Boréal Yachts
Boréal Yachts is a privately held French shipyard that designs and hand-builds aluminum bluewater sailing yachts (44-70 ft) for individual high-net-worth cruisers and expedition sailors, founded in 2005 in Minihy-Tréguier by navigator-architect Jean-François Delvoye.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersMinihy-Tréguier, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Boréal Yachts does
Boréal Yachts (legal entity Boreal Yachts SAS) is a privately held French shipyard founded in 2005 in Minihy-Tréguier, Brittany, by navigator-architect Jean-François Delvoye, following a six-year family circumnavigation. The company designs and hand-builds aluminum bluewater sailing yachts — current core models are the Boréal 44.2 (13.90m), 47.2 (14.36m), 56 (17.12m), and 70 (21.59m), with previous-generation 47, 52, 55, and 55 OC variants. All hulls are built in 5086/5083 marine-grade aluminum with triple chines, ice-breaker stems, watertight bulkheads, and a proprietary weight-centering system that places ballast, engine, and batteries in the keel to lower the center of gravity roughly 400mm below the waterline. A centerboard plus twin daggerboards give shallow-draft access to remote anchorages while preserving windward performance; the doghouse with 360° panoramic view and integrated chart table is a signature design element. The Boréal 70 carries CE Category A certification for 12 persons and is positioned for high-latitude expedition sailing.
The business operates as a direct-to-consumer, low-volume bespoke manufacturer. Revenue comes from new yacht sales (one-time transactions, six-figure to multi-million-euro ASPs, with a 2018 Boréal 47 listed at €660,000), brokerage of pre-owned Boréal yachts, and parts/service for the existing fleet. Go-to-market relies on direct website inquiries, an on-site showroom at the Minihy-Tréguier facility, and attendance at major international boat shows (Annapolis, Boot Düsseldorf, Grand Pavois La Rochelle). Marketing is content-led via a YouTube channel, blog, Instagram, Facebook, and newsletter featuring owner voyage documentaries (Northwest Passage, Patagonia, Easter Island, South Georgia), supported by extensive earned media in European nautical press.
Ownership remains concentrated in two founders: Jean-François Delvoye (design and engineering) and Jean-François Eeman (managing director, joined 2010). No external institutional investors, private equity, or parent company have been disclosed. Production capacity was expanded in 2013 (headcount doubling) and 2014 (production-area doubling), and active product launches through 2024-2025 indicate continuing operations. Customer segments are individual high-net-worth bluewater cruisers and expedition sailors — couples and families undertaking long-distance and polar voyages — with no enterprise, charter, or institutional accounts disclosed.
Boréal Yachts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boréal Yachts
- Legal name
- BOREAL YACHTS SAS
- Website
- https://boreal-yachts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Boréal Yachts is a privately held French shipyard that designs and hand-builds aluminum bluewater sailing yachts (44-70 ft) for individual high-net-worth cruisers and expedition sailors, founded in 2005 in Minihy-Tréguier by navigator-architect Jean-François Delvoye.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boréal Yachts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bluewater Sailing Yachts
- NAICS
- Boat Building (336612), Ship and Boat Building (3366)
- SIC
- Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sailing Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Explorer Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAE), Semi-Custom & Series Production Yacht Manufacturing (IMAJAEAM)
Keywords
Where Boréal Yachts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minihy-Tréguier
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boréal Yachts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- New Yacht Sales: Sale of new aluminum blue water sailing yachts directly to customers. Models include Boréal 44.2, 47.2, 52, 55, 55 OC, 56, and 70. Direct sales through website, phone, and at boat shows.
- Brokerage/Pre-owned Sales: Brokerage service for pre-owned Boréal yachts. The company assists owners selling their Boréal and helps potential buyers find pre-owned vessels.
- Parts and Service: Ongoing support for existing yacht owners including parts and service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Boréal 47 (2018 model year) - Used/pre-owned listing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Boréal Yachts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boréal Yachts designs, manufactures, and sells full-aluminum bluewater sailing yachts in six unique hull lengths (44.2, 47.2, 52, 55, 55 OC, 56, and 70 feet) for long-distance cruising and ocean expeditions in conditions ranging from tropical to polar. The company sells directly to private customers through its website, international boat shows, and its headquarters showroom in Minihy-Tréguier, France, and supplements new yacht sales with a brokerage service for pre-owned Boréal yachts and ongoing parts and service.
Product overview
Boréal Yachts is a French shipyard (Boréal Yachts SAS) specializing in aluminum bluewater sailing yachts for long-distance cruising and expeditions. The company produces 4 unique model versions (44.2, 47.2, 56, 70) ranging from 13.90m to 21.59m LOA, all featuring full aluminum construction, centerboard/daggerboard designs, deck saloons, doghouses with panoramic views, and CE certification. The product line evolved from earlier models (44, 47, 52, 55, 55 OC) and is designed by founder Jean-François Delvoye. The yachts are built for extreme conditions ranging from tropics to polar regions, with a focus on safety, ergonomics, comfort at sea, stability, and performance. The company also operates a brokerage service for pre-owned Boréal yachts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Boréal 44.2 Aluminum bluewater sailing yacht with LOA of 13.90m featuring deck saloon with panoramic view, classic cockpit layout, and centerboard/daggerboard system; ideal for sailors navigating as a couple or small family.
