We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 100 game-changing production boats.
By
PMY Editors
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Viking 55
1997–2002 Designed by Bruce Wilson and Pat Healey
When the Viking 55 Convertible splashed in 1997, she made a statement that a production sportfish builder could also build breathtakingly beautiful machines wrapped in superior engineering. Highlights included frameless windows, a helm pod with single-lever controls, softer corners, and plenty of flare. In the five years that the 55 was in production, 153 hulls rolled out of the Viking factory—more boats than any other sportfishing builder in her size range at the time. A new 55 Convertible was introduced in 2012.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Sabre 36 Fast Trawler
1989-1998 Designed by Sabre Yachts
This wonderful little pocket cruiser was not without a few flaws when she was introduced in 1988. However the venerable sailboat builder’s first foray into the powerboat market basically gave us the term fast trawler and spawned one of the most successful lines of Down East motoryachts ever. A modified-V hull with a deadrise aft of 14 degrees provided a smooth transition from displacement to planing speeds. Thanks to the builder’s sailboat pedigree, the 36 was also a light boat for the era with Airex coring in the bottom and vinylester resin in her laminates. A trendsetter indeed.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Riva Aquarama
1962-1996 Designed by Giorgio Barilani
Just look at this picture. She’s an icon, nuff said.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Protector Targa 30
2012-present Designed by Rayglass Boats
The ultimate do-it-all, go-anywhere boat. Small enough for a trailer, but large enough to handle rough stuff in open ocean, thanks in no small part to her surprisingly rugged, stability enhancing tubes. Performance-wise, the Targa 30 practically leaps up on plane and is notable for Barry Sanders-esque agility. Her relatively Spartan interior may raise some questions about how, exactly, you’d use her, but Targa owners themselves will tell you, if they have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Palm Beach 50
2010–Present Designed by Mark Richards
Mark Richards of Palm Beach Motor Yachts was waiting in the wings for the right time to bring his Down East-inspired 50-footer into the North American market. He saw his opportunity at the Newport International Boat Show in 2010 and the boat was an instant success—a reminder that being the biggest doesn’t always mean you build the best. Richards also recognized that engine selection is an ever-changing preference, so he bucked the common practice and developed a boat that could run just as well with pods, straight shafts, or jets, without changing the basic accommodations or mission statement. His open-aft-deck design with folding bulkhead has inspired other builders to design similar treatments. Richards’s attention to detail got the attention of boatbuilder Grand Banks, which purchased Palm Beach Motor Yachts this past spring, and appointed Richards as the CEO of both companies.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Nordhavn 40
1998–Present Designed by Jeff and Jim Leishman
In 2001, company founders Jim Leishman and Dan Streech, along with Nordhavn designer Jeff Leishman, decided to conduct the ultimate sea trial of the Nordhavn 40. On November 3, 2001, the crew took an “off-the-rack” Nordhavn 40 and set out from Dana Point, California, on a 26,000-mile, 27-week circumnavigation. The trip gave Nordhavn lots of in-depth knowledge about the boat, how she handled, and how they might improve upon her (the popular N43 was the result of what they learned during their trip). The circumnavigation also inspired armchair cruisers around the world to look a little farther over the horizon. In fact, the company subsequently organized an Atlantic Rally for 18 boats in 2004. The message here was simple. If a little ship like the 40 could go around the world, you could certainly cross the Atlantic onboard your 62-footer.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
MJM 34z
2004-Present Designed by Doug Zurn
It’s as if MJM founder and owner Bob Johnstone along with yacht designer Doug Zurn expunged all previous notions about yacht design and boating when they designed the MJM 34z (the first boat in the MJM series). They looked at how boats were actually used, and focused on efficiency while the rest of us were driving our fleet of Suburbans to Starbucks, and they zeroed in on composite technology with boatbuilder Mark Lindsay of Boston Boatworks. Highlights include a one-level cockpit, bulletproof construction, a convertible helm deck, and above all, stellar performance. Try 2 nautical miles per gallon at 25 knots! Today the MJM series ranges from 29 to 50 feet.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Monte Carlo Yachts 76
2010-Present Designed by Nuvolari Lenard/Seaway
Monte Carlo Yachts should be applauded just for possessing the moxie to launch a new company during the dark days of the economic downturn in 2009. However, after reviewing the fresh thinking and technology that went into the MCY 76—the first in the series—it’s downright impressive. The hull is a stiff, monocoque sandwich design. This allows the interior to be lowered deeper within the hull giving the 76 interior volume while also lowering the COG. Monte Carlo also seized on engine technology and specified 1,200-horsepower MANs coupled to ZF pod drives. The styling, fit and finish, and fresh thinking of the 76 made the Italian builder, a division of Beneteau, an instant success. Look for the MCY 86 in the States at the 2014 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Marine Max 484
2013-Present Designed by Seaway
Yes, charter powercats are plenteous but this 484 has a supremely better layout … particularly when it comes to the exceptionally well-ventilated heads … an important consideration when you’re thinking about chartering a boat.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Mainship 34
