Top 5 New Boat Releases to See at BOOT 2025
One day at BOOT. Do I have enough time?
There a mammoth boat show going on in Germany called Boot Dusseldorf. I don’t use mammoth lightly. This is 341 brands through 17 convention halls over 9 days visited by over 250,000 attendees at the Messe Dusseldorf Trade & Exhibition Center. I’m jetting off today to catch the last day of Boot prior to heading to Italy for some build meetings.
I’ve got a long list of boats, toys and tech to see, and only a single day to see them.
If you want to tag along on my trip, follow me on Instagram @ReedSellsYachts.
NOTE: Some additions have been made to this blog, in bold, after I attended Boot 2025.
My Top 5 New Boat Launches at BOOT 2025:
#5: SAXDOR 340 GT WALKAROUND
Why I’m excited to see it:
Never really been a fan of Saxdor. I have very little trust in its quality, and yet, it has stood the test of time and continues to put out boats to challenge a growing range of competition. The 340 GT is the first of the Saxdor models that truly caught my eye. I am a sucker for a negative windshield, and this one looks good. The closest competition is likely the Axopar 37, and I prefer the smoother line of the Saxdor, especially the rounded, fluid bow. The U-shaped bow lounge reminds me of the Azimut Verve 47, which was an A+ layout. The folding terraces expand available deck space at anchor, and the sliding glass doors give you the option to utilize A/C or heat to extend your boating season.
What will solidify my interest:
I’ll want to see if the aft cockpit space is a comfortable place to cruise, and that the build quality meets or exceeds the price. This could be a great family boat for my north eastern network if it meets my expectation.
#4: Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom
Why I’m excited to see it:
This Is a two part answer. 1.) Automotive collaborations are always intrigue me (positively), and 2.) Fully electric boats always intrigue me (negatively).
So far, Porsche is the only automotive company I know to successfully launch a second model with its marine partner. Automotive partnerships in marine have been less than impressive: Bugatti built with Palmer Johnson, Lexus built with Marquis and Aston Martin built with Quintessence. The only other successful partnership to date is Lamborghini built with Tecnomar, but that remains at a single model (not for long). Brabus built with Axopar also deserves a mention, but that is more of an outfitting partnership than a true soup-to-nuts boat manufacturing collaboration.
The second Porsche marine model, the 850 Fantom, uses a version of the Macan Turbo all-electric engine to propel the boat to a cruising speed of 22 knots. The first model of the partnership, the 850 Fantom Air, was a similar unit except it has an open bow (the white boat pictured). The 850 Fantom has a closed bow and cabin.
I have a lot of questions for the fully-electric drivetrain of the 850 Fantom, and there’s no better place to ask than at the unveiling of this latest Porsche collaboration. We’ve seen many brands coming to market with electric options, none have passed my litmus test: whether I would trust the technology in the hands of its end consumer.
What will solidify my interest:
If there’s anyone who will crush the fully-electric boat, its Frauscher + Porsche. I look forward to learning as much as there is to learn about this new model and fortifying my trust in its electric technology. I also love seeing the natural Porsche gauges, fittings and finishes laced throughout the boat, which may solidify my love regardless of the propulsion package.
#3: X044
Why I’m excited to see it:
The XO44 is impressive. I’ve never seen a 44 ft boat with such a diverse, spacious layout, while retaining a sporty, “armored” design. Its integration of two separate bedrooms – with 2 bathrooms – with an attractive helm and exterior cockpit is really interesting.
XO has always brought an industrial, adventurous vibe to its category (competing with Axopar, Nimbus, and Saxdor) but the XO44 is its first ascention into the luxe day boat world that I live in. I see this XO44 as a real competitor to Pardo, Vanquish and Fjord as today’s consumer seeks a more yearround, family-focused day boat capable of delivering longer days and cruising a variety of markets.
What will solidify my interest:
The master cabin’s glass window is a very cool characteristic I hope to love as much while on board as I love it when watching YouTube. This is my general feeling about the whole boat. I hope it makes as much sense in person as it does from a video walkthrough. The production strategy looks durable as much as it looks luxury, which is great for year-round use. But most of all, I hope I leave confident in its price: $1,400,000 fully loaded.
After Visiting BOOT Dusseldorf, watch the IG Reel below for the 2-min review of the XO44:
#2: Steeler B62 Beach Club
Why I’m excited to see it:
Beach club, beach club, beach club. Its so cool! Standing umbrellas, bar tops, stools and sun loungers all make it look like a pool deck. But wait there’s more. Being able to sit inside and raise the roof to let cool air in is a fantastic feature. I’ve only seen it once, on a Hodgdon tender I sold a few years back, and that roof was MUCH smaller. The Steeler brand has slowly made a name for itself, and I think this 62 – if priced right – is a major player in the day boat market for those looking to get more yearround use with an enclosed, convertible cockpit cabin.
What will solidify my interest:
Steeler presents itself as a fully custom yard. With all aluminum hulls and a premium finishing quality, they should be able to do just about anything. I can’t wait to meet their team and catch inspiration for what they are doing across their model range, and I hope it meets my expectation. I’ve heard their pricing is excellent as well, which is always a nice bonus.
And then there’s the B62. This boat looks epic and for a few reasons. First the beach club packed with umbrellas, lollipop chairs, bar tops and loungers is just too cool not to see, but my favorite part is the hydraulic roof in the enclosed cabin. What an amazing convertible feature.
After Visiting BOOT Dusseldorf, watch the IG Reel below for the 2-min review of the Steeler B62 Beach Club:
#1: Stratos 50
Why I’m excited to see it:
I’ve seen the Stratos via FaceTime for about a year, without ever stepping foot on board. Sunday I finally get to experience it for myself. This project is headed by some of the truest yachtsmen in the industry, and my expectations are sky high. The Stratos 50 (and soon to be 75) is what happens when the best in the industry come together to build tomorrow’s perfect day boat. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. With great quality comes a great price tag, and Sunday is about seeing where the final number can end up.
Stratos has every feature a day boater could ask for, and all those features are finished with in-house carbon, wrapped in chrome, and integrated so beautifully, you’d think the boat was art.
What will solidify my interest:
As you might be able to tell from why I’m excited, I hold Stratos in a high esteem. Let’s just hope it meets expectations! I have little doubt…
In Summary
BOOT is one of my favorite shows. Not the most beautiful setting, but I can get over it simply due to the ridiculous wealth of exhibitors showcasing the latest and greatest. These 5 boats lead my to-do list, but I’m sure I’ll see tons of other great stuff, which I’ll be sharing in later blogs.
I’ll be reporting my thoughts on these boats (and more) while at Boot Dusseldorf via my Instagram.
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About the Author
Reed Nicol is a licensed yacht broker with experience in all corners of the marine industry. He’s worked as an executive and sales director in yacht manufacturing and distribution, has structured commercial charter operations, and designed and executed notable refits. Read more about Reed’s marine journey, his love of helping 1st time boaters and his entrepreneurial spirit here.
Reed Nicol [Licensed FL Yacht Broker #11926]
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