No one denies the appeal of the great wooden classics, but Classic Boat doesn’t just mean dolce vita… it’s about a period that moves from the late 1960s to the late 1990s, thus opening a glimpse into far more disparate philosophies and designs. To suffer, perhaps more than any other design phase, the 1990s, often forgotten, somewhat because it is still too close, yet already too far away.
In light of this, here are 5 90s boats that, although often passed over in obscurity, are actually outstanding hulls to say the least.
Classic Boat 90s outstanding
From the sporty cruiser to the elegant lobster, from the super-performing to the more relaxed cruising boat, here are 5 90s hulls that, on closer inspection, are timeless design classics. Riva & Ferrari, Menorquin, Sunseeker, Azimut and Rose Island, shipyards certainly not forgotten and indeed, creators of exceptional hulls, 5 of which, from 9.6 to 17.5 meters, you will find below.
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Riva Ferrari 32 | 9.6 m
Maranello, 1990s. Enzo Ferrari had recently passed away, but one of his last aspirations was to make a supercar of the seas. The automaker thus approached Riva, which immediately grasped the goodness of the idea. The project would be handled by Gino Gervasoni himself, then head of Cantieri Riva. The synergy is close, the work painstaking. On the one hand, in Ferrari, the engineering side is developed, with studies on materials, aerodynamics and styling. On the other hand, Riva, processes the incoming inputs from Emilia-Romagna, adapting them to the peculiarities of ship design and construction.
Thus was born an exceptional hull, capable of marrying the philosophies of both realities in the best possible way: it is the Riva Ferrari 32, strong with a pair of BPM Vulcano V8 390 horsepower for 55 knots of top speed at full throttle down. 
Basically, a racing weekender.
Rose Island Lobster 38 | 11. 8 m
Inspired by classic Lobster, American workboats, pilothouses designed for shellfish fishing in the harsh seas of the American Northeast, the Rose Island Lobster 38 is a gem, there is little to say. And its success is no small thing.
In the period of the explosion of the “new style,” tall white hulls, curved lines and fly, her retro look certainly had its share in striking a chord with the public.
The bow is almost vertical, the deckhouse has no sundeck, and no fly. Yet it was a success. And it was because, qualitatively, and in terms of elegance, she had very few rivals. 
Add to that over 34 knots of top speed, double cabins below deck and a stunning salon cockpit, and you’ve unlocked the secret.
The Lobster 38 was a real gem, aesthetically outstanding and cared for on every front, from the gorgeous interior to the excellent marine qualities.
An underdog that immediately became a cult.
Sasga Menorquin 120 | 11.98 m
Sometimes looking to tradition is an excellent idea.
It certainly was for Juan Sastre, who, in 1978, looking at the fishing boats of Mahón, the llaüt, or typical Balearic workboats, grasped an as yet untapped potential.
Jump forward in time and, in 1997, the real Menorquins, the premium hulls we all know today, began to emerge. A risky gamble but one that pays off well. This was demonstrated in 1999, when the Menorquin 120 was launched, a huge success.
At 11.98 meters long, it is a deeply classic hull, but twisted in the sense of use.
She is a small cruiser with impeccable qualities and good performance, reaching 19 knots and accommodating on board, in comfort, between 4 and 7 people. 
The recipe is excellent, as are also the marine qualities, unimpeachable.
With the Menorquin 120 comes an elegant and very complete cruiser, strong with spacious volumes, high craftsmanship furnishings and comfort to spare: a cruising boat that is nothing short of perfect, a classic for times to come.
Azimut AZ40 | 12.35 m
Azimut, now at the top of the European shipbuilding industry, took off in the early 1990s (1992/93), with the striking release of the first examples of its, by then, new line. Characterized by the absence of edges and strong with new wraparound windows, including that elegant and aggressive look that everyone later adopted, it was in fact with the first Azimut AZ40 that the style still so visible today was born. 
A new world opened up with the AZ40.
Her two Volvos of 306 horsepower each allowed up to 30+ knots of top speed, while offering all the comforts and elements needed on a classy cruiser: a large elegant salon, a furnished flybridge and an exceptional sleeping area, offered in two variations.
Indeed, on the one hand, three cabins and a galley on the broadside created the 6-person layout, alternately replaced by a 4-person layout with double doubles and a large separate galley for an even more comfortable experience.
Sunseeker Predator 63 | 17.56 m
Thirty years ago, in 1994, a range destined for history was born: the Predator by Sunseeker, which began with an iconic hull, the Predator 63, a 17.56-meter that was destined to become one of the most important performance-yachts of its era. At the time of its launch, the Sunseeker Predator 63 was, not only, one of the largest luxury performance yachts on the scene, but also an innovative hull on several aspects. The sporty, sleek, curvilinear lines, inspired by the automotive, immediately made it an emblem of the “new way” taken in terms of design, coupled with a deep-V hull capable not only of excellent performance (30+ kn), but also of creating a more than desirable aesthetic, balanced by the attention paid to the design of the superstructures. 
So come to the rescue the volumes, here excellent.
Top-of-the-line furnishings, three 3 double cabins, full-beam salon and galley, all on the lower deck, leaving the deck absolutely dedicated to relaxation and sea life.
The huge bow was completely clear, ideal as a sun deck, while the cockpit was top of the line at the time: tender garage under a large sundeck, beach area, cockpit sofas and lounge areas protected by the top, or exposed to the wind, thanks to electric openings.
A complex we take for granted today, but never seen before at the time of her launch.
An outstanding hull, all things considered, even today.
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Dillinger P466, il superyacht anni ‘90 che volava a 50+ nodi (22.6 m)
