Boot Düsseldorf returns this week after a three-year hiatus. Here’s our pick of the best models to track down at Europe’s biggest boat show…
It’s certainly been a long time coming! After two COVID-enforced cancellations, Boot Düsseldorf is finally throwing open its doors this weekend for the first time since January 2020.
The boating world has moved on a lot since then, as the line-up of new boats below proves. There is far too much to see in one day, we’d recommend spending at least two days there (with a mandatory night out in between to enjoy the delights of the altstadt).
So without further ado, here are our top motorboat picks from the Boot Düsseldorf 2023 line-up:
16 of the best new boats at Boot Düsseldorf 2023
Visitors will be able to witness Arksen’s first high-spec production A30
Arksen Adventure 30
We saw a very promising prototype of the Arksen Adventure 30 at the 2022 Southampton Boat Show but this first full-spec production model at Boot Düsseldorf 2023 is what we’ve really been waiting for.
Built at XO’s factory to Arksen’s requirements (rather than imported as a stock model and then retrofitted), the new boat will come with a reinforced hull for a Category B rating, as well as upgraded helm ergonomics and an uprated level of finish.
It will also come with the full complement of equipment, including diesel heating and impact mitigation, turning it from an occasional plaything into a year-round expedition machine.
Read more about the Arksen Adventure 30
The Azimut S7 is designed to be frugal as well as fast
Azimut S7
Designed to combine cutting edge sport and indulgent luxury with uncommonly low emissions, the new Azimut S7 adheres to the same ethos that underpins the broader Azimut S Class.
It uses triple IPS drives and a carbon fibre-infused hull, which has been created by Azimut’s technical team in partnership with Volvo Penta’s engineers for a claimed reduction in fuel consumption of up to 30% at medium and high speeds.
The use of carbon fibre in the superstructure reduces overall weight, while the compact IPS drives create the volume required for four lower deck cabins, a two-berth crew cabin and a large aft tender garage.
Bavaria’s new SR33 will retain the look and feel of the two existing SR models
Bavaria SR33
Bavaria is set to launch its smallest SR model yet, the Bavaria SR33, at Boot Düsseldorf 2023.
The new sterndrive-propelled Bavaria SR33 will feature the same distinctive ‘open-with-hardtop’ formula developed to such good effect for the Bavaria SR41 and Bavaria SR36.
Designed to offer the sportiness of Bavaria’s S-Line with the superior comfort and luxury of the R-Line, it has proved a big hit both with dealers and customers.
Read more about the Bavaria SR33
If you prefer sailboats, check out this preview from our sister title Yachting World on the best new sailing yachts at Boot Dusseldorf 2023.
The new Candela features a 69kWh Polestar battery and DC charging capability
Candela C-8
Making its debut at Boot Düsseldorf 2023, the new Candela-C8, with battery power from premium electric car brand Polestar, claims to be the world’s longest-range production electric boat.
It employs the same 69 kWh battery pack and DC charging technology as the advanced Polestar 2 electric car, alongside Candela’s proven foiling technology and highly efficient C-Pod electric motor.
The result, they claim, is that the new ‘powered by Polestar’ Candela C-8 ought to achieve a 30-knot top end and a range of 57 nautical miles at 22 knots on a single charge.
With DC charging enabling it to take advantage of electric DC charging networks, the new C-8 should also open up a range of new cruising routes that might previously have been inaccessible to electric boaters.
Read more about the Candela C-8
The D50 Coupe even features an optional foredeck Jacuzzi
De Antonio D50 Coupe
The De Antonio D50 Coupe takes the hull of the award-winning De Antonio D46 and equips it with a four-man helm station and an enormous galley with space for fridges, ice makers and multiple grills.
In addition to the central ten-person dining area, there’s also a huge sunbathing platform above the outboards, plus a really ingenious bow. It provides a dining area for six plus a set of foredeck sunloungers that can be converted into a foredeck Jacuzzi.
