From £40k runabouts to multi-million-pound cruisers, here are the standout boat launches and top highlights from the Southampton Boat Show
This year’s range of boat at the Southampton Boat Show was a veritable smorgasbord, proving that whether budgets sit under £40,000 or stretch deep into seven figures, builders architects are finding smarter, more creative ways to extract every ounce of usable volume, speed, and seakeeping capability from their hulls.
From ultra-tactical RIBs and reverse-bow adrenaline machines to towering flybridge cruisers engineered for serious long-range comfort, the standout debuts in Mayflower Park showcased an industry in rude health.
Even with a notable absentee making waves just up the coast – Spirit Yachts’ showstopping P50 Sport, which was unveiled at an exclusive London showcase just days before – the metal, GRP, and cold-moulded timber on display in Southampton delivered plenty of substance alongside the glamour.
Below, we have rounded up the standout launches and design talking points from this year’s show.
Best motor yachts at Southampton
Viknes S35 Panorama
Making its debut in Southampton was a boat that used to be part of the Skilsø fleet. Now part of the Viknes family, it sits very close to the award-winning
V10 – so close in fact that it shares a production line, a hull and a set of engine options, so it’s critical that it offers something distinct, and it very much does.
While the V10 anchors the onboard experience around the aft cockpit, the S35 reduces the size of that and lavishes a little extra on the saloon. Taken in tandem though, with the bi-fold doors and port window clearing the threshold and bringing inside and outside into very happy union, you wouldn’t necessarily notice any reduction in the scale of that aft deck.
And in this “Panorama” (non-flybridge) form, the saloon does a great job of retaining its openness, thanks to big one-piece side windows, a one-piece windscreen and massive overhead glazing panels that you can also spec as sunroofs.
While the V10 also comes with a proper cockpit helm as standard to leverage the value of its aft end, the S35 makes do with an optional joystick instead. But it certainly makes up for that with the internal helm, which sits right in the centre of the deck with fantastic views and plenty of companion seating to port.
The raised port dinette also gets proper views forward and the L-shaped galley to starboard does a very decent job of engaging with the cockpit guests. But this is a cruising machine and it backs that up with its cabins.
While the V10 offers three smaller cabins, the S35 reduces that to two – a large bright bow cabin and a big full-beam midships cabin; the latter with much more generous natural light than the S10 and a neat divide on either side of a truncated bulkhead to provide easy sleeping for three.
As for the drive, that really should feel much the same. Its semi-planing hull is built for northern European conditions, with a decent keel, a good flare and three single diesel engine options on a straight shaft for cruising sustainability.
You can specify the Yanmar 8LV, the 6LY 400 or the 6LY 440 for a very user-friendly fuel flow of around 3L per mile and a perfectly serviceable top end in the region of 28 knots.
Viknes S35 Panorama specifications
LOA: 50ft 0in (10.60m)
BEAM: 13ft 9in (3.52m)
ENGINES: Yanmar 370-440hp diesel
TOP SPEED: 34 knots
PRICE: From £330,909
Levi Trentuno
The Southampton Boat Show wouldn’t be the obvious choice to host the world debut of a very niche, very expensive sportsboat, hand-built in tiny numbers by Venetian craftsman who specialise in restoring mahogany water taxis.
Then again, when the UK dealer is the brand’s number one fan and helped develop and fund the build of it, perhaps it’s not so surprising after all. Either way, this boat added a blast of colour and excitement to a show that was a little short on both.
The inspiration for the new Levi Trentuno was a boat the late, great powerboat designer, Sonny Levi, created for the Italian industrialist and then owner of Fiat, Gianni Agnelli.
Powered by four Maserati engines with an aft helm position, a forward cockpit and the tiniest of windscreens, it was built to ferry Agnelli and his guests to and from his holiday home on the island of Capri.
The new boat follows the same principles but in a more compact (and doubtless more reliable) package. Powered by a single 8.6-litre Mercury Racing V8 petrol engine (or a 480hp Volvo D6 diesel) linked to a Bravo 3XR duoprop drive, it should be good for close to 50 knots but it’s the hull that really gets us drooling.
