Best yacht brands

Year of foundation: 1949

Country: Netherlands

An acronym for First Export Association of Dutch Shipbuilders, Feadship’s original mission was to sell superyachts to buyers in the United States. Now this brand is associated with elite megayachts.

Each vessel is designed and built entirely at the shipyard, which ensures full control over the process from start to finish. These yachts are known for their exceptional quality and attention to detail. Every aspect of the vessel is carefully thought out and brought to perfection. The Feadship yachts are real works of art from the exterior design to the interior decoration and everything in between.

Year of foundation: 1960

Country: US

Bertram is a recognized leader in motor yachts. The company’s name comes from the surname of its founder, Richard Bertram.

These yachts are famous for their distinctive deep-V hulls, which provide exceptional stability even in the roughest seas at high speeds. The innovative hull design reflects top-tier engineering expertise, setting them apart. Built with robust materials, these hulls offer superior strength and durability. Bertram yachts are not just built to last, they are designed to withstand storms.

Bertram vessels have some of the best quality advanced navigation systems. Among them is a notable radar system. It detects other ships and obstacles even in bad weather conditions. Combined with GPS technology, this system provides real-time location tracking and route optimization, which ensures safe sailing.

Year of foundation: 1873

Country: Italy

This is one of the oldest luxury yacht builders in Europe. Benetti, the production of which is located in Viareggio and Livorno— both cities are near Pisa and located on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. The company not only designs and constructs motor yachts, it is also a leader in building custom superyachts.

Benetti is a forward-thinking builder who uses innovative developments. However, this progressive shipbuilding company preserves its time-tested values — experience, skill, and excellent execution of fine artwork. The ‘Benetti Quality System’ ensures a thorough and careful construction process, with numerous quality checks. The result is high-quality yachts, winning numerous prizes.

Year of foundation: 1969

Country: UK

This manufacturer builds racing boats, superyachts, flybridge yachts, and motor yachts. Each year, it produces approximately 150 vessels. The main material yachts are produced of is composite. The company has its own Design & Technology Centre that integrates each yacht’s detail thus controlling the standards of craftsmanship and quality.

The shipyard’s specialists build luxury motor yachts both custom and semi-custom types. It means that you can choose from a variety of design options while using a standard engineering platform. Customers wishing to build a yacht longer than 30.5 m (100 ft) are offered a unique tailored service: the client can create his dream yacht “from scratch”.

Sunseeker is undoubtedly an icon of the British yachting industry. Its vessels are an example of British style — not without reason they took part in the filming of four Bond films. For example, Sunseeker Superhawk 34 appeared at The World Is Not Enough (1999).

Year of foundation: 1958

Country: Italy

Sanlorenzo produces luxury yachts and superyachts from 24 to 70 meters (from 79 to 230 feet) in length. Even though the production plants are located in Italy, the company has representatives all around the world. This is the first yacht builder that collaborated with outstanding designers, e.g. Dordoni Architetti, Antonio Citterio, Patricia Urquiola, and Christian Liaigre.

Sanlorenzo founders planned to create high-quality custom-made yachts that would reflect the elegance and sophistication of Italian design and craftsmanship. Always at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and design, Sanlorenzo uses advances in materials, construction methods, and onboard systems to improve performance, comfort, and sustainability.

These yachts are popular with many celebrities and famous personalities. Famous past owners include Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher and fashion designer John Galliano, which further enhances the brand’s appeal.

Year of foundation: 1842

Country: Italy

Since 2000, Riva has been a part of Ferretti Group. It is the oldest and one of the world’s most famous manufacturers of luxury motorboats, open yachts, superyachts, and flybridge yachts. They typically range from 8 to 33 meters (from 26 to 108 feet), while superyachts range from 50 up to 90 meters (from 164 to 295 feet) in length.

The feature of these vessels is the painting and varnishing of the woodwork. The original Carlo Riva method is still used. The coating is applied manually in 24 layers to protect the wood from being destroyed by salt water and give it a perfect shiny finish. In addition, the screws are precisely positioned in one direction, the heads are painted in the color of the hull.

The brand has been playing a leading role in the film industry for over 60 years, often shadowing actors and actresses. Today it is a symbol of modern, sophisticated elegance, expressed in a skillful combination of cutting-edge design with high-quality materials.

Year of foundation: 1927

Country: Netherlands

It is a leading yacht manufacturer that has built more than 100 Amels superyachts, SeaXplorer expedition yachts, Yacht Support vessels, and large yacht refits. Damen Shipyards Group has more than 50 shipyards, repair yards, and related companies around the globe.

Damen Yachting offers not only building new vessels but also refit and life-cycle management. You can upgrade your boat, make a redesign, or even rebuild your yacht completely. As the Damen team says they “have been breathing a new lease of life into superyachts for decades.”

