As per tradition, the month of January brings with it the first boat show of the new year. Long orphaned by the New York and London boat shows that once competed to turn the spotlight on new products after the Christmas break, it is now the turn of Boot Düsseldorf to host the first game of the new nautical ‘championship’. A season that promises to be very rich. There are many questions waiting to be answered. Starting with forecasts on the performance of a market that many now believe to be aligned with a new ‘normality’.
Of course, it is still early to come to any conclusions, but we certainly need to understand the effects of the political and economic turbulence that countries with a high nautical vocation like Germany and France are currently experiencing. Not to mention the role that the United States, the world’s leading market, will play under the leadership of the new President Trump. But leaving aside the geopolitical and macroeconomic context and coming back with our feet on the ground, or rather on the water, in this article we want to bring to your attention some of the most significant innovations at the German boat show.
Let’s start with the numbers
The 2025 edition of Boot brings, as always, staggering numbers. The world’s largest indoor boat show is spread over 16 halls. The total number of exhibitors is more than 1,500 from over 60 nations, with Italy leading the list in terms of companies present. There will be over 1,000 boats on display. And among them many world previews have been announced. Among the maxi-ribs there will be the announcement of Yamaha Marine, which, together with Cantieri Capelli, will present the new Stradivari 52. There is also great expectation for the press conference of Sacs Tecnorib, which has always seized this opportunity to make important announcements in terms of product. A product that for Brabus rhymes with the Shadow 1200 Cross Top Black Ops Signature Edition that will be unveiled at the German show to the delight of the brand’s many fans.
Sunseeker
Fresh from new ownership, the shipyard in Poole, Dorset, does not miss the Dusseldorf boat show, which has always been the ideal showcase for presenting a model in world premiere. The year 2025 begins for Sunseeker under the banner of the Manhattan 68. The iconic model in the fly line is back in the spotlight in a new, completely updated version, both in terms of aesthetics, with an even more attractive look, and in terms of design, thanks to a number of changes, above all the flybridge, which has been completely redesigned in terms of layout.
Princess
Düsseldorf also holds a special place in Princess’ strategies. The British shipyard once again took the opportunity offered by the German boat show to present the new F58 live. This 18-metre motor yacht adds a new chapter in the renewal process of the flybridge range. The most distinctive elements are the flybridge that offers an important space to live the experience en plein air to which are added the forward cockpit, a real terrace on the sea, and the aft cockpit that becomes the natural extension of the saloon on the main deck. All with an eye on performance too, thanks to the 35 knots of speed this model is credited with.
Mylius
The Podenzano yard renews its presence at the German boat show this time bringing the new M47P. This new entry bolsters the brand’s presence in the motor. Attractive design, respectable performance culminating in a top speed of 55 knots, thanks to motorisation entrusted to four Mercury outboard engines of 450R hp each, and great flexibility in terms of use both as a weekender and as a tender for large yachts. Features also include two cabins and two bathrooms.
Frauscher
Produced in a first limited edition of 25, the new Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom is the big news that the Austrian yard is preparing to unveil at the German boat show. A new addition to a story that began with the 850 open day cruiser. Fantom Air (pictured) that inaugurated the collaboration between the two brands. This new day cruiser measures 8.67 metres and, in addition to its distinctive design, a trademark of Frauscher, is fitted with the same electric propulsion system as the Porsche Macan, consisting of a permanent magnet synchronous motor that can deliver up to 400 kW for a maximum speed of 49 knots.
Azimut
The Avigliana yard is back on the Boot scene with some novelties for the German market. In addition to the Fly 62, all eyes will be on the Seadeck line present in full with the Seadeck 6 and Seadeck 7 models. The range has been conceived around a new concept of sustainability where the theme of efficiency plays a central role. Starting with the focus on eco-friendly materials such as cork and R-PET. Furthermore, the Seadeck 7 is the first model to adopt hybrid propulsion with the Volvo Penta IPS system, based on the revolutionary hybrid-electric pilot technology developed by the Swedish company.
Ferretti Group
The Ferretti Group could not miss the roll-call and, as usual, took the opportunity offered by the German boat show to unveil some important new products. Among them Riva stands out once again. By now it has become a tradition for the famous brand to delight the attention of the public of enthusiasts, many of them Northern European customers, with some world previews. If in 2024 it was the El-Iseo the first full electric hull produced by the shipyard, this year the Boot in Düsseldorf will be christening the Riva Iseo Super. This 27 footer represents the natural evolution of the famous runabout and is a candidate to become a new nautical icon. Completing the fleet present at the German show in terms of attendance will be the Ferretti Yachts 500, the Dolceriva, the Riva El-Iseo, the Pershing GTX80, and the wallytender48.
Sanlorenzo
SP92. This is the novelty that drives Sanlorenzo’s presence at the German boat show. With a length of almost 28 metres it is among the largest models present at Boot. The new model in the SP line extends the offer of the Smart Performance range that already includes the SP110. Performance, which in this case does not rhyme with performance in the strictest sense of the term, but with efficiency in terms of fuel consumption and environmental impact. Hence the innovative hull geometries that optimise resistance in the water. But the yard’s main driver was to reduce, as much as possible, the weight of every component of the yacht, without affecting its comfort, safety and seaworthiness. The focus on sustainability involved every component of the yacht: from the design of the structural elements to the photovoltaic system and the choice of furnishings, everything was designed to minimise consumption and reduce the environmental footprint. But the Düsseldorf Boot has also been the ideal stage for Sanlorenzo to illustrate the new strategies included in the ‘Road to 2030’ plan. Project Partner at the Blue Innovation Dock. This platform, created by Boot Düsseldorf, represents a unique opportunity to promote the adoption of new technologies and the development of sustainable solutions along the entire supply chain. In this context Sanlorenzo, together with MAN, chooses to announce during the press conference ‘Innovation and Sustainability: Sanlorenzo and MAN partner to develop the first yacht with a bi-fuel engine’.
Cantiere del Pardo
In so much engine there is also room for sailing, which speaks Italian of course. Among the novelties that certainly deserve a mention is the Grand Soleil Blue project. Announced last year at Boot, it has now materialised around a 10-metre long hull. The GS Blue is the result of a dynamic collaboration between the yard and renowned nautical experts such as Matteo Polli (Naval Architecture) and Nauta Design (Exterior, Interior and G.A. Design), as well as leaders in sustainable materials such as NL Comp. It’s not just a boat, it’s a declaration of intent: with the Grand Soleil Blue, Cantiere del Pardo not only redefines the concept of sustainability in boating, but sets a new standard for the design of boats of the future, where elegance and environmental responsibility are finally in perfect balance.
At the end of its life cycle, the boat is completely recyclable: in fact, every component has been carefully selected for reuse, preventing today’s materials from becoming tomorrow’s waste. This eco-sustainable approach guided the entire design process, leading to the creation of a state-of-the-art weekender with elegant lines. But this is not the only novelty to be presented. But we will have to wait a few more days before we know more. Stay tuned!
Matteo Zaccagnino