Along with Ray Hunt, on the other side of the Atlantic, Levi was one of the founding fathers of the deep-vee hull, and the Trentuno has exactly that – a constant 24° deadrise that should deliver an extremely soft ride and touch-the-water angles of cornering heel.
Handling aside, the unusual layout appears to work remarkably well. The forward cockpit benches can happily seat four people, and what looks like teak decking between them rises up on an electric pedestal to become a perfectly proportioned table. There’s even a small cuddy cabin for overnighting, with an electric toilet under the starboard mattress.
The weather protection on offer is pretty basic and it’s far more expensive than a mainstream production boat, but as a fair-weather day boat or superyacht chase boat with exceptional pedigree, performance and build quality, it more than holds its own.
Levi Trentuno specifications
LOA: 30ft (9m)
BEAM: 9ft (2.75m)
ENGINES: Single 540hp Mercury V8 petrol or 480hp Volvo D6 diesel
TOP SPEED: 46 knots (est)
PRICE: From £371,200
Targa 37
aving crawled all over the new Targa 37 at the Southampton Boat Show, it’s apparent that the changes to this latest generation have transformed what was a semi-commercial bruiser into a genuinely comfortable cruiser.
If the old version was a Land Rover Defender for the sea, this new one is closer to a Range Rover.
The updates start with an all-new hull that is 9in wider, freeing up valuable extra space. The cockpit puts this to good use with a more sociable layout, which includes deeper, more comfortable seats and gates on both sides for easy access to and from the pontoon. A pair of huge deck hatches also give exceptional access to the engines as well as a dedicated storage slot for the teak table.
It’s much the same story on the flybridge which now has a proper little dinette table with benches on three sides and a helm chair that swivels round to meet the fourth.
The extra space is even more noticeable in the saloon as it allows for a much bigger and better-equipped galley along the starboard side instead of the camping-style cooking facilities tucked under the windscreen of the old 37. Bonded windows ensure it feels a little brighter and more modern than before without losing any of the traditional Targa charms such as the warm teak cabinetry, manual sliding doors and tilting dashboard that remain as simple, reliable and effective as ever.
It also makes a useful difference to the two cabins. The show boat had a vee berth (instead of an offset double) in the forward one which now has more space between the beds and a slightly larger wetroom. The transformation of the aft cabin is more dramatic thanks to larger hull windows and the removal of the central bulkhead, which gives more breathing space to the double bed and easier access to the single.
Fitted with the largest engine option of twin 480hp Volvo D6s and a fuel capacity of 1,350-litres, it should make for an exceedingly rapid, capable and comfortable family cruiser, Look out for our sea trial in next month’s issue.
Targa 37 specifications
LOA: 41ft 2in (12.55m)
BEAM: 12ft 4in (3.75m)
ENGINES: Twin Volvo D6 340-480hp diesel sterndrives
TOP SPEED: 44 knots
PRICE: From £567,700 ex VAT
Orkney Vanguard 592
This was one of the most accessible boat packages at the entire Southampton Boat Show. Pretty to look at and tidily finished, it costs less than £39,995 but it does decent things with its sub-20ft length.
At the aft end, a pair of quarter seats bookends the engine-well. Ahead of that, beyond a good expanse of open deck, sits a pair of bucket seats on storage pods with a starboard helm and a central walkway to access the U-shaped bench seating in the bow. The basic open platform can be embellished with the pramhood-style dodger, enabling you to seat up to four people in shelter, but you can also opt for a fully moulded GRP cuddy.
Some of the finer details are, of course, a bit rudimentary – not least the relatively tight helm position and the fact that access to most of the storage spaces involves removing cushions and fiddling with catches.
But this is an extremely affordable boat with some very reassuring Nelson heritage in its hull. And while you can spec it with as little as 30hp for relaxed inland or coastal cruising, you can also treat it to a 100hp unit for a much brisker 27 knots.
