The Nautic Paris Show, which will be open to visitors at Porte de Versailles from 3 to 11 December
Nautic 2011 Full of New Models and Innovations
Despite persisting headwinds, the French marine industry has spared no effort
to offer boaters more, and above all, even better products. The Nautic Paris
Show, which will be open to visitors at Porte de Versailles from 3 to 11
December, will once again present a great range of new boats and equipment,
with a more segmented and more attractive offer.
Sailboats
The world’s leading sailboat builder is French, and it is not a coincidence. The Bénéteau Group has unveiled a series of new models this winter that closely meets the expectations of yachtsmen, beginners and boating enthusiasts, with an unbeatable innovation/quality/price ratio. The new Océanis 41, 45 and 48 will all be displayed in Paris, offering even more volume, brightness and innovations. Cockpits open onto the sea have become real terraces, manoeuvres are now easier thanks to new joystick controls. The Océanis are continuing therefore their brilliant career, as is the new Sense range that pushes even further the concept of family home on the water. The new Sense
55, the largest of the series will be unveiled at The Nautic Paris Show for the first time
worldwide. Jeanneau, another trademark of the Group, will bring four new models to
Paris: the Sun Odyssey 379, 439, 509 and 44DS. The latter offers an aft cabin and interior volumes which have an impressive size and shows the unique know-how of the shipyard in the design of versatile and innovative cruisers. As for the Lagoon shipyard, the world’s leading builder of catamaran cruisers, it will bring to Porte de Versailles an optimized 400, a real platform for life aboard a sailboat.
The challengers thus are tied up and most of them are focusing their efforts on the niche markets, by specialising their new models. Dufour, an iconic trademark of the French industry, is thus unveiling at The Nautic Paris Show a new 36 Performance that prefigures a new range of finer and sleeker boats, intended for a clientele of aesthete yachtsmen. The shipyard is also continuing developments of its Grand Large range with the new 335. In this niche of pleasure boats, the new J111, Boat of the Year 2011, is winning acclaim in all the regattas, and the Germans from Dehler will be presenting their new 41-foot racer-cruiser, like the Slovenians of Salona with their new 38S, particularly
well-honed.
Another challenger, outstanding specialist of long voyages, Outremer will unveil at The Nautic Paris Show its new catamaran designed by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prevost. The deck layout plan is by Michel Desjoyeaux and the design by Patrick le Quément. A stellar roster of talent offering families a fast beautiful boat that is safe and easy around the world. Another leading specialist and pioneer of the catamaran cruiser, Fountaine-Pajot has placed the emphasis on managing alternative forms of energy, aiming to offer eventually the first boats with positive energy.Lastly, a number of niche shipyards, in particular Breton yards gathered under the banner of their Regional Council, will make it possible for every boat lover to find the boat right for them: the very innovative Ikone, fishing-pleasure yacht by Espace VAG, the Malango by IDB Marine or the gorgeous Aviateur by Pichavant and the Django by Marée Haute, voted ‘Boat of the Year’ in 2010. Even more affordable are the small
trimarans by Astus Boats, including the brand new 18.2, which gives pride of place to sensations.
Motorboating
Here again, we are witnessing an uninterrupted offensive by the Bénéteau group,
including in the niche markets once reserved for specialists. The most obvious trend is the return to the transoms of the outboard motors. They are found on most of the new models, even the larger size boats. At Bénéteau, the new Barracuda 9, Antarès 7.80 and 8.80 are all powered by an outboard engine, despite their size and mass. There are several reasons for this inspired comeback: the new generations of engines have made tremendous progress in reducing consumption, weight, pollution and noise, but above all they are considerably less expensive to buy and to maintain than the
inboard diesel engines. Evidence of this progress, and the precise segmentation of the market, the new 150 HP 4-stroke by Mercury, which promises to be the least expensive on the market (almost 25% less than its competitors), while complementing a Verado and an Optimax of the same power under the same brand. Every type of craft, RIB, launch or fishing-pleasure boat is thus provided an engine perfectly suited to its programme depending on whether it is looking for comfort, economy or responsiveness. We find the trend again at Jeanneau, with the new Merry Fisher 755 and 855 or the Cap Camarat 8.5 CC, all powered with outboards despite their large size. Another awaited
new model, the NC9, which intends to propose the same formula as the NC11 presented last year: the liveability of a small house, but with a stunning view and a tight budget. There will also be many large boats at Nautic, starting with the two Bénéteau Flyer Gran Turismo 44 et 49, coming to drive out directly on their territory the Italian specialists like Sessa, who will be bringing their new 43 Fly, or the Germans like Bavaria and their new Sport 43
Even bigger, the visitors will be able to admire the latest versions of the spectacular UFO, and the newest Prestige, the 500 Fly. Finally, after the unexpected success of the Greenline 33, the shipyard is unveiling its new 40 in Paris, still as economical with its hybrid solar-powered engine, but much easier to live in with two real cabins. In the market for small sport boats, the fight is still as intense between the American specialists, like Bayliner with the new 175 or Glastron presenting a very handsome GT160 by Christophe Lavigne, and the Europeans. Quicksilver has developed its new Activ range with a 645 Cabin, and the small French shipyards have replied by an upmarket offer like White Shark or Rhéa Marine with its new 23 Open, showing very fine production and finish.
Lastly, the wave of new models has also touched the world of RIBs. Zodiac, the world’s leader, now offers its Pro range “à la carte”, permitting a very large mix of materials, colours and equipment, to meet every desire and every need. On the high-end of the market, there again we find an Italian speciality, Zodiac has developed its N-Zo range RIB designed by Vittorio Garroni, exclusively at Nautic 2011. Valiant, an inflatable subsidiary of the Brunswick group, has reacted by modernizing its design and logo, but especially by segmenting here again its offer into two ranges, Sport and Comfort.
Equipment
As for equipment, the new products are once again very numerous and diversified. Two important trends can be highlighted this year: the return of textile fibres in the deck fittings, and the development of multifunction displays in electronics. If stainless steel, aluminium and titanium were until now occupying key roles in small deck-fittings, these materials are now receiving serious competition from high-tech fibres like Spectra or Vectran, developed for and by offshore racers. All the manufacturers are now offering shackles, eyelets or pulleys using these exotic fibres whose weight and strength cannot be matched…
If the iPad and iPhone have met with great success on land, it is the same at sea, where many professionals use them as an interface with their navigation unit. The electronics manufacturers have realized this and have increased the supply of complementary products, while at the same time developing their own multifunction display screens.
Even high-end specialists like NKE or B&G are getting into it…
This is just a brief overview of the major developments and trends at The 2011 Nautic Paris Show, which promises to unveil its usual lot of new models and innovations. It is nonetheless a fact that the marine industry continues to show great creativity and responsiveness that many sectors can envy!
