North vs. South

There are some substantial differences between Northern European yachts and Southern European yachts, but either way you can’t go wrong.

It’s no secret that most pleasure yachts over 80-feet in length are built in Europe, in countries like Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Germany. The general perception is that while Northern European builders may offer higher quality (at higher prices), Southern European builders offer more stylistic freedom—something which goes double should you choose an Italian yacht. But there is more to the story than meets the eye, and whichever path you choose The Italian Yacht Group is expertly suited to help you attain the perfect yacht for your specific needs.

While some of the Northern European yards boast more cachet than their southerly counterparts, there are prices to pay for the bragging rights—quite literally. Some of the big-name Dutch builders charge nearly double what the Italians do. And while the axiom often holds true that you get what you pay for, one also has to ask themselves “If I pay double, will it mean double the fun?” Very likely, it won’t. For an owner, a 50-meter yacht is more or less a 50-meter yacht regardless of where it was built. And it’s wise to remember that whether your yacht was built in Amsterdam or Viareggio, it likely uses the exact same componentry. There are only so many yacht-engine manufacturers after all.

Where some of the Northern European yards do separate themselves is in their attentiveness to technical spaces, like engine rooms and crew’s quarters. Your typical Dutch builder won’t budge on the size and placement of air-conditioning storage space for example. Whereas an Italian builder might be more amenable to cutting down that space for more entertainment area. This is one main reason why even large Northern European builds can sometimes feel somewhat cramped, especially compared to the yachts that come out of the South.

Italians in particular are also much more likely to be open to customizations than northern builders. Window placement, interiors, these are all things that are very much up to an owner’s druthers. On the other hand some yachtsmen feel constrained when dealing with Northern European yards—and get the sense that the yard is actually telling them what they can and cannot do with their yacht. If you couldn’t have guessed, this has made for some touchy client relations between some of these yards and even their most high-profile owners.

Another tangible difference between Northern and Southern European yards is the amount of subcontractors used. Because of the country’s labor laws, many Italian shipyards tend to use more subcontractors, which can present issues if not managed properly. That’s where IYG really shines.

“At IYG we will really scrub a spec sheet, and eliminate change orders out of the gate. Change orders can be a real detriment to quality and will also make a yacht’s cost go up. If you can get the entire roadmap for the build buttoned up early in the process, you’re in for a much smoother ride, and a much better yacht. That’s where our experience and hands-on nature really adds value for our clients.”

Boomer Jousma makes one last point in favor of Italian builds versus ones built farther north.

“If you go buy something in Holland tomorrow, some builders aren’t including basic things like furniture, A/V equipment, and stuff like that. It’s an added hidden cost that some owners don’t know about, and it’s something we always like to point out to our clients who are curious about owning a Dutch-made yacht, for example. That being said, if that is the route they want to go, despite being named the Italian Yacht Group, we are more than happy—and more than qualified—to help them find the perfect yacht no matter the make.”