Orkney Vanguard 592 specifications
LOA: 19ft 5in (5.92m)
BEAM: 7ft 5in (2.26m)
ENGINES: single 30-100hp outboard
TOP SPEED: 12-27 knots
PRICE: From £39,950 inc VAT
Walker Bay G22
Despite a price tag of less than £100,000, the WalkerBay G22 manages to circumvent some of the chief small RIB flaws with some very clear-thinking design solutions.
The collar, for instance, is integrated into a set of mouldings to create the basis for rigid step-through boarding points on both sides. By minimising tube ingress, these mouldings also make much better use of the available beam, while improving security and providing the bedrock for added-value elements like the aft ski pole and the watersports towing arch.
With its slick pop-up cleats, faux teak trim and two-tone black and grey colourways, it certainly looks the part. And the long bow is smartly done too, with lifting backrests to create forward-facing seats or an unbroken ring of sociable benches.
As for performance, the show boat’s 225hp outboard (a mighty lump for a 22ft boat weighing little more than a metric tonne) should see the G22 most of the way to the 50-knot mark, while delivering all kinds of go-kart style poke and agility into the bargain.
Walker Bay G22 specifications
LOA: 21ft 8in (6.60m)
BEAM: 9ft 5in (2.87m)
ENGINES: Mercury V6 225hp outboard
TOP SPEED: 49 knots
PRICE: £99,885 inc VAT
Highfield Patrol 860 Bridge
While Highfield’s new ADV line is a move toward a softer, more modern style of leisure boating, this is a step in the other direction.
It pairs its heavy-duty 5083 aluminum deep-V hull with military-style colourways, twin Honda outboards and a four-season pilothouse with seating for four, plus all kinds of fit-out practicality in the form of robust tube-top treadplates, lots of grabbing points, a set of fold-out reboarding steps and a huge Samson post in the bow. Though based on a proven platform, it is just a concept at this stage, so it’s by no means the finished article…
With its modest beam, traditional inflatable collar and integrated pilothouse, the side decks are very narrow and the open spaces at both bow and stern are quite compact. But the bridge structure that enables you to clamber up and over the roof is a lovely off-grid camper-style flourish; and while the combination of rigid screens fore and aft and canvas enclosures at the sides appears relatively versatile, we’ve been told that rigid side panels with sliding doors might also be on the cards.
Highfield Patrol 860 Bridge specifications
LOA: 28ft 7in (8.71m)
BEAM: 10ft 0in (3.05m)
ENGINES: Twin 150-200hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 48 knots
PRICE: From £143,000 inc VAT
Grand Golden Line 980
With its black tubes, Seadeck flooring, Silvertex upholstery and powder-coated rails, the G980 is a tough exhibit to ignore. The upright leaning-post-style helm feels keenly geared toward high-octane sport and the performance fully warrants that.
Though the recommended UK package tends to involve a pair of Mercury V8 300s, the show boat featured the top-rated Mercury V10 350s instead. Pair those with the G980’s slippery twin-stepped hull and this flagship Grand RIB ought to reach speeds not far short of 60 knots.
There’s plenty of user-friendly flexibility in the design too. Open up the console and there’s space for a pair of narrow single beds running fore and aft, each capable of accommodating a six-footer.
You can also fill the central void to create a double and there’s a toilet too, neatly tucked beneath the aft cushion. Light is also great down here but it’s the two external seating zones that really impress, both in the form of the big convertible full-beam aft lounge and the quick-rig bow cockpit.
Both these zones feel remarkably safe by RIB standards too, thanks to rigid mouldings on either side of the aft seating and at the step-through forepeak, plus a set of raised metal grab rails on top of the tubes for extra depth and security at the bow.
Grand Golden Line 980 specifications
LOA: 32ft 10in (10.00m)
BEAM: 11ft 2in (3.40m)
ENGINES: 2 x 300-350hp outboards
TOP SPEED: 58 knots
PRICE: From £199,995 inc VAT
Brig Navigator 19
rig’s Navigator line tends to enjoy an extra dose of poke and dynamism over the Eagle fleet and that’s clearly shown in the styling, even on this smallest model in the line.