You can equip the new De Antonio D50 Coupe with two or three cabins and one or two bathrooms. You can factor in a storage room, a service cabin or an office. And with twin V12 600s or quadruple outboard rigs from 1,200 to 1,600hp, 50 knots plus should be well within reach.
Read more about the De Antonio D50
Two-tiered windows provide big views and generous light down below
Delphia 10
The new Vripack-designed Delphia 10 is a very versatile yacht. You can spec it with either a diesel engine of up to 110hp or an electric shaft drive from 40 to 80hp.
You can also tailor the layout to your needs with one of three standard arrangements. The Delphia 10 Sedan is a traditional pilothouse model with walkaround side decks and a large cockpit settee.
The Lounge model (pictured) uses a fully open design, with plenty of seating and a forward cockpit, securely contained within elevated side decks. And the Lounge Top model uses a large flat hardtop that makes a great platform for solar panels.
Read more about the Delphia 10
Sculpted flybridge moulding and bold new hull windows add dynamism to the Ferretti 580’s profile
Ferretti 580
Drawn by Filippo Salvetti, who has been steering the brand’s styling for the past three years, this elegant new 59ft (18m) flybridge model slots between the Ferretti 550 and the Ferretti 670. As well as the sleeker, more sculpted styling, perhaps the most striking feature on the Ferretti 580 is the foredeck.
The Ferretti 580 has a proper bow lounge featuring a pair of opposing sofas and a big walkaround sunpad that appear to float above the decks on hidden supports. Smart wooden armrests and side tables with built-in cupholders add an extra touch of class.
The interior is available in two distinct styles – Classic and Contemporary – the former featuring warmer, darker colours and the latter cooler, lighter shades.
Read more about the Ferretti 580
A strip of glass runs all the way from the bow to the stern, including the folding aft terraces
Galeon 560 Fly
Galeon is once again pushing the boundaries of flybridge yacht design with this daring new Galeon 560 Fly model due to be launched at Boot Düsseldorf 2023.
This all-new Tony Castro-designed boat replaces the outgoing Galeon 550 Fly and as with its predecessor features a raft of striking new innovations.
Foremost among these are glass inserts in the folding bulwarks/side terraces that not only give guests a better view out from the cockpit and saloon when raised but also allow you to stand or sit on the reinforced glass looking directly down at the water when lowered.
Read more about the Galeon 560 Fly
Invictus TT420
Invictus has long been famous for its axe-bowed TT day boats and GT weekenders, so it’s good to see that the new Invictus TT420 adopts the same premium Med-style formula that has won it such acclaim over the years.
Due to make its World début at Boot Düsseldorf 2023, the new Invictus TT420 echoes the established TT traits with symmetrical walkaround decks orbiting a central furniture arrangement.
That furniture comprises an aft sunbed and convertible dinette, plus an elegant forward sunbed and a midships galley behind a three-man helm. For a Med-friendly blend of shelter and openness, it also uses a swept carbon hardtop with integrated screen, open sides and built-in air vents.
Read more about the Invictus TT420
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Jeanneau DB/37
Just a few months after the launch of the extraordinary DB/43, Jeanneau is gearing up to add a second model to its DB line at Boot Düsseldorf in the form of the Jeanneau DB/37…
While details at this stage are scarce, similarities between the two boats look very pronounced. Like the 43, the Jeanneau DB/37 is the result of a collaboration between Camillo Garroni and Michael Peters Yacht Design and, like the 43, it is expected to operate as a day boat, a party boat and a cruiser, all in one.
Judging by the one and only pre-launch picture so far released by Jeanneau, the new DB/37 comes with the option of fold-down bulwarks on both sides – and because the bulwarks are so high, the extra space afforded by these terraces is likely to be very significant.
Read more about the Jeanneau DB/37
Linssen 55SL AC Variotop
Designed by Belgian studio KesselsGranger on an in-house platform, the displacement hull has a category B rating for extended sea cruising and is notable for being the first in the SL Series to sport a Variotop.
