Vene 25 Båt show presents more boats than before
At the Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene 25 Båt, new models, classic boats, and unique works by boatbuilders are displayed. Annually, the Open Boat of the Show, the Weekender or Commuter of the Show, and the Cabin Cruiser of the Show are selected at the show. This year, for the first time, the Fishing Boat of the Show will also be selected, along with the winner of the competition “A New Life for the Boat”.
"We still can't give the exact number of boats – that will become clear only when we count them the evening before the opening day. However, I believe the number of boats will exceed last year's, when we had 400 boats. Several booths are now larger, and there are more boats on display – including more affordable boats and smaller commuter boats. This year, we will see at least three large sailing boats in the Sailing Harbor area", says Kalle Mäkelä, Sales Manager at Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. "We will also witness a record number of electric outboard motors from various brands, whose popularity continues to grow."
More boats than ever before at the show
At the boat show, there are boats of all sizes for various purposes. Completely new models for 2025 include: AMT 150 R, Aquador 400 HT, Faster 465, Max 55, Quarken 35 Sport Tourer, Rocky 50, Saxdor 340 GTWA, Silver Hawk SCX and BRX, Silver Condor Cabin, Suvi 63 T-Top, XO EXPLR 44, and Yamarin Cross 55 BR. Additionally, several boat models are being shown for the first time in Finland, including: Anytec 860 T, Arronet 18.5 SPO, Arronet 26 Surprise, Boston Whaler 250 Outrage, Highfield Sport 560 & 760, Nordkapp Coupe 780, Pioner Go, Sting 470 Pro, and Virtue V10 Cabin.
Other foreign motorboat brands at the show include for example 3D Tender, Alukin, Askeladden, Delphia, Grand, Jeanneau, Linder, Marex, Navan, Nimbus, Nordcraft, Ockelbo, Sea Ray, Sunseeker, UMS, Vizion, Windy, and Zodiac.
The majority of the boats at the show are Finnish. Among the exhibitors are for example Alucat, Alutroll, AMT, Axopar, Aquador, Bella, Buster, Cross, Falcon, Faster, Finnmaster, Flipper, Grandezza, Greenbay, Husky, Marino, Max, Nord Star, Päijän, Quarken, Rocky, Rönnqvist, Sargo, Saxdor, Silacraft, Silver, Suomiboats, Suvi, Särki, Targa, Terhi, TG, Willