A Farewell and Heartfelt Thank You from JD Yachts

After 25 extraordinary years, JD Yachts will be closing its doors.

This has not been an easy decision—but it’s one we’ve made with deep reflection and immense pride in all that we’ve achieved. We set out to build a company grounded in trust, transparency, and a passion for getting people on the water. We believe we’ve done just that.

To our clients—some of whom have been with us from the very beginning—we owe everything. Your unwavering support and trust shaped our journey. Many of you returned to us time and again for your boating needs, and that loyalty became the foundation of our business. We’re honoured to have helped so many families and individuals realise their dreams of yachting across the UK and the Mediterranean.

To our industry colleagues, tradespeople, and the marinas who welcomed and supported our work—you made this possible. The collaborative spirit and shared commitment to excellence within the marine sector gave JD Yachts its wings. We always sought to drive business back into local trades and infrastructures, and we’re proud to have played a part in sustaining that ecosystem.

To our dedicated team—Toby Hawkins and Isabella O’Leary—thank you for your incredible contribution, professionalism, and commitment to our shared mission. You’ve been integral to our journey and success.

A special thank you to our families for your constant support, patience, and belief in us—especially through the demanding times. JD Yachts has always been about more than just boats; it’s been about people, partnerships, and heart.

The current business climate, especially for SMEs in the marine sector, has become increasingly complex and challenging—particularly in relation to post-Brexit trade regulations and the double taxation of vessels between the UK and EU. These conditions have made it nearly impossible to scale sustainably or operate competitively abroad. We believe it’s important to acknowledge how much the industry has changed—and how vital it is to protect what was once a thriving cornerstone of Britain’s maritime heritage.

As we close this chapter, we do so with enormous gratitude for every client, colleague, and friend we’ve met along the way. The memories, the adventures, and the trust you placed in us will stay with us forever.

Thank you for letting JD Yachts be part of your story. We are proud of the legacy we leave behind.

With heartfelt thanks,

Darren & Justin

Off Canvas

Danish start-up company Dacoma is experimenting with a new type of patented stabiliser system – the Airkeel.
 
The concept is broadly similar to the sort of canting keels used by high-performance sailboats, but instead of delivering lateral resistance and a downward force from a weighted bulb keel, it uses a hollow air-filled bulb to create a buoyant upward force.
 
An active control system swings the keel from side to side to counteract the angle of lean and adjusts its buoyancy by blowing compressed air into the bulb to alter the water level inside it.
 
Not only does this enable the Airkeel to stabilise the boat underway and at rest but it is also claimed to increase the buoyancy of boats in the 23-49ft category by up to 15%.
 
Whereas most fin stabilisers tend to increase fuel consumption by a few percentage points due to the extra drag, the Airkeel actually reduces it, according to its inventor Arnd Baurichter.
 
That’s because while it still contributes appendage drag, the extra buoyancy effectively lightens the load state and forces the boat to ride higher in the water.
 
“Interest in what we are doing is especially high from the offshore energy sector, which is principally concerned with safe, efficient and reliable transfer of crew to various types of platforms,” he says.
 
“But down the line there should be considerable interest from the leisure boat and superyacht sectors too, and not just for tenders. I can see these systems helping yachts displacing up to 100 tonnes or even larger.”
 
A 7m ProZero RIB that has been retrofitted with an experimental Airkeel installation has just launched at Danish workboat builder Tuco Marine.
 
“Thus far sea-trials have majored on stationary or slow-speed performance,” says the company’s Jonas Pedersen. “But our tests will soon move to the next phase – planing speeds.”
 
The extra buoyancy is claimed to reduce fuel consumption by raising the ride height
 
A 7m ProZero RIB that has been retrofitted with an experimental Airkeel installation has just launched at Danish workboat builder Tuco Marine
 

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