The latter is a proprietary fully automatic convertible roof mechanism that opens or closes the bridge deck at the press of a button. It has been very successful on the more traditional Linssen GS50, GS480 and GS500 models.
The AC denotes an aft cabin. The standard layout features two further guest cabins and two shower rooms with a double-zone lounge-diner and galley amidships.
Read more about the Linssen 55SL AC Variotop
Pearl 72
Following on from the successful launch of the Pearl 62, the new Pearl 72 is designed to reconfigure what you can expect from its size class. The formidable design duo of Bill Dixon and Kelly Hoppen CBE have again been enlisted by Pearl Yachts in a bid to create a yacht that feels “distinctly British” and the result looks superb.
It uses plunging window lines, cutaway bulwarks, glass balustrades and folding aft terraces for fantastic brightness, great views and superb integration with the elements.
In addition to two ensuite double guest cabins and an aft tender garage with plenty of room for an 11ft RIB and a jetski, it also features two master cabins – one forward with a private entrance plus a full-beam alternative amidships.
Princess S72
Princess is making big moves at Boot Düsseldorf 2023 with a seven-yacht line-up, including the show debuts of the Princess X80 and Princess F65, the European debut of the Princess Y85 and the world debut of its new Princess S72.
As the second largest of the four Sportbridge-equipped S Class yachts, the Princess S72’s bright single-level saloon provides a forward lounge behind the twin helm and an aft dining station opposite the wraparound starboard galley.
All enjoy uninterrupted views through low-level windows and because the sociable sportbridge is set a good way aft, there’s plenty of room for a large sunroof above the forward part of the saloon.
Read more about the Princess S72
Rand’s new eight-man day boat is designed for optimum efficiency
Rand Breeze 20
An electric boat worth seeking out at Boot Düsseldorf 2023 is the Rand Breeze 20.
Designed to be lightweight, efficient and sustainable, it uses a quick-rig flip-up bimini beneath an aft sunpad, which also provides the seat for the helm. That frees up the rest of the deck for a long wraparound dining zone that can seat eight people or convert into a huge single sun lounger.
Created for optimal efficiency with electric motors, the Rand Breeze 20 will reportedly also make 30-60% gains over comparable boats when fitted with traditional outboard propulsion.
While we can’t yet vouch for that, the ease of ownership certainly looks good. Measuring 20ft and weighing less than 600kg, it should be child’s play to store, tow, launch and recover. And with prices from €34,900 plus VAT, it should also be relatively affordable to buy.
Read more about the Rand Breeze 20
Sargo 45
Sargo’s new flagship, the Sargo 45 is likely to be a very major attraction at Boot Düsseldorf 2023.
Designed around a central pilothouse with symmetrical walkaround decks on top of a heavily built hull with a fine entry and a substantial bow flare, this design makes good sense in all kinds of ways.
Ahead of the big, heavily-fendered swim platform, for instance, the aft cockpit features a pair of deck hatches for easy access to the engines. There are also great storage solutions for bulky gear like boat fenders and cushions and the broad, single-level walkaround side decks provide safe movement fore and aft, even in big seas.
Sunseeker Superhawk 55
Forget Boot Düsseldorf, the Sunseeker Superhawk 55 is one the most hotly anticipated new boats of 2023 fullstop.
The yard is proclaiming two key firsts: this will be the first Sunseeker with (non-structural) 3D printed parts and the first Sunseeker with a slanted hull (it drops by 130mm from stern to bow to help cut through waves).
This is very much a performance-focussed design – the generator and gyroscopic stabiliser will be mounted on the centreline to keep the weight and centre of gravity as low as possible, and there are short carbon fibre jack shafts between the engines and the IPS pods to keep the weight slightly further forward.
Read more about the Sunseeker Superhawk 55
Keep checking back with mby.com during the Boot Düsseldorf show as we will be sharing yacht tour videos of as many of the above debuts as possible.
