In the midst of a general slowing of the Italian economy, and of exports in particular, the leisure boat construction sector stands out as an exception; 2023 was the best year ever for the sector, achieving a record EUR 4 billion in exports, an increase of 15.9 percent over 2022. In 2023, the turnover generated by the domestic market was EUR 2.57 billion (30.8 percent), with EUR 5.76 billion (69.2 percent) coming from the foreign market. These figures see the sector seventh in Italy in terms of increases in exports compared to 2022. In terms of type, figures relating to superyachts, i.e., vessels with a length of more than 24 metres are particularly striking; with 600 boats either commissioned or under construction, accounting for more than 22 thousand square metres overall, the Italian share of this niche represents 51.4 percent of global orders in 2024, 7 units more than in 2023. 

 In general, despite being less intense than in previous years, the growth seen in the Italian market is a positive sign, considering that the global market has seen a slight fall in orders (-3.1 percent) since 2023 (source Confindustria Nautica, 2023-2024 market trends). “Italian boats”, explains Marina Stella, director general of Confindustria Nautica, “stand out for their elegance, design and meticulous selection of materials, attentive manufacturing processes and technological research. It is a perfect combination of beauty and quality. Customers who buy Italian are purchasing an example of our know-how and our particular lifestyle”

In other words, beyond technical quality, Italian boats offer specific added value for the fact that they are made in Italy. There is, after all, an ever-stronger relationship between Italian furniture companies and bespoke solutions for leisure-boat interiors, as the owners of large vessels, literal floating residences, want the same comforts they enjoy at home. “Recent years have seen florid interaction between the two sectors”, confirms Stella, “in particular in terms of research into materials, components and finishes, and there is now a focus on materials and techniques characterised by sustainability, durability and an ever-stronger connection with exterior spaces and the sea”. Another theme that is widely embraced by sector companies is sustainability, seen as a specific responsibility as well as a challenge for future competitiveness. 

“The theme of carbon neutrality”, continues Stella, “is extremely important in the leisure-boating sector, despite this having a bearing of just 0.01 percent on the entire port, logistics and maritime sector, according to official data from the International Maritime Organization. This increase in environmental responsibility has an influence on boats in terms of mechanics and engineering, and over the years, the experience inside vessels has also evolved considerably. 

This is explained by Enrico Lumini, the design director and cofounder of Hot Lab, a company operating in the leisure-boat design sector for the last twenty years and now part of the Viken Group: “Modern boat owners want to enjoy all the possible physical and psychological benefits of living in close contact with the sea, and this has had an influence on design. There has been a significant trend towards lowering the level of stern access ever closer to the waterline. Instead of a simple series of horizontal, parallel and overlaid floors, contemporary layouts now have spaces that intersect, overlap and hide each other; mezzanines, false mezzanines and terraces combine to create the sensation of more space. The excess of function typical a few years ago is gone; multiple dining areas repeated on different levels are much less common, replaced with areas dedicated to different activities. However, what we are seeing, in the case of superyachts, is not so much a radical evolution in layout, but rather incremental innovations, such as the pushing back of certain areas rather than others, inverting, for example, the position of the guest area with that of the engine room, or bringing the cabins much closer to the living areas to the stern; then there are variations in the positioning of solid and open areas, with the addition of unusual terraces towards the prow or on just one side of the vessel, creating asymmetrical designs. In general, the idea is increased physical contact with the outside”. A central aspect of design is quality of life on board. 

“Internal and external space is used for a range of functions that allow a multitude of experiences from relaxation to entertainment, and from water sports to fitness. An essential aspect of yachts is well-organised functionality”, explains Guido Valtorta, senior yacht designer & architect of Nauta Design, a Milan-based firm that has been designing sailing and motorboats of all sizes for almost forty years. “There is a growing desire among owners to explore less-common destinations, attracted by unusual experiences. As a result, spaces are modelled to allow the landscape to be enjoyed in a range of climates; large windows seamlessly connect interiors and exteriors; observation decks at the highest and most isolated points of the boat become private areas for enjoying the view; sun decks and winter gardens can be enjoyed in bad weather, and nests positioned at the tip of the prow form terraces over the sea”. Modern demands see boat owners spending an increasing amount of time on board, entertaining guests and enjoying increased privacy.

“New target clients, including younger people, have discovered the attraction of vessels seen as private and exclusive floating islands”, stresses Patricia Viel, CEO and partner at ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, a firm that handles interior design for luxury yachts, above all for the Ferretti Group. “These need to offer space for socialising, for privacy and even for remote working. This means multiplying spaces by designing tailor-made furniture that can be converted to create flexible set-ups. There is no doubt that contamination with the residential and hospitality sectors has marked a turning point in the leisure-boating sector. However, it is not a matter of designing floating luxury apartments; yachts are examples of marine architecture dedicated to life at sea, with solutions that allow people to live as close as possible to the water, like the beach club, with two side wings that increase space, allowing direct access to the sea. There is also a focus on emphasising the relationship with natural light through large windows and the use of shiny, mirrored surfaces that dematerialise the structure itself”.

Each yacht is a combination of widely differing functions and activities. “The kitchen, be it shared between guests and crew or separated, according to the size of the vessel, becomes the heart of the boat”, continues Valtorta. Fitted with the best equipment, and under the guidance of expert chefs, this space now needs a dedicated pantry for preparation and service. In some cases, the need for an area for briefing between owners and chefs has resulted in the designing of meeting areas in crew quarters; in another case, a request for a small kitchen exclusively for the owner required a secondary door to allow personnel unintrusive access”. Sustainability in terms of materials and consumption is an essential factor, even for luxury boats. “Attention to the environment and luxury are not contrasting concepts”, stresses Valtorta. “We often work with recycled products that, when combined, create finishes of the highest quality and visual effect”.

Patricia Viel agrees: “The sustainability of a boat design is based, above all, on its ability to surpass itself, to be able to be refitted when needed and to have system updates in terms of flexibility of space. The quality of the materials is also essential. For example, the wall covering of the Custom Line 50 boasts elegant three-dimensional designs created by hot-pressing decorative textiles onto technical supports, resulting in sound-absorbing surfaces”. However, the choice of materials needs to be based on a guiding principle: “reduce the energy demands of the yacht”, explains Lumini. “For example, favouring thermal insulation through the choice of external windows and all the other components that can contribute to a climatically more stable vessel. Secondly, weight needs to be reduced to a minimum with whatever is technologically possible, such as slabs of stone just a few millimetres thick, slimmer and thus lighter glass, or composite wood panels that reduce load as much as 60 percent. Excellence is a characteristic of the vast majority of those operating in the top-level boating sector, and the same goes for the technical and manufacturing capacity of our shipyards to respond to varying demands with rapidity and precision”.

All photos in the text illustrate Navetta 38 by Custom Line. For the interiors, ACPV focused on large windows that make the most of natural light, above all in the lounges on the main and upper decks. The latter offers a sunbathing area at the prow and a beach club at the stern. As well as the master suite, there are four guest cabins. The kitchen is by Ernestomeda.

Opening image: the forward lounge on the 72-metre Moonflower, a collaboration between Nauta Design and Wider Yachts