These boats boast both comfort and speed, but they are valued not only for their functionality.
Timeless classic design, elevated aesthetics, exclusive materials, and handcrafted assembly — they captivate with their perfection and are rightfully regarded as “style icons” in the world of luxury yacht building. And in cinema, they have long been firmly associated with superheroes and the jet set of Saint-Tropez.
Riva Iseo Super
At the top of the pantheon stands Italy’s Riva — one of the oldest European shipyards and undoubtedly the most legendary. 183 years ago, the family business was founded by Pietro Riva, who began by repairing fishing boats on Lake Iseo before moving on to building his own. They were so well-crafted and spirited that the business quite literally took off. Pietro’s descendants managed to preserve the quality, the refined elegance of the design, and a sense of thoughtful conservatism. Today, boats with fine wood finishes (featuring the brand’s signature 28 layers of lacquer!) are considered true classics and boast excellent seaworthiness — no wonder they’re often called “Ferraris of the sea.” They’re also the most cinematic boats in the world. Starting with iconic films like Mambo (1954) and Some Like It Hot (1959), they became an essential on-screen symbol of true gentlemen.
The 2025 newcomer is the Riva Iseo Super, measuring 8.24 m in length. The latest iteration of this model, designed by Mauro Micheli, retains Riva’s signature sophistication while incorporating a modern instrument panel with a 12-inch Böning display and offering three powertrain options. In its most powerful configuration, the boat boasts a cruising speed of 36 knots and can reach up to 41 knots at full throttle.
Comitti Venezia 28 Elegance
The Italian shipyard Comitti has been building high-performance luxury motor yachts since 1956, with a portfolio that includes four model families: Breva, Isola, Venezia, and Di Legno. The 8.7-meter boat featured in our review was originally conceived as a water limousine for two renowned hotels on Lake Como. It proved so successful that it eventually went into production with three finish options — Sport, Classic, and Elegance — with the latter becoming the most popular in the Venezia line. It’s a classic runabout with a practical fiberglass hull, a wooden deck, and a cuddy cabin. It can serve either as a tender for a superyacht or as a family coastal cruiser, with a top speed of 49 knots.
J Craft Torpedo RS Acheron
Swedish company J Craft calls this model “a boat fit for a king” and claims that each one requires over 8,000 hours of handcrafted work to build. Like the entire Torpedo line, its latest model, Acheron, boasts not only elegant styling but also impressive performance — it can “fly” at speeds of up to 50 knots. Moreover, for a vessel measuring 12.63 m in length, Acheron offers a remarkably good range, up to 350 nautical miles. The boat’s reliability is engineered for both the harsh conditions of the Baltic Sea and the leisurely waters of the Mediterranean.
Boesch 710 Sunsport
In the 1920s, Swiss entrepreneur Jakob Boesch purchased the company Treichler & Co in Kilchberg and used it as the foundation to establish the Boesch shipyard. Today, the shipyard is run by the fourth generation of the same family. The shipbuilding traditions are carefully preserved: the sporty Boesch 710 Sunsport is a quintessential classic, featuring a mahogany hull, white leather sofas, and a retro-style instrument panel. At 7.5 m in length, the boat can accommodate seven passengers and whisk them away in style, reaching speeds of up to 38 knots.
Frauscher 1017 GT
The Austrian shipyard Frauscher, which dates back to 1927, originally built sailing yachts but soon shifted to motorboats, gaining fame for its high-performance racing boats. Today, the model range includes both compact day cruisers and larger cabin boats — yet all of them are still handcrafted to this day. The updated version of the Frauscher 1017 GT, much like a Gran Turismo-class car, offers maximum comfort for its size (10.3 m): the deck accommodates eight people, there’s a double cabin inside, and this maritime supercar can reach speeds of up to 70 knots!
Photo: press-office
