It’s all about spending good, quality time with loved ones away from potential risks

Many boatyards all across the world are working at maximum capacity. Similarly, yachts are moving out of showrooms at an unprecedented rate. Despite the global economic slowdown, new and used pleasure boats are selling out fast. What’s going on?

Jeanneau, a French builder renowned for building a wide range of boats from affordable to luxurious, will not be able to deliver any new orders until early 2023. Heesen Yachts, builders of ultra-avant-garde mega yachts, has sold all their projects, with only 2 more yachts that can be delivered in 2022. In the same vein, Baglieto, who are based in Italy, have sold all their semi-production motoryachts, and subsequent builds can only be delivered in 2024.

This may be hard to believe, but upon closer inspection, the unprecedented movement of pleasure boats globally, yes even in Malaysia, is not so strange. Experts think, and I concur, that a social activity like yachting that is naturally distanced from strangers, is one of the best leisure activities right now.

It’s all about time

Some lockdowns are longer than others, and ours in Malaysia has really been quite long. The enforced pause, and the constant reminder of our mortality have given people a new found appreciation for life. We work hard and hope for a well-earned rest in our later years, but now that reality is no longer secure, is it? There is a way to enjoy the time now, with our families and with our friends, in a safe and controlled public space. That place is certainly out on the ocean on a boat.

Across Europe, boating is already allowed – with SOPs in place, of course. It will only be a matter of time for us in this region too. Phuket is already open for yachting, with a 2-week mandatory quarantine on board. That’s not a bad way to spend a fortnight.

Many taking the plunge are new

First time buyers are on the rise as well. Avid charterers want to fully control the environment of the vessels they charter, and are moving towards ownership. People who have always been intrigued by boating are buying into a lifestyle that is less risky than any other leisure activity on land. Even yacht charters are on the rise, as more and more look toward the open expanse of the sea for a safer holiday.

On a side note, cruise fans are jumping on board too, as round-the-world cruises are selling out as quickly as they are available. This may not be a private, safe bubble with loved ones, but after a year or two of isolation, I can understand the appeal of spending an extended holiday at sea.

This tells me that there is a perspective change on sea-based activities, especially pleasure boating. It was once thought of as a ‘retirement activity’, and there is truth in that, but it may no longer be exactly true. A younger demographic is picking up the pastime as well, and as they do, builders will alter the designs and segments of boats to include them.

Yachting is changing

Yachting is more than just buying a boat, and the entire lifestyle related to boating is changing. It is getting more immersive, with new tech that gets less expensive as it becomes more common. Simple pleasures like paddle boarding can be taken to the next level with efoils, and underwater scooters that were once very expensive only cost around RM2000 now.

Yachts are built differently too, with a newfound emphasis on sustainability and ergonomics. Innovative construction methods, advanced shipyards – all these improvements help make yachts more sustainable today. Newer, clever yacht designs recreate the usability and space of larger boats onto smaller ones, and so buyers don’t always have to get large boats that are more expensive.

This is shown in Jeanneau’s Merry Fisher line of boats. A 35-foot MF can have 3 bedrooms, which is unheard of just a decade ago. Simple ergonomic features like side doors that enable easy entry into the boat from marina finger piers, and a bench that can be moved out of the way to raise the outboard motors are just a few welcome examples of designers rethinking the usability of boats.

Now you might think, why should I get a boat now if I have to wait so long? Well, we still have a couple of boats that can be delivered within the year. The pandemic is not going anywhere, and we know experts are saying that even with vaccines, Covid-19 may become ‘like the seasonal flu’. Maybe it’s time for a new leisure activity for you and your loved ones, where the wide expanse of the ocean gives infinite room for distancing, all in the comfort of your own yacht.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you at the next one.

This article is written by Oh Kean Shen, the Founder and Managing Director of Pen Marine with over 40 years of experience in the yachting industry. Pen Marine was established in 1988, and is a leader in Southeast Asia’s pleasure boating scene.