What will yachts and yachting look like in 2015?

2015 IS very close so let's say 2015 to 2020. I'd envision incredible advances in electronics (not always for the better), far more regulations and restrictions, very possibly serious security problems, and major design and style changes. We may be dealing with composites that are only a dream today, and M/Y A and a few others have already started design change with the reversed bow. We may also well see major propulsion change. As the auto industry leaves fossil fuels yacht may follow.

With certain parts I do too, but with others I look forward with excitement. Never fear the future because it's coming anyway. Some of us remember navigating by landmarks, stars, compass, Time/Speed/Distance, & feel. That big gray box with the green screen was something very few had. Our wildest imaginations never brought us near where we are today with broadband & GPS & AIS and the rest. Drinking while boating was normal and there were no such things as speed restrictions. There wasn't even such a thing as Marine Patrol or towboat companies. There was the CG, the CG Aux, the USPS, salvors and your neighbor. As for security you just have to fly anywhere to see where that's already come. Although I think I prefer the world I grew up in to the one that's coming it is exciting.

True on all counts. However it was only in 1991 that Trimble tested a little gizmo on our boat called GPS.

Close, but I'll just claim a very early start in boats. Actually, come to think of it, I'm considerably older than it. Do you mean to tell me that between IPS, Yachtcontroller, bow & stern thrusters, and auto pilot they don't dock themselves? I know a lot of yacht owners who are going to be very surprised. They do at least take you to your destination automatically so you can just watch the game on your 42" and be there when the game is done right?

"You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back at where you've been and a pattern seems to emerge. And if you project forward from that pattern, then sometimes you can come up with something.” - Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.

I'm inclined to believe that diesel electric will be offered as an option by more builders, coming into favor in the next decade. There are at least two companies ramping up to produce pod propulsion systems and even more spooling up to wind copper around armatures. Not at liberty to discuss further, fiduciary agreements at risk.

Just as economy’s cycle, so do industries. Some builders believe that new models are the life blood of a company’s existence. In this economy, I don’t agree. To continue with new product development, pumping cash into design, engineering and molds, hoping to emerge from the storm with a broader product base and further amortized equipment, is failing to recognize the breadth of this downturn.

We’ve seen unprecedented growth in the economy and particularly the yachting industry over the past decade. This has enabled new infrastructure, product diversity, expanded skill sets and fat bottom lines. But this time, the turn in our economy is vastly different, fueled by inevitably higher oil prices, credit markets tightened to the choking point, imploding home values, investment insecurity that's caused depositors to withdraw billions in cash and a state of mind that’s returning to simplicity.

By 2015, the number of yacht builders will most assuredly decline. The old adage “Cash is King” certainly applies now. For builders who fail to pull in the reigns, streamline production, focus on emerging markets and embrace new medias, their boat will surely sink.

I think it will look like this...

Hydrogen power

http://www.emocean.be/index3.html

http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/fuel_cell_markets/1,1,1.html

wow, I remember that. I was actually the first person in PR to own one on my 54'.

I DEFINITELY miss the old days, when boats were smaller, yachting simpler, and just funner.

Every time I look for the future I find that it was yesterday.

Powered cats / tri-hulled yachts may become more mainstream.
Crew quarters will take up more of the available accomm space than ever before....negating the increase in accomm volume offered by the current pod-drive systems today. This will push waterline length closer to overall length and beyond, because...
Berth prices per foot will rocket. Either due to legislation / green tax or a reassessment of exactly how many and of what size craft will still be cruising around by then.
I can quite imagine the advent of length / beam ratios being reversed...

Wastewater treatment and recycling on large yachts will become the norm. The zero-discharge yacht is on our horizon. This will require more tankage so naval architects will start to look more at double-bottoms.

Harnessing the power of the sun. Also rectangular solar panel sails for blow-boats.