Making its debut in Southampton, it came with a matt black cowling on the upgraded Suzuki DF115, plus seats and an A-frame designed around a rugged framework of powder-coated aluminum bars. The lofty Samson post, like a set of crosshairs at the forepeak, also suits the semi-commercial vibe nicely and the layout does its part too. The seating is relatively fixed and immovable but it’s fixed in a way that works.
The offset console creates a handy port walkway to access a bow space where two transverse seats face one another across a deep-set deck. And back aft, the transom bench is supplemented with a comfy standing position built into the back end of the two helm seats.
While the base model is pretty high-spec, even the display boat, with its intermediate engine upgrade, nav arch, seadeck flooring and electronics package, costs less than £56,000 – and it looks way more premium than that.
Brig Navigator 19 specifications
LOA: 18ft 8in (5.70m)
BEAM: 8ft 2in (2.50m)
ENGINES: Single 100-150hp outboard
TOP SPEED: 38 knots
PRICE: From £46,628
Iron 907
The new flagship of the Iron Boats range is an absolute weapon. With its long, lean Ocke Mannerfelt hull, wraparound fendering, matt black railings and 450hp Mercury Racing engine, all it’s missing is a couple of Special Boat Service troops. It’s also surprisingly good value for something this cool, with prices starting at £115k, although the one at the show with its uprated engine, T-Top and various other extras came to £155,590 inc VAT.
Some of the fit and finish is a bit basic, and the T-Top could do with taller, beefier supports to firm it up and prevent tall drivers catching their heads on the sides, but the quality of the hull, the sociable cockpit, the convertible bow lounge and the helm ergonomics look spot on. There’s even a useful, albeit rather spartan, cuddy under the console with a toilet and bed.
Given how expensive most high-performance RIBs have become, this looks like a very stylish and capable alternative at a refreshingly sensible price. There’s also an enclosed Coupé model suitable for year-round use.
Iron 907
LOA: 29ft 2in (8.92m)
BEAM: 7ft 10in (2.44m)
ENGINE: Single 300-500hp Mercury outboard
TOP SPEED: 57 knots
PRICE: From £115,360 inc VAT
Sterk 26
Sterk’s extraordinary reverse-bowed, high-performance 31-footer put in an exciting appearance at the 2025 Southampton Boat Show and here at the 2026 event, the brand introduced a second platform to the fleet. And although this first ever Sterk 26 was still slightly unfinished by the time the show opened, it has all the DNA of that larger boat.
Behind the reverse bow is a flat, cushion-lined foredeck with backrests built into the screen angle for comfy sunbathing. The console itself is slightly offset to starboard to free up a primary walkway on the port side. And on the other side of the helm seats, which are built into the leading edge of a very serviceable transverse wet bar, the cockpit looks really sociable.
It’s lined along the stern and starboard side with an integrated L-shaped seating unit. That is supplemented with a fold-down bench to port so you can flex between dining and openness.
And if you get rid of the show boat’s optional wet bar, you can spec rotating seat pods at the helm instead – in which case, you add an even greater degree of sociability back here.
The stern bench’s backrest also drops down over the engine well to open up the transom and extend the sun bed aft; and there are sunshades fore and aft plus the option of an enclosed canvas for the entire back end.
You might argue that the raised mouldings above the rubbing strake give it a rather blocky profile, but just as the forward guardrails echo the angle of the tinted side window in the console, so the struts for the T-top pick up the angle of the screen. The result of all that detail is a boat that looks cool and distinctive rather than unbalanced. And in spite of its flat foredeck, tapered bow and modest length, the cuddy cabin is very decent too.
There are no portholes in the hull but you do get some decent windows in the console moulding. There’s also a good separate heads, with lots of natural light and a wetroom-style shower. And performance-wise, it looks as promising as the 31, with options of up to 500hp for eye-opening 54-knot performance.
