Report: These motorboats are driven by the players in the water sports industry
Whether boat builder, master sailmaker or boat dealer - almost everyone involved in the motorboat industry has turned their passion into a profession. When Martin Dotti, Dennis Pfister and the many other characters are not to be found on the sales floor or in the office, they can be found on the water. But which motorboats do the movers and shakers of the German boating scene use on the water? We spoke to them and found out how and with which boat they spend their leisure time. You can find more players in the motorboat scene in the second part of the report.
Martin Dotti: From sailor to wakesurfer
When the motorboat turns from a means to an end into a true passion.
Anyone who sails knows the problem. No wind, no propulsion. It's even worse in regattas: no wind, no fun. Martin Dotti, founder and managing director of the second-hand boat platform Boat24.com, had to face precisely this plight. His solution was as simple as it was obvious, as he explains: "I sailed regattas on Lake Zurich for many years, but one day I got tired of bobbing around for hours in a calm. At the same time, I discovered surfing in the sea in 2005 and was hooked. Of course, you're constantly dependent on the wind and especially the swell - sometimes you travel thousands of kilometres and still can't find any surfable waves. When I learnt that you can create an endless surf wave behind certain sports boats, I was positively electrified."
In 2008, the passionate water sports enthusiast therefore opted for a Centurion Enzo SV 240 (built in 2008, 224 kW, 7.32 m long, 2.59 m wide). At the time, this model was the official towing boat for the Wakesurf World Championships. In the Centurion models, four components are responsible for the height and shape of the wave: the deep V of the hull ensures a lot of water displacement and therefore a good starting position. The so-called switch blade is a kind of fin that extends into the depths at the stern and pulls the boat downwards. The angle of attack can be adjusted hydraulically in five stages, which also allows the shape and length of the shaft to be influenced. A pump system also quickly fills the side ballast tanks, giving the shaft the desired alignment and shape.
To bring the boat to Switzerland, he needed the help of a yacht broker friend. "The investment was a real gamble, because without a type approval, we had to make some modifications and even translate the entire manual into German," reports Martin Dotti and continues. "The first attempts on Lake Zurich were adventurous because we didn't know how to switch to surfing after the water start with the help of a pull line." What's more, 17 years ago there were hardly any boats suitable for wakesurfing, let alone experienced people who could give you tips. But as soon as Martin Dotti and his wakesurf crew got the hang of it, they could hardly get off the new "endless" wave.
"Whether it's spring or late autumn - I enjoy surfing the most when the lake is almost empty. My boat is kept simple in white with beige-coloured upholstery, which turned out to be a happy choice: Even today, the design still looks timeless." In the early years, he went out on the lake with a permanent surf crew, but today Martin Dotti is usually out riding waves and boating with his partner. "Although wakesurf boats have evolved in the meantime, the second-hand boat expert sees no reason to replace his Centurion. He recently discovered wakefoiling for himself, which means that he can now even surf the second or third wave behind the boat thanks to hydrofoil boards.
Oliver Leu: Tank instead of cloth
Even die-hard sailors enjoy the benefits of motorboats.
Oliver Leu is a well-known face in the northern German water sports scene. He founded his company Oleu-Segel in 1987 as a master sailmaker and also sold fast sailing yachts as a dealer for X-Yachts DK for 23 years.
After 50 years of sailing, it was time for a change a few years ago. He and his wife quickly realised that they wanted to stay on the water, and preferably on the Baltic Sea too. "We wanted to try out a motorboat, but as long-time sailors, that's difficult at first," says the 60-year-old Baltic Sea connoisseur openly. "But eventually we discovered the Finnish 'All Season Boats' from brands such as Sargo, Targa and North Star. That changed everything." These are motorised boats that are safe to sail in all weathers and are suitable for winter. Five years ago, the Leus were ready and bought a Sargo 31, followed four years later by the new Sargo 33 Explorer - their current boat. "We are fascinated by the boat - it is stable, reliable and somehow suitable for a sailor." With their Sargo 33, they had many new experiences: shallow harbours that they would never have seen otherwise, bridges that you sail under quickly, dead-end marinas that were a pain in the arse with a sailing boat.
