz]

.
An interesting question Adrianwool,

If we look at some of the 30 to 50 Ft luxury power boats built 10 ago,
I suppose it could be said there are some bargains to be had, but the cost of fuel now would have to be a consideration.

Perhaps if you only plan short trips it could work.

The problem 10 years from now might be higher fuel cost and inefficient engines, plus who knows what other taxes, charges and fees will be applied.

The higher than normal number on the for sale market may not all be due to the current world financial state.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

While this is very interesting question, I think before one sees actual behaviour trend change in other transports i.e. cars I dont think you will see anything big happen in boats.
According to Bill Gates the period 2010 to 20 will be what it was the decade for 2000 to 09 for communication, to energy. Once you see a change in the automobile sector then you will see changes in the yachting sector. And in yachting it really is easy as you can really switch to a sailing boat any time, but still this has not happened for many peers here.
10 years from now fossil fuels might have less demand and be cheaper, but they can also be finish and can also be illegal, Who can see the World ten years from now. According to many or some on December 2012 we are all doomed. So just live to the day and enjoy what you have today....
And this is my life tip....

 

[late-night-lochin]

Potential Time Bomb?

Traditionally, when boats get old they end up being kept alive, run and enjoyed by the "Practical Boat Owner" types but in the past, boats were generally a lot smaller, more modest and simpler than they are now.

Forget the initial outlay, just think of the cost of just "having" a fifty footer, marina berth, insurance, ongoing maintenance etc, well beyond the means of most PBO types and you haven't put any fuel in it yet.

If you have the means to own a boat like that (I'm not jealous honest) you will also have the means to buy a new or fairly new one. You almost certianly won't be looking for a love job (doer upper).

So what could happen to this typ of boat? Well, if certian models got past thirty or forty years old they could possible be deemed as desirable classics and may become the subject of a very expensive refit for a new "discerning" owner.

More likely, at the age of fifteen to twenty years old these could become the biggest white elephants in history and go the same way as things like E Types used to when they were ten years old and getting a bit rough around the edges - scrapped!

My prediction is that marine knackers yards will become big busineses over the next few years!

 

[Renegade_Master]

Forget the initial outlay, just think of the cost of just "having" a fifty footer, marina berth, insurance, ongoing maintenance etc,

___________________________________________________________________

tell me about it... Mine is for sale but there are very few buyers for this sze of boat (56ft)
if I do sell her I will probably buy smaller

 

[Nautical]

The asssumption that boats will get bigger and the demand will be there for even more powerful engines is actually I feel a little off beat currently.

I think we will see a trend to more hybrid technology, more efficient forms of propulsion and a desire to move downward in size (here I am talking about those in the bigger classes 120'+ ) .

Semi displacement we are seeing a resurgance on the basis they can be run quite efficiently at displacement speeds yet have a turn of speed if required albeit at a higher fuel burn but the times they will run at higher speeds will be to avoid weather or make port but in general a more sedate pace will be the norm.

An interesting conversation I had with a recent client was more to do with the current economic climate, not so much he couldn't afford his 115' bling machine but he felt he was out of step with the current fiscal situation . Laying off staff yet still maintaining his big boat was a little in the face of his current employees so a downward step into a less offensively lavish yacht and more a economical vessel was his train of thought.

Azimut's new Magellan range is a very interesting development, a main stream builder venturing into the long distance semi displacement market which was always considered niche is surely an indication of where the big players see a growth in interest and plugging the gap in current production of monster engined bling machines.

My thoughts from the front line anyway !