Sterk 26 specifications
LOA: 26ft 8in (8.14m)
BEAM: 8ft 4in (2.53m)
ENGINES: 200-500hp outboards
SPEED: 54 knots
PRICE: From £114,995 inc VAT
Nord Star 49+
Front and centre on the Nord Star stand was the flagship of the fleet – and it’s a striking boat in all kinds of ways. While the cockpit’s facing settees could work the aft deck a bit harder with some well-chosen options, the outdoor spaces elsewhere are really strong by the standards of the sector.
The bow, for instance, uses a reversible forward bench (requested by the owner) that faces either toward the step-through forepeak or toward the sun bed, creating a natural place to enjoy a meal.
The flybridge is also a treat – partly because of the unusual three-seat helm that drops the skipper directly in the centre of the deck; partly because of the big dinette at the aft end; and partly because of the screen extension that can be lifted above the wind deflector for extra protection.
Step inside the saloon, past the aft galley and there’s plenty more flexibility. You can easily expand the galley at the expense of the big port dinette but the show boat seems to us to strike a very attractive balance.
The fact that the starboard bench is made up of roving seat pods, means you can pull them out and expand the seating capacity. And in spite of a chunky pillar at the extra-wide starboard side door, the lower helm is a great place to be too, with excellent seats, full adjustability, optional armrests and very natural access to all the key touch points.
The fact that this boat delivers three proper cabins is also impressive. Even the least desirable of them, which sits beneath the transverse galley and is accessed beneath the aft end of the port dinette, has a proper bed with space to sit up, plus a changing seat and lots of storage. And further forward are two more cabins – a symmetrical VIP in the bow and an owner’s full-beam double cabin, positioned largely beneath the raised mouldings of the helm seats.
Although there’s no shower in the show boat’s day heads, the owner’s ensuite gets a large separate cubicle complete with rain shower. But aside from the various owner upgrades, it’s the engines that make the biggest impression – in this case, a triple rig of D6-480s for speeds of up to 44 knots and the promise of rapid transits, whatever the conditions.
Nord Star 49+ specifications
LOA: 50ft 8in (15.45m)
BEAM: 13ft 7in (4.15m)
ENGINES: 2/3 x Volvo D6-480s / 2 x IPS-650s/800s
TOP SPEED: 44 knots
PRICE: From £861,927 ex VAT
Absolute Navetta 58
When it comes to boats, size really does matter, something the new Navetta 58 makes abundantly clear. It is absolutely massive. In the diminished confines of the Southampton Boat Show, it towered over the pontoons, allowing passers-by to peer through its vast bow windows into its spectacular forward owner’s cabin.
But before we get to that it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the glazed bulwarks and transom that deliver a clear view out from the cockpit without resorting to folding platforms.
Six individual chairs, which can be combined into sofas and moved wherever you want, make the most of this, along with a table that bolts into several different positions. There’s a similar arrangement at the aft end of the flybridge, even though there’s plenty more seating around the dining table and alongside the helm. The show boat even had suspension seats up here, as well as 1.9kWp of solar panels on the hard top.
It gets even better inside thanks to an exceptional amount of glazing around the saloon, including a big sliding door to starboard, a drop-down window to port
plus a skipper’s door in addition to the usual aft patio doors. The dining table even has an electric sliding top to push it over to one side during the day.
However, it is the cabins that really blew our mind. The owner’s suite is a few steps down from the saloon but separated from the bilges by a deep storage/technical space, insulating it from any hull noise while still giving exceptional headroom. The full beam VIP amidships is even more surprising, being the same size as the owner’s suite on most of its competitors in this size category.
The third cabin is rather box-like by comparison but still has twin beds that can slide together to make a decent double, and all three of them have their own bathrooms and showers, even if the third one doubles as a very generous day head.
It will be interesting to see how all that real estate handles in a sea, but with a Seakeeper stabiliser to help and a sturdy looking semi-displacement hull, it should cope just fine.
Absolute Navetta 58 specifications
LOA: 57ft 9in (17.6m)
BEAM: 16ft 11in (5.16m)
ENGINES: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS950
TOP SPEED: 26 knots
PRICE: From €1.95m ex tax
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