iYacht design & engineering

Performance and iYacht. In this video, Udo A. Hafner , CEO of iYacht, provides a brief overview of how we are supporting Performance. Special thanks to Torsten Moench for sharing insights into the history of this iconic brand. The Performance 90X, designed and engineered by iYacht, is now in production and set to launch in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates! #performance #speedboat #boating #iyacht

𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁: 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 Africa is a continent full of contrasts and challenges—a truth that quickly becomes evident to anyone who travels through its breathtaking regions. From Egypt with its famous tourist sites to Cape Town, Africa also represents a daily struggle for survival for both humans and wildlife. Starvation and civil wars still impact the lives of many people here, even in the 21st century. Replacing polluting engines was just one piece of the puzzle. An important question was raised: What would a boat look like if it was designed not just to survive, but to meet the future needs of the lake? A boat that would be safe, sustainable, affordable and locally produced. The answer came in the form of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), a material known for its durability, chemical resistance, and recyclability. Fishing boats made from this material means that it could resist the corrosive forces of the lake’s waters, that could withstand the harsh African sun. But this wasn’t without its challenges. Importing these boats from Europe or Asia would not only be ecologically unviable but also financially unsustainable, so the only way forward was to produce these boats locally, using industrial rotational moulding. A pioneering effort—an endeavour that had never been done on this scale in Africa. Supported from our client eWave, the first step was to study the regional fishing practices and then we began the product design phase. It quickly became clear that the construction of such boats was technically feasible if a sufficiently large rotational oven could be provided. The Slovenian company Roto® (Roto Industry) has been an enthusiastic leading partner since day one. After years of development and initial tests, a nearly house-sized oven is now almost operational in Kenya. The first test runs have exceeded all expectations. Where are we now? The project is now on the verge of production. The molds are being further refined, and in Hamburg, prototype test runs are underway to determine the best motor configurations. But the story doesn’t stop here. The sustainable boat model developed for the fishermen of Lake Victoria is already being followed by other boats for other applications—houseboats, ferries, and more. The story of these fishing boats for Lake Victoria is still being written, and so is the story of Africa’s development. Both are filled with challenges, yes, but also with boundless potential. And just like the vast lake itself, this journey is far from over. Read the full story on iyacht’s website. #iyacht #sessyboat #africa #yachtdesign Udo A. Hafner, Matjaž Pavlinjek, MBA , Wolfgang Gregor

The spark before the next ignition. For some, life pulses with a heartbeat. For others, it begins with the growl of an engine—the raw power surging through pistons, the relentless drive pushing fuel through veins of steel. To every bold adrenaline seeker: something extraordinary is on the horizon. Something new. Something fast. Designed & engineered by iYacht. #performance #speedboat #boating #iyacht

Protecting nature and transforming lives by designing boats. A journey into Africa. "I’ve known Africa for over 35 years, but this journey touched me deeply. The paradox of living in complete dependence on nature, while simultaneously exploiting and even destroying it, became painfully clear here." These were the poignant words of Udo A. Hafner, reflecting on his visit to Lake Victoria during the pandemic. This wasn’t just a journey to inspect a work project; it was an encounter with the delicate balance between human survival and environmental sustainability. Our CEO visited the ASOBO project, an ambitious initiative aimed at replacing the highly polluting petrol engines on fishing boats with electric alternatives powered by renewable energy. But what truly stood out was how this project sought to address two pressing issues: improving the environmental health of Lake Victoria and enhancing the safety and livelihoods of fishermen in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. It all started with an inquiry we received in 2021. The request posed significant challenges but also pushed us to find innovative ideas. It demanded a solution that combined safety, sustainability, and affordability while acknowledging the unique conditions of one of the largest lakes in the world. Lake Victoria, spanning 68,800 km²—an area larger than the German state of Bavaria—is the lifeline for millions of people. Over 100,000 fishing boats work its waters daily, harvesting omena, tilapia, and Nile perch. However, fishing on the lake comes at a grave cost. Unofficial estimates indicate that a thousand lives are lost each year. The challenges faced by these fishermen are monumental. Many of the fishing boats are made from illegally logged tropical hardwood from Central Africa, and deteriorate in less than ten years. The 9-meter-long boats are so porous that one crew member constantly has to bail water out of the boat. Worse still, these boats lack essential safety equipment and lighting for night fishing. The gasoline engines that power them are not only costly to maintain but also highly polluting. Shorelines are littered with abandoned boats and contaminated with engine fluids. When refuelling directly on the lake, fuel spills into the water, exacerbating environmental damage. Amidst this environmental and human crisis, the ASOBO project aims to improve the situation drastically. The initiative seeks to replace petrol-powered outboard motors with electric alternatives, complemented by lighting systems for night fishing. This shift not only addresses sustainability concerns but also significantly boosts the profitability of fishing. In its pilot phase, ASOBO is retrofitting 89 boats, which will collectively reduce 783 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually while saving fishermen more than 10 thousand euros in energy costs each year. The project is also creating 88 new jobs, with women filling 50% of leadership roles—an essential step towards fostering equality in the region.

