America’s favorite boats-are from home!

No use hiding behind a finger, when Americans set out to do something, they always aim to do it big! This explains the impressive number of boats selected by the U.S. trade press and aspiring to win the Boat of the Year award.

In fact, as many as 37 models were selected, divided into different categories. We start with cruising boats under 50 feet in length, and here we have the first surprise: Americans much prefer European ones!

Full-Size Cruiser Under 50 Feet

• Hallberg-Rassy 40 MkII
• Catalina 42
• Elan Impression 45
• X-Yachts X4
• Dufour 460 Grand Large

As can be seen, out of the five models chosen, only one, the Catalina 42, is made in the U.S.A.The others all come from dear old Europe and reflect somewhat the different possibilities on the market, from the sporty X4 to the big Nordic Hallberg-Rassy, via the Dufour 460 GL and the Elan Impression 45.

If we go up in size, here is where the European dominance becomes overwhelming: three out of three boats from the Old Continent are nominated by Americans.

Full-Size Cruiser Over 50 Feet

• Jeanneau 58
• Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 62
• Solaris 50

A choice that should not be surprising, because it is known that the U.S. market compared to ours is stronger on smaller measures. It is nice, however, to see an Italian boat among the award nominees, that Solaris 50 confirming the Aquileia shipyard’s slow but steady penetration overseas.

Instead, the balance among the Performance Cruisers is greater:

Performance Cruisers

• Alerion 30 Sport
• Elan E4
• J/112E
• Dehler 34

As can be seen, we are in fact in a tie in this category, with two European models and two made in the USA. It is striking that the Alerion 30 Sport was also nominated: in fact, it is a model with extremely classic lines, which is more of a sporty model with part of its equipment, such as the carbon bowsprit.

WHAT’S GOING ON AMONG MULTIHULLS
Also confirmed in the States is the boom in multihulls, which are increasingly at the center of the world market (by the way, we are preparing a large special dedicated precisely to multihulls that we will publish in the December-January issue of GdV). Here the European presence is numerically smaller, with major builders such as Lagoon (2 models), Fountaine Pajot, Bali (Catana’s cruising range is increasingly liked), and Nautitech, the French shipyard that joined the Bavaria group two years ago.

Cruising Catamarans Over 50 Feet

• St. Francis 50 Mk II
• Balance 526
• Royal Cape Catamarans Majestic 530
• Xquisite X5

Cruising Catamarans Under 50 Feet

• Lagoon 42
• Lagoon 450 S
• Fountaine-Pajot Lucia 40
• Seawind 1190

Charter Catamarans

• Gemini Freestyle
• Bali 4.0 Lounge
• Bavaria Nautitech Fly 46
• Leopard 45

If we go on to analyze the types of boats (monohulls and multihulls) chosen by the U.S. trade press, it becomes clear that, perhaps for the first time, overseas concepts that were once unknown are really beginning to take hold: a prime example is the increasing attention to finishing, which was once somewhat sidelined by star-studded production. In short, that dear old Europe is leading the way?