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The 2005 global order book breaks all records.
by Editors of Showboats International
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01/01/2005
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| The 2005 Order Book |  |
SAILING IS SOFT
The only segment of the market showing weakness for 2005
is sailing yacht construction. Overall, the segment fell 5%, a total of three
orders off from 2004. Sailboats from 90 feet to 99 feet stayed even at eight
orders, while sailing yachts from 100 feet to 119 feet increased 77% to 16
orders. All the other segments of the sailboat market, including the
150-foot-plus market, decreased. Expedition-style yachts, which had enjoyed a
steady increase in popularity in recent order books, remain constant in 2005 at
20 orders.
SIZE MATTERS
The 59% increase in the 80-foot to 89-foot motor
yacht segment, coupled with the launch of several enormous yachts, including
numerous 230-foot-plus yachts in Holland, Germany, Greece and England, helps
explain why average size of yacht under construction in the global order book
fell from 122.4 feet to 116.7 feet, or 4.7%. The impact of launching two
monster-size yachts is evident in Lürssen’s numbers. The German builder’s 2005
order book grew by three contracts to a total of 10 and is up 17.9% in linear
feet of construction. Yet its average size of yacht under construction fell from
284 feet in 2004 to 234 feet this year. Still, Lürssen remains at the top of the
builder rankings by average size of order.
ORDERBOOK GROUND RULES
The purpose of this listing is to provide a body
of data - complied in a systematic fashion at the same time every year - showing
the scope and breadth of economic activity within the luxury yacht community.
The cutoff for the order book is September 1, although shipyards are permitted
to add new orders that materialize prior to October 1. Every effort is made by
the editorial staff of ShowBoats International to assure the accuracy of the
data. Whenever possible, the data is cross-referenced with other industry
sources. However, collecting this information in an unregulated international
industry is difficult at best. Nevertheless, the editors believe this order book
listing and analysis is an accurate reflection of existing economic conditions
in the luxury yacht industry. The editors will continue to update and clarify
this listing as necessary during the year when new information becomes
available.
CUSTOM BUILT RANKINGS
Editor’s note: It is always problematic to
distinguish between custom and semi-custom (or series production) yacht
manufacturers. Some companies, such as Benetti, build yachts on both a
production and a custom basis. Other companies, particularly yards manufacturing
large fiberglass yachts, build custom interiors (and even superstructures) in a
series production hull. In making their deliberations for the top custom
builders ranking, the editors drew the distinction between semi-custom and
custom production based on their knowledge of the builder’s willingness to
substantially customize individual projects, particularly their willingness to
move bulkheads and install owner-specified equipment.
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