Sep 06 2008
Compounding (Oxidation Removal):
Gel-coat, the exterior finish on fiberglass boats, is a porous mix of polyester resins and pigments that must be sealed from the damaging effects of ultra-violet (UV) rays, salt, dirt and weather. Neglect it, and it becomes more porous due to the oxidation of the mixture resins and what remains is a faded, dull finish.
Sep 02 2008
Luxury corporation LMVH - Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest company for luxury products, has announced that it is going to get into the yacht business. The company is going to acquire Dutch luxury yacht designer and builder Royal van Lent.
Royal van Lent makes high-luxury yachts that sell for an average $44 million each. It is possible that, if the acquisition goes through, LMVH will provide some of the exclusive interior for the boats and yachts built by Royal van Lent.
The announcement by LMVH comes just a few days after Hermes has already gone into a joint-venture with yacht maker Wally, based in Monaco.
Looking at these two companies investing heavily in the yacht business, Hermes and LMVH - Louis Vuitton must believe that the market for yachts will not decline even in times of economic slowdowns. Quite the contrary: The market has always been relatively small compared to other markets and only targets a very specific group of customers. This group, however, has been growing for years as more people in countries like Russia and China have become very wealthy, and this trend is likely to continue.
Aug 04 2008
Many people probably don’t put a lot of thought into the dealings of yacht brokers. They probably wonder what they do. Well, they are the go-to guys for buying and selling boats. They are the movers and shakers that make it happen.
These guys get boat listings that come from people who initially try to sell the boats on their own. When that doesn’t work, they go out and find experienced people to help them make the sale.
Trying to sell a boat or a yacht is not a piece of cake. There are certain steps that have to be followed in order to make a successful sale. When employing a broker, it’s important for them to know what the market is like.
Aug 04 2008
People who take boat trips often fail to realize the potential disasters that can ensue if they are not careful and safe on-board their boat. Over 1,000 people die on boating trips per year, and many of the dangers associated with boating are easily preventable. In this article, we’ll give some tips to help you to avoid the potential pitfalls that one may wake while operating a boat.
Aug 02 2008
James Packer, who is the son of the late billionaire Kerry Packer and the third-richest man in Australia, had to wait some time until his new $50 million yacht had been completed. But the waiting was worth it, as it seems.
The yacht is a 50-meter Mangusta 165, which is the largest open yacht in the world. Its name is Z Ellerston. It was built by the shipyard of Gerard Rodriguez. Only two Mangusta 165 yachts have been built so far.
As written earlier, the superyacht market is booming with many people in Russia and in Asian countries getting very rich, and new Asian yacht companies entering the market. I’m sure we’ll be seeing lots of other beautiful yachts in the near future!
Jul 29 2008
It’s that time again and I’m sure everyone is as anxious to get back out on the water as I am. It’s tempting to pull off the cover and just go, but there are 5 things you should take care of first to avoid the maiden voyage from Hades, well you get my point.
Number one on the list is the battery. I can’t stress this enough. If you make it away from the dock and your battery isn’t 100% you’re asking to be towed back. Check the water in each cell unless it is a sealed battery and add if needed. Charge fully and keep the first trip short in case you do need assistance.
Jul 25 2008
While the docking techniques in boating are always going to be dependent upon the weather conditions, there are a few simple things that you should always keep in mind. First of all, in this particular case practice makes perfect. Although we can provide tips, please remember that the docking techniques in boating are going to be something you will have to personalize to your experience, your particular boat and of course, the dock itself.
Secondly, the most common mistake boater’s make when attempting to dock their boats is to try and approach the dock in a straight line. By approaching the dock from an angle, however, it will much easier to get close without scraping and to hit the spot you’re aiming for. Thirdly, the speed at which you come in to the dock must be controlled. Anything you’ve ever been told about the best docking techniques in boating probably mentioned that it requires you to run your boat in at the slowest possible speed.
Jul 23 2008
There are many boats out there on the market, with something for everyone. If you are new to boating, selecting the right boat can be hard. There are boats for every purpose on the water, all you have to do is find the one for you.
Jul 22 2008
Schöpfer Yachts has unveiled a new design concept for super-yachts that looks really impressive:
The concept called “Oculus” is the first design that newly-founded Schöpfer Yachts has made public. The 250-foot vessel was designed by company founder E. Kevin Schöpfer. It was designed to accommodate 12 guests at a speed higher than 25 knots.
Jul 22 2008
Asia’s economy is growing quickly and some Asian companies are currently looking into ways of getting into the high-luxury-boat market big time. Especially China and Taiwan have been very active in this field in the recent years.
They’re really investing a lot of money in research and development, because it is still Europe where most of the expertise in the lucrative luxury yacht market can be found. If Asia wants to grow their market share it will have to learn and get better in terms of quality and exclusivity, and the Asian companies know that very well.
Though, it’s not only quality that should be a selling factor for Asian yacht builders. They’re trying to put their yachts on the market at very competitive prices: Yachts built in Taiwan are often about 30% cheaper than those built in the West, Chinese yachts are even priced at 50% of the price one would have to pay in Europe or in the USA for a comparable luxury boat.
Asia is still behind with yacht orders, but it is gaining on Europe and America: This year there have been about 100 orders for yachts in Taiwan and China, 400 orders in Italy alone and 100 in the United States. As comparison, in 2005 Taiwan and China had only about 50 orders combined.
And foreign companies are going to cash in on the growing Asian market, too. Many yacht manageing companies and additional service providers for the yacht industry have opened offices in Asian cities in order to provide value-added services to yacht builders as well as yacht owners.