Whilst research is the starting point, Challenger Pro represents its culmination. However, reducing this project to a simple range of paints would be limiting. In reality, Challenger Pro was created to address a much broader need: to complete a system. For years, Boero Yacht Coatings has built its reputation on primers, undercoats, fillers, anti-corrosion and anti-fouling products, becoming one of the leading names in hull protection.
However, the final piece of the jigsaw was missing – the most visible and, at the same time, the most demanding: the topcoat. This marked the start of a research journey lasting over fifteen years, which has accelerated over the last two thanks to a major investment programme involving financial resources, specialist staff and new technologies. The aim was not simply to develop a topcoat capable of offering brilliance and depth of colour, but to create a platform capable of ensuring continuity between all elements of the painting cycle.
This is a substantial difference. Because the quality of a finish does not depend solely on the final layer applied. Just as a house cannot stand without solid foundations, so too does a yacht require primers, undercoats and topcoats to work as a single, integrated system. If even one of these elements fails, the final result will inevitably suffer. From this vision stems the concept of PUREPROTECTION™, the philosophy developed by Boero Yacht Coatings to integrate protection, aesthetics and durability into a single system. Every component of the process is designed to work in harmony with the next, contributing not only to the yacht’s aesthetic appeal but also to its long-term preservation.
Alongside performance, colour plays an increasingly central role. In the world of superyachts, colour is no longer merely an aesthetic choice, but a defining feature of the design. Increasingly, designers and owners are requesting shades developed exclusively for their own vessel, capable of becoming as recognisable a signature as a waterline or an architectural detail. To meet these requirements, Boero Yacht Coatings has developed a sophisticated colour-matching system that manages a library of over 245,000 colours, which is set to expand continuously thanks to the ability to adjust and customise every formulation using spectrophotometric analysis. In practice, there is no request that cannot be fulfilled.
There is an anecdote circulating in the industry that illustrates well the level of customisation achieved today. One yacht owner, whilst observing his yacht next to his car, noticed that the two shades of white did not match perfectly. Another, on the other hand, wanted the hull’s finish to match exactly that of the towels on board. These anecdotes may raise a smile, but they effectively illustrate just how much colour has become an integral part of a yacht’s identity. Reproducing these shades is not just about achieving the right hue. It means ensuring that the colour retains the same depth, the same brilliance and the same chromatic balance over time, regardless of exposure to the sun, salt air and the elements. This is where research once again takes centre stage.
Matteo Zaccagnino