First Issue of Our Magazine Some of you may have already seen it at Boot: the first issue of the iYacht Design Magazine. This bilingual English-German magazine features 80 pages packed with technical insights, including topics such as CFD and FEM analysis, our perspectives on the market and the latest trends, an in-depth look at some of the projects we’ve been working on, and personal stories that offer a glimpse behind the scenes—such as trips to Africa for a very special, sustainability-focused project. Our CEO Udo, drawing on his extensive knowledge and experience, shared a fascinating overview of the development of boats and shipyards, including captivating stories from the industry. “Looking back over the past decades, it becomes very clear: many shipyards have come and gone, some have reinvented themselves more than once—whether by choice or necessity. But only a very few have remained true to themselves.” As we celebrate the debut issue of the magazine, we’re already hard at work on the next release. As you can see from these photos, we brought some printed copies of the magazine and handed them to clients and partners we met at the Boot. In photo #3, our CEO, Udo A. Hafner, is with R J Reddy, the CEO of Jalboot—the shipyard that built the HSF 60, the stunning vessel featured on our magazine cover. Naturally, the yacht was designed and engineered by iYacht design & engineering. Photo #4 highlights our magazine displayed on top of a platform lift built by H+B TECHNICS. iYacht also designed the new logo for this German company, which has been designing and producing platform lift systems for all types of yachts since 1995 (see photo #5). And last but not least, a group photo of our #team — the people whose passion and expertise drive iYacht forward. #boot #magazine #iyacht #yachtdesign #yachtengineering

Boat show time! See you in Düsseldorf! We’ll be there for the entire week. DM or text us to arrange a meeting with our team. #boatshow #yachtdesign #yachtengineering

𝗶𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗚𝗺𝗯𝗛 𝘂𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 90𝗫. 𝗔 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻. iYacht’s CEO, Udo A. Hafner stated: “This is a great project: a historic brand is reborn under German ownership. We have been involved in this from its very beginning, in addition to the design & engineering of the 90X, we also selected and brought onboard some key suppliers and we will go down until the CE certification of this boat. As a full-scope service company, this project exemplifies what we can achieve by working side by side with our clients.” The designers and engineers at iYacht have given the Performance 90X a completely new look while honouring the #DNA of the brand. The result is a new boat characterised by optimised ergonomics, enhanced functionality, and a seamless blend of #German high-quality craftsmanship and luxurious finishes. #performance #speedboat #yachting #yacht #yachtdesign

𝗶𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗚𝗺𝗯𝗛 𝘂𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 90𝗫. 𝗔 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻. iYacht’s CEO, Udo A. Hafner stated: “This is a great project: a historic brand is reborn under German ownership. We have been involved in this from its very beginning, in addition to the design & engineering of the 90X, we also selected and brought onboard some key suppliers and we will go down until the CE certification of this boat. As a full-scope service company, this project exemplifies what we can achieve by working side by side with our clients.” The designers and engineers at iYacht have given the Performance 90X a completely new look while honouring the #DNA of the brand. The result is a new boat characterised by optimised ergonomics, enhanced functionality, and a seamless blend of #German high-quality craftsmanship and luxurious finishes. #performance #speedboat #yachting #yacht #yachtdesign

𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔56 | 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 The Novaboat NOVA56 is now a reality A few months ago, we shared renderings of this Made in Germany houseboat, and now it is finally complete. In these first photos, you can see the spacious interiors, offering 80 m² of living area, with an additional 30 m² on the flybridge. The generous layout and onboard features make the NOVA56 an ideal choice for living on the water. A special thank you to Raoul Amon for trusting iYacht and for your kind words: "I was already familiar with iYacht, but I thought they worked only on large projects. However, when I met Udo at a houseboat conference, I told him about my project, and he agreed to help me solve some challenges I was experiencing. Udo and his team tackled the issues and found effective solutions. I am very satisfied with the cooperation" #houseboat #houseboot #floatinghome #waterfront

Heading into 2025 with a variety of projects in motion At iYacht design & engineering, our team of 11 designers, engineers, and naval architects are working on: ➙ 8 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗵𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘀 ranging from 48 to 90 feet, ➙ 4 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀, most of which are production models, ➙ 1 aluminium 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿, ➙ 3 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀. More projects are yet to be revealed! #yachting #yacht #yachtdesign #navalarchitecture