Photos this page courtesy of Burger Boats .
Peter Fredericksen , spokesperson for the Viking Yacht Company of New Gretna , New Jersey , concurs . Clientele who are in the market for a personal luxury sailing vessel are willing to invest in design .
“ They want their boats to be similar to their homes ,” Fredericksen states . “ Just as they want fine woods in their homes , they want fine woods in their boats . This is an extension of their homes and an expression of their lifestyles .”
Brian Courtney , executive editor for Showboats International , reports the fastest growing sector of the boat market is the large boat segment , specifically in sales of vessels 80-feet and over . Typically , these luxury crafts are motorized , customized , and valued at $ 1.5 million plus .
While the size and cost of such vessels are on the increase , the age of boat owners is skewing downward . Once a pastime reserved only for celebrities and the old money ultra-rich , yachting is gaining popularity with an expanded segment of the U . S . population .
Courtney adds that this new fleet of owners is bringing diversity and new ideas to yacht interior design .
“ The new demographic is influencing design trends inside ,” Courtney says . Modern waterways are welcoming more yachtsmen and women who are ‘ sailing newbies ’ – affluent individuals who didn ’ t grow up in boating but have discovered it as a financial investment that offers both pleasure and prestige .
“ Today it is not uncommon to see 35- or 40-year olds buying multimillion dollar vessels ,” Courtney explains . “ These are people who don ’ t come from a tradition of sailing . They all have new money and are only now discovering the world of yachting .”
“ Just as they want fine woods in their homes , they want fine woods in their boats .”
PETER FREDERICKSEN
20 i m p o r t e d w o o d