- Boréal 47.2 Aluminum bluewater sailing yacht with LOA of 14.36m featuring deck saloon, twin steering wheels, and divided cockpit with navigation and relaxation zones.
- Boréal 56 Aluminum bluewater sailing yacht with LOA of 17.12m featuring new hull design by JF Delvoye, enlarged cockpit, exceptional deck saloon view, and forward steering columns.
- Boréal 70 Aluminum expedition sailing yacht with LOA of 21.59m, doghouse with 360° panoramic view, deck saloon, and CE Category A certification for 12 persons; light displacement of 37,500 kg with 12,000 kg lead ballast.
- Boréal 52 / 55 / 55 OC sailing yachts Earlier generation models in the Boréal lineup including the European Boat of the Year 2015 (Boréal 52), referenced as part of the current product offering on the company website.
- Pre-owned Boréal brokerage service Brokerage service helping owners sell pre-owned Boréal yachts and connecting them with potential buyers, creating a secondary market for Boréal vessels.
- Parts and after-sales service Ongoing support for existing Boréal owners including parts supply and service.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60 owners have provided feedback incorporated into new model development
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Boréal Yachts
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Boréal Yachts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Boréal Yachts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Boréal Yachts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amel: French premium bluewater sailing yacht builder (now under HN Yachts ownership) producing push-button passagemakers. Targets a similar experienced-cruiser segment with a focus on shorthanded ocean voyaging.
- Outremer Catamarans: French builder of premium bluewater cruising catamarans. Comparable target customer (bluewater cruising sailors) and French production base, though multihull form factor differs.
- RM Yachts (RM Fora Marine): French builder of robust bluewater sailing yachts in the 13-22m range under the RM and Fora brands. Comparable size range, French production base, and bluewater cruising positioning.
- Allures Yachts: French builder of aluminum bluewater cruising yachts with centerboard designs and expedition credentials. Most direct competitor to Boréal in aluminum monohull bluewater segment, sharing similar French production base, size range, and target buyer.
- Garcia Yachts: French aluminum expedition yacht builder producing Exploration 45/52/60 and Passport models for high-latitude sailing. Directly comparable on construction material, expedition positioning, and target customer profile.
- Alubat (Ovni Yachts): French builder of aluminum Ovni yachts designed for bluewater cruising with lifting keels. Comparable aluminum construction, bluewater cruising focus, and overlapping size range with Boréal models.
- Hallberg-Rassy: Swedish premium sailing yacht builder known for long-distance cruising yachts from 40 to 64 feet. Competes for the same experienced bluewater sailor buyer, though builds in fiberglass rather than aluminum.
- Northwind Yachts: European expedition sailing yacht builder specializing in aluminum bluewater cruisers. Comparable on aluminum construction, expedition focus, and premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Hanse Yachts: Large German volume sailing yacht builder with a broad portfolio from 31 to 67 feet. Broader incumbent in the premium sailing yacht category with much larger production scale than Boréal.
- X-Yachts: Danish premium performance cruising yacht builder in the 32-58ft range. Broader incumbent in premium sailing yachts with some models positioned for bluewater use, but built in fiberglass composite.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Boréal Yachts social profiles
Digital presenceBoréal Yachts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boréal Yachts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Boréal Yachts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boréal Yachts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boréal Yachts
What does Boréal Yachts do?
Boréal Yachts designs, manufactures, and sells full-aluminum bluewater sailing yachts in six unique hull lengths (44.2, 47.2, 52, 55, 55 OC, 56, and 70 feet) for long-distance cruising and ocean expeditions in conditions ranging from tropical to polar. The company sells directly to private customers through its website, international boat shows, and its headquarters showroom in Minihy-Tréguier, France, and supplements new yacht sales with a brokerage service for pre-owned Boréal yachts and ongoing parts and service.
Is Boréal Yachts a public or private company?
Boréal Yachts is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Boréal Yachts founded?
Boréal Yachts was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Boréal Yachts based?
Boréal Yachts is headquartered in Minihy-Tréguier, France, in the Europe region.
How does Boréal Yachts make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. New Yacht Sales are the primary driver. The others are brokerage/Pre-owned Sales and parts and Service.
Who are Boréal Yachts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amel, Outremer Catamarans, RM Yachts (RM Fora Marine), Allures Yachts, Garcia Yachts, Alubat (Ovni Yachts), Hallberg-Rassy and Northwind Yachts. Broad incumbents are Hanse Yachts and X-Yachts.
Does Boréal Yachts have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boréal Yachts.
What industry is Boréal Yachts in?
Boréal Yachts's product category is Bluewater Sailing Yachts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAEAA, Sailing Yacht Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAJAMAE, Explorer Yacht Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 336612 and its SIC code is 3730.