12 Boat Designers Who Shaped Our World
March 24, 2026
These visionaries helped make boating what it is today.
These visionaries helped make boating what it is today.
This 27-footer showcases the craftsmanship that defined the yard for decades.
How copper kept the Royal Navy afloat amid war and shipworms.
How a historic vessel sunk near a rocky shore in the Canary Islands.
German-born, he had a long career in the United States and a hand in an America’s Cup victory.
In the 1960s, the Chantyman design inspired the Grand Banks design and sent the trawler trend on its way
Days after she won the prize that became the America’s Cup, she was sold, but that was not the end.
Before she was sunk by a German torpedo in 1915, Lusitania was one of the grandest and fastest passenger ships to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
Known as Big Jim, the billboard has survived the death of the sardine industry and multiple owners.
Marine Travelift has been changing how yards, boatbuilders and marinas get things done for almost 70 years
Jeff Northrop helped reshape inshore angling when he introduced flats boats to the region.
J Craft’s swift speedboat, the Torpedo RS, embarks on a maiden voyage from Sweden to France.
Repainting is not always a simple procedure. Boat owners need to be decisive to get the best finish.
Two rocket scientists bring a space-age approach to desalination and water filtration.
A double-ender produced for a client decades ago is now a designer’s electric joyride.
A Mag Bay 43 gives a couple the thoughtful design they need to keep their twin boys at ease on the water.
Before trawler-style cruising went mainstream, the Mainship 34 was already doing it right.
From helm to hardware, these innovation award winners reveal smart thinking in every corner.
Design teams are rethinking everything from hull forms to seating plans as anglers demand boats that can run offshore, hit the sandbar and keep the whole family comfortable.