"Arriving at your destination quickly and early is no disadvantage either," adds the passionate owner with a grin. A quick escape from an approaching thunderstorm is almost fun these days. What's more, there are no annoying cake stands or boom tarpaulins to get in the way of life on board in the harbour and the upright walk in the saloon with a view of the harbour is simply one thing: wonderful! The recurring question from sailors: "Well, what does the boat need?" is quickly answered, according to Oliver Leu. "New sails, including maintenance and care, cost just as much as the diesel we use." He also emphasises that they have not switched to a motorboat for reasons of age and that their sailing expertise and good seamanship have not disappeared with the change. The joy of his Sargo 33 Explorer is written all over his face.
Dennis Pfister: The speed freak
Fast US boats are his passion.
In Germany, the name Boote Pfister stands for a long-standing boat trading tradition in southern Germany. The grandson of company founder Edgar Pfister, Dennis, now heads the sales team in Schwebheim and can justifiably be described as a "speed freak".
"I found my dream boat, a Wellcraft Scarab 23 SCS from 1997 with an 8.5-litre displacement and Whipple compressor, in Kansas/USA in 2023 after two and a half years of intensive online searching. I had already owned several boats before, such as a Sea Ray 22 Pachanga or a Mastercraft X 14, but none of them were fast enough for me. The Scarab was in very poor condition. I bought it anyway and brought it to Germany. Once the boat was here, the complete refurbishment took around four months. Of course, it was helpful that, as long-standing Scarab and Wellcraft importers, we have both the contacts and the technical requirements for such a project in the company. Unfortunately, I often don't have enough time to use the boat properly, but when I'm out and about, it's usually on our doorstep on the Main for a 'quick spin'. I'll never forget the moment when I broke the 135 km/h mark for the first time after the engine conversion, with a propeller that wasn't quite right and an almost empty tank. It was like pure adrenalin."
Matthias Ebert: The ideal Balearic yacht
Open day cruisers suit the character of the Mediterranean region.
With his two companies Yates Mallorca and ME Yachting, Matthias Ebert is one of the busiest yacht dealers for customers from the DACH region. The portfolio of the yacht connoisseur, who lives in Mallorca and Düsseldorf, consists of brands such as Fiart Mare, Galeon, Italyure, Gulf Craft, Dufour and Fountaine Pajot; in addition to the new boat business, he manages 20 yachts, which he offers to charter customers in Palma de Mallorca. When looking for his own boat, Matthias Ebert - understandably - had very clear ideas.
"I live in Palma de Mallorca during the season, and a dayboat or weekender is exactly the right choice for this area," reveals the Balearic local. He didn't find what he was looking for among the brands in his range, which is why he put out feelers further afield and finally got to know the Fiart Mare brand better at boot Düsseldorf. The product range extended from 35 to 60 feet and also included a boat that interested him personally, the Seawalker 35. A visit to the shipyard in Bacoli at the foot of Mount Vesuvius was followed by a non-binding test drive that left its mark. "The shipyard is long-established and exudes a really nice charm," explains Matthias Ebert. "From the shipyard dock, we went out into the Gulf of Pozzuoli and went for a long spin, during which I got really excited - as is the case when buying a boat," smiles the experienced skipper.
"The boat is 11.56 metres long, 3.82 metres wide, displaces 5.5 tonnes and can reach speeds of up to 45 knots with two 350 hp outboards. The hull shape is efficient and seaworthy, so that the Seawalker 35 is dry and safe even at full speed. There is also a cabin - air-conditioned, of course - which we definitely want, even if we rarely need it on our trip along the coast. The fact that Matthias Ebert also became a dealer for the brand through his own boat was ultimately a logical step. "There are many advantages to using your boat and at the same time presenting a model that you are totally behind. There's no better way to combine leisure with work."
