We celebrate the well-deserved winners of the 2019 Motor Boat Awards, as chosen by our select group of judges
Custom Yachts
Sponsored by
Finalists
- Azimut Grande 27 Metri
- Dominator Ilumen 28M
- Ferretti 780
- Horizon FD85
- Monte Carlo Yachts 96
- Pearl 80
- Pershing 9X
Winner: Ferretti 780
In the company of some extraordinary exotica in this category, the 780 has won out due to its consistent excellence from engineroom to flybridge. Ferretti’s boats go about their business in a decidedly unflashy manner and the 780 is no exception – you just know that you’ll never regret buying one.
It does everything well, offers an extraordinary array of interior layouts and is imbued with the kind of exemplary engineering and build quality that owners value above all else.
Despite its vast experience as a boatbuilder, Ferretti is also moving with the times so every glass fibre moulding is resin-infused and the hardtop reinforced with Kevlar to add strength and reduce weight.
Performance from a boat like this would have been unthinkable years ago but the 780 is genuinely good to drive and clips along in a manner which belies its volume and weight. Twin MAN 1,500hp diesels are good for a top speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 20-27 knots.
The 780 may not have the flashy looks or game-changing features of some rivals but it’s as close to faultless as any boat of this size and complexity is likely to get.
Highly commended: Horizon FD85
A fast displacement hull form, a truly custom built interior and a remarkable feat of packaging make this the closest thing yet to the ideal compact superyacht.