1978-1982 Designed by John Cherubini
Super-efficient, pretty fast, and popular. A good old reliable 160-horsepower Perkins pushed this baby through the water. The 34 was updated in the early ’80s with the Mark III version. Mainship saw an opportunity to create an affordable, value-oriented pocket trawler before any other builder was focused on this buyer. The company strayed for a while and got into the motor-yacht market building boats like the Mainship 41 Grand Salon (perhaps one of the ugliest boats ever conceived), but in more recent years the builder began focusing on the trawler-yacht niche once gain. Today boatbuilder David Marlow is creating Mainships that will surely be on our next Power & Motoryacht’s Top Boats listing.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Lazzara 76
1992-2003 Designed by Dick Lazzara
Brothers Dick and Brad Lazzara do not shy away from going all in and embracing innovation. The 76 was indeed a game changer when she was introduced in 1992. Think about it, what other model with contemporary styling and luxury appointments was available between 65 and say 85 feet in the early ’90s? The 76 remains a much sought-after boat on the used market today.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Hatteras 41 (Knit Wits )
1960-1963 Designed by Jack Hargrave
This boat arguably energized and facilitated the creation of all fiberglass sportfishing boats to come after. During those three short years, Hatteras built 93 of these boats. Lotta boats for three years.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Hinckley 36 Picnic Boat
1994-2007 Designed by Bruce King
This little jewel turned 20 this year. The Picnic Boat put New England boat design smack dab in the midst of American culture … even Martha Stewart owned one, for cripes sake. And long before every other boat at a boat show was equipped with a joystick, Hinckley put an innovative JetStick on the picnic boat. Read about the company’s latest launch, the Talaria 43, in our October issue.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Grand Banks 42
1966-2004 Designed by Ken Smith
The 42 was introduced shortly after the Grand Banks 36 in 1966 and more than 1,500 were built with only basic styling changes and one substantive mold change in 1992. The 42 created a niche for trawler-yacht cruising. The newer boats were often overpowered and thus wet, but the initial concept, with 120-horsepower naturally-aspirated diesels belowdecks, was spot on and fueled this market. In our opinion, her sweet spot with bigger engines is right around 12 to 13 knots. More than that and you’re just pushing water.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Fleming 55
1986-Present Designed by Tony Fleming
The proportions of this boat are simply elegant. The balance, the low profile (which means you crawl in the engine room), and just the lines in general will make you stare. Plus more than 1,000 engineering changes in the boat’s nearly 30-year production run have resulted in a fine passagemaker today. Fleming was at the forefront of raised pilothouse designs built to exacting standards.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Grand Banks Eastbay 38
1994-2004 Designed by C. Raymond Associates
You can argue that the Eastbay 38 ignited the production Down East express market along with the Hinckley Picnic Boat. Sure, when it was introduced in 1994, there were a few Maine builders creating one-off Down East express designs, but nothing really capable of doing more than 18 knots with anything like serious efficiency. It’s hard to imagine that this market niche was untapped way back then. This good-looking boat with twin 375-horsepower CAT 3208TAs was the ideal package—a heavy boat (28,000 pounds) with a Hunt hull and simple engines. Peter Boyce from C. Raymond Hunt Associates has said that this package represented the best of the Hunt philosophy.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Dyer 29
1955-Present Designed by Nick Potter
The Dyer 29 enjoys the longest production run in history. The classic New England-style bass boat was first launched in 1955 by fiberglass pioneer Bill Dyer. You can still order one today in several styles, including a center console that tugs at the heartstrings.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
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Dolphin Salty 16
1960s N/A
A 16-footer with a flying bridge? This boat had to be on this list.
“I love this one! It’s only 16 feet long, has a flybridge, and sleeps four,” writes reader Tom Horan.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Cruisers 390 Express Coupe
2014-Present Designed by Cruisers Yachts
In order to build a better mousetrap (or express cruiser) the Wisconsin builder turned the concept upside down and started with a clean slate. Heck, they even dismissed the design tenets of their successful 380. The result is a huge deck area with modular seating options, in addition to some very ample accommodations, achieved by moving the helm and windshield far forward. The helmsman will need to get used to the fact that a big part of the boat is now behind him.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
Chris-Craft Corsair 28
2001-Present Designed by Michael Peters
Chris-Craft has always built American classics, but when the company was taken over in 2001 by the Stephens—Julius and Heese, respectively—the Corsair 28 was the boat that helped resurrect the brand, get it back on its feet, and pave the road toward success. Notably, her lines harkened to the classic Chris-Crafts of days of yore, but with enough of a modern feel to charge confidently into the future. Seriously, just look at her. That’s a new classic.
Game-Changing Boats
We pooled the combined knowledge of our staff, our readers, and industry insiders to list 90 game-changing production boats. See the full list here ▶
