Yacht building has always remained a labor intensive but a highly stimulating and satisfying experience for many boat manufacturers. What differentiate a Yacht from a traditional ship are the grace and the ultimate majesty of the larger sailing yachts. Let us review the recent trends in the yacht industry and the accompanying sales statistics.

A SAMPLE OF JOB MARKET

The US boat building industry recognized the fact that yacht building is historically a very complicated process which requires highly skilled labor. Due to the complex factors involved, the statistics show that on average a $40000 worth of a project is only providing one job to the Rhode Island and Florida yacht development efforts. There is an extreme shortage of Yacht builders which far exceeds the threat to the US economy, from the low cost overseas workers.

STATISTICS IN YEAR 2004

According to the popular website, Yacht Forums, the statistics for the year 2003-04 reveal that 52 percent of the global market share is held by the top 20 yacht manufacturers. The Azimut-Benetti group of Italy represents Italy’s premier boat yards. They worked on 59 major projects in a year and made or sold over 7000 feet of yacht. The statistics also reveals the fact that the other two rivals of the Italian group are in fact, locals. Rodriguez and Ferretti group provided or sold over 4000 feet of yacht, each. These groups are involved in building semi-custom fiberglass yachts. The figures also revels that the top three countries in yacht building are Italy, Netherlands and the United States, in order. Yacht building statistics provides a firm clue that manufactures sell larger yachts, every year. The 2004 season saw Lurssen producing three of the four largest yachts. Most of the yachts sold were made of steel apart from Athena, made by Royal Huis. The yacht statistics also suggests the majority of the large boats were between 80 to 90 feet.

SALES INCREASE

It is amazing to find that 76 percent of the yachts sold had been custom ordered by the owners. The statistics further state that 449 yachts were pre-ordered as compared to only 136 boats that had no prior customer. The trend towards owning is increasing every year. In 2004, yacht sales increased 15 percent from the previous year. There were 518 motor boats sold as compared to 69 of the traditional sailing boats. Perini Navi, an Italian manufacturer was the premier sailing boat builder. Most of the yachts sold were made up of fiberglass, steel or aluminum hulls. MTU Friedrichshafen, a German company and caterpillar are the leading engine manufacturers of the yachts. The statistics look even more staggering if we take into account the fact that together, they hold more than 75 percent of the yacht engine market share.

CURRENT STATISTICS

According to the statistics provided by the luxury yacht market economic report at the Monaco yacht show, year 2005 saw an increase of 25 percent in the sales of the luxury yachts. Year 2006, saw a further increase of 8 percent. These statistics also reveal that the average length of the yacht increased from 34.56 meters in 2005 to 36.25 meters in 2006. In 2006, there were 688 mega yachts that were over 24 meters in length. These figures combine sailing and motor propelled yachts. It should be noticed here that the same report has suggested that there is a decline in the sailing yacht market since 2002. The sailing yacht market recorded a decline of 8 percent in 2006, from the previous year.

The company that produces Hughes sail boats, Hughes Boat Works, was founded in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1963 by brothers Howard and Peter Hughes. Originally, the company produced 8′-16′ dinghies. Hughes Boat Works was the largest manufacturer of sailboats in Canada, until it was purchased by US Steel in 1969 and became Northstar Yachts, Ltd. in 1971.

Hughes Sail Boats

In 1965, Hughes began producing the H24, H27, and H38, their first racing boats. In 1967, Hughes Boat Works became a legal corporation with the purpose of manufacturing pleasure boats.

Designed by Howard Hughes, the H22, H25, and H29 were generated in 1968. When Hughes was purchased by US Steel, the Hughes brothers continued to contribute ideas, until the company’s name was changed in 1971. Northstar went on to build Hughes’ boats, but many owners believe that quality suffered somewhat as a result of the transition.

Sparkman and Stephens

Many of the Hughes boats were designed or co-designed by Sparkman and Stephens. Since 1929, Sparkman and Stevens has been world reknowned for its design of admirable sailing and racing yachts.

Sparkman and Stephens has over 2600 designs in pleasure, commercial and military crafts. Sailing yachts remain the most well known branch of their empire. Many of these have been featured winners in the America’s Cup, Fastnet and Sydney to Hobart races.

Howard Hughes, President

Howard Hughes prided himself on the quality and craftsmanship of all the models of Hughes sail boats building with the principles of the “no compromise ‘Proper Yacht Method’”. The Hughes sail boats were built to last throughout the ages with top of the line materials of the highest quality.

All of the Hughes boats were built to be cutting edge in style and sophistication and well as speed and luxury. The phrase “interiors are our ‘thing’”, coined by Howard Hughes, was used to describe the comfort and workability of the Hughes interior. For Howard Hughes, the importance of safety onboard one of his vessels was not something to put a price tag on, and he did not believe in passing on the price of those “little extras” to the customer.

After selling the company in 1969, Howard Hughes bought back the then named Northstar Yachts, Ltd. in 1977 and renamed it Hughes Boat Works, Inc. Once again, in 1980, Hughes sold the company, this time to Aura Yachts. He would decide for the final time in 1986 to reclaim ownership of his beloved enterprise.

Hughes Boat Works, Today

Unfortunately, the legacy of Hughes Boat Works is not one that is actively contributed to today with new Hughes Boat Works ideas. In Orangeville, Ontario, 1991, what would be the present day Hughes factory was destroyed by a devastating fire. Since then, Hughes Boat Works has been out of production.

The ruination of the Hughes factory does not mean, however, that a Hughes sail boat is impossible to come by. Because of Mr. Howard Hughes’ penchant for thoroughly designed, almost indestructible sailboats, numerous models can currently be seen sailing waters the world over.