For generations, they have designed iconic superyachts with unsurpassed Dutch craftsmanship, excellent service, and attention to the changing world around them. The company has unrivaled expertise in ocean research equipment, ocean yachts that enhance safety at sea while reducing environmental impacts, as well as innovations in reducing emissions.

Year of foundation: 1959

Country: Italy

The holding is one of the world leaders in the industry. He is engaged in the development and production of commercial, military, passenger, and private vessels of almost all types. It includes 21 shipyards, 3 design companies, and a research center. Due to the constant increase in production capacity and the absorption of other enterprises, the shipyard ranks fourth in the world in terms of production volumes.

For the vessel creation, the company cooperates with famous design studios, for example, Espen Oeino International, Hot Lab, Andrea Vallicelli, etc. It should be noted that the Fincantieri develops the most daring and conceptual projects.

One of Fincantieri’s priority activities is the construction of yachts with a length of more than 70 m (230 ft). Customers can order a custom-made vessel or use standard designs.

Year of foundation: 1978

Country: Netherlands

Heesen Yachts continues to amaze with its dedication to speed, efficiency, and uncompromising luxury. Specializing in aluminum and steel structures, Heesen vessels are distinguished by their streamlined profiles and high-performance characteristics.

The manufacturer remains at the forefront of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in yacht design and engineering. By focusing on providing customized experiences that match the preferences of each owner, Heesen ensures that each yacht is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and innovation.

In collaboration with Van Oossanen Naval Architects, the company has developed a concept ‘Fast Displacement Hull Form’ (FDHF) to offer efficiency over the entire speed range. The patented hull shape showed resistance values that are 15-20% better than those of well-designed hard chine hull forms. Other advantages are a significant increase in onboard comfort, better sea-keeping, and wave-reduction compared to more traditional hull shapes.

Year of foundation: 1875

Country: Germany

The Lürssen shipyard is a symbol of German precision and engineering excellence in the construction of yachts. It confirms the reputation of one of the leading superyacht manufacturers. Specializing in large vessels, the company is known for its skill in making even the most incredible projects come true.

Each Lürssen yacht is a testament to the excellent attention to detail. The manufacturer offers increased comfort, luxury, and superior performance qualities. The brand’s commitment to innovation offers yachts that combine exciting aesthetics with groundbreaking technological advances.

Year of foundation: 1990

Country: Netherlands

Oceanco specializes in building custom sailing and motor yachts in aluminum and steel hulls. This manufacturer offers highly personalized customer service and applies innovative design and technology to create unique vessels. At the same time, the company respects the vision of both the customer and the designer.

Oceanco offers an avant-garde, sometimes exotic design. In addition to the quality and “cosmic” exterior, the shipyard provides customers with advanced technologies and environmental and safety standards. Among other things, on these yachts, you can find such luxury attributes as swimming pools, glass domes-atriums, tennis courts, and helicopter pads.

Year of foundation: 1884

Country: Netherlands

The company started with the construction of small fishing boats made of wood. By the mid-50s, the company switched to the production of steel sailing yachts. Nowadays, Royal Huisman specializes in the construction of custom sailing superyachts, as well as in the maintenance and repair of boats. In recent years, the company has proven to be an expert in various yacht refits, rebuilds, and eco-friendly solutions.

In the building of ships, the company uses materials such as aluminum and carbon composite, sometimes a combination of them. The shipyard’s long-standing culture of perfectionism encompasses both modern advanced technology and traditional shipbuilding skills.

Year of foundation: 1905

Country: Germany

The Nobiskrug shipyard manufactures innovative custom-made luxury superyachts. The shipyard’s fleet is represented by steel sailing and motor yachts for long trips.

Their superstructures are traditionally made of fiberglass to reduce weight. Nobiskrug became the first company in the world to start using such technology. The company also owns many innovations that have successfully taken root on superyachts. These are, for example, folding helicopter pads, sliding terraces in cabins, and much more.

Nobiskrug is not a mass yacht manufacturer. It specializes in combining revolutionary engineering developments and environmentally friendly technologies, setting new standards for the yachting industry. With the launch of Sailing Yacht A, Nobiskrug has confirmed its strong presence among the top superyacht-making companies. Its latest creation, the high-tech and eco-friendly Artefact, has secured the shipyard’s status as a true innovator.

Year of foundation: 1973

Country: Finland

The main features of the Baltic Yachts brand — excellent cruising and racing characteristics with high production quality. The shipyard cooperates with many design and architectural studios to fully satisfy the aesthetic and racing clients’ preferences. Today, the company builds custom sailing and motor yachts.

Baltic Yachts is known for its innovations. Among them, for example, the ‘Dynamic Stability System’ (DSS), or the ‘Retractable Propulsion System’ (APPS), which allows to remove a propeller inside the hull or rotate it at an angle of up to 90 degrees, improving the maneuverability of the vessel.