Canadian Yachting February 2021 - 42

30 MOST EXCITING BOATS FOR 2021

WE PICK 30 OF THE MOST
EXCITING BOATS FOR 2021

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD TODAY THAN IT WAS EVEN A YEAR AGO, AND NOWHERE IS
THAT MORE EVIDENT THAN IN THE REMARKABLE DESIGNS HIGHLIGHTING THE 2021 FLEET.

By | Craig Ritchie

s Canada and the rest of the world trudges toward its
second spring in a world with Covid-19, it's fair to say
that today's boating landscape couldn't be more different than the one that existed just 12 months ago.
Faced with an uncertain future, Canadian families bonded
together in the spring of 2020 like never before. Even as lockdowns continued through April, boat dealers began noticing their
website traffic spike, and customer enquiries skyrocket. Boats
were suddenly in high demand, as families eschewed overseas
travel and sought new ways to safely enjoy leisure time together.
Interestingly, data confirms that fully one-third of the people
who took delivery of a new boat in 2020 were first-time buyers.
These typically younger consumers expect to find all the same
amenities and conveniences onboard that they enjoy in their
cars, and over the past few years they've been driving wholesale changes in the way that boats are made. That's most evident
in a shift toward versatile, family-friendly day boats focused on
enjoying the sunshine ... a definite shift toward outboard power
... and low-maintenance-everything. Where their parents might
accept that a certain amount of upkeep simply went hand-in-hand
with owning a boat, younger buyers are more apt to be crunched
for time and unwilling to devote precious leisure hours to working on the boat. They want to be out enjoying it, not servicing it.
The evidence of this can be seen in design features found on
today's newest models. Take decks, for example. Real teak decks
have largely given way to synthetic alternatives that still offer the
same overall look, but without the hours of sanding and refinishing that real teak decks occasionally require. While the shift
from real wood toward synthetics might seem to conflict with the
eco-friendly preferences of younger buyers, the synthetic decks
are often recyclable at the end of their life while old teak winds
up in a landfill.
There are big changes in galleys too, as propane and alcohol
stoves have increasingly been deep-sixed in favour of newer
electric grills and induction cooktops. That's even true outside,
on flybridges and in cockpits. Today's buyers have these appliances in their homes, and they expect to see them in their boats too.
And what about USB ports? Families with kids know better

than anyone that cell phones, tablets, games and all sort of other
portable devices always need to be recharged, so new boat
designs provide this capability with USB ports throughout.
What's more, power to these USB ports is less likely to come
from a generator today than a bank of lithium-ion batteries, possibly linked to solar panels. Today's buyers don't want to deal
with handling fuel, and they have no appetite for either the noise
or the exhaust fumes.
Further advances in electrical systems have made other aspects
of boating even more intuitive and convenient. Automated electric trim tabs ensure new boaters enjoy a smooth, dry and level
ride without requiring them to deal with unfamiliar controls.
Joystick docking makes it easy for anyone to dock a big boat,
and without concern for winds, tides or currents. Digital switching systems provide conveniences like automatically switching
on the navigation lights or anchoring lights at night, just as the
buyer's car automatically turns on its headlights as the sun goes
down. Power steering? Yes, of course. Sunroof? Absolutely.
So what does this all mean for boat buyers in 2021? It means
that the latest models coming to market are arriving with more
features and innovations than ever before. They're easier to maintain, they're easier to handle, more comfortable and more capable.
Big or small, there's something for everyone among the new
boats for 2021, and we're pleased to offer this sneak peek at
some of our favourites.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boats are typically much more " custom " than cars
for example, and as a result, arriving at a price that we can publish is
very difficult. Having so many options and choices amounts to almost no
two boats being the same. Add to that global currency fluctuations and
the fact that boats often take months to make and you can see that setting
a price is a challenge. Note that many of the prices shown here are in US
dollars. Boat dealers know that all too well, so check out their website,
pick up the phone, or send an email. Dealers will respond quickly to any
enquiries you make.

CANADIAN YACHTING | FEBRUARY 2021

Canadian Yachting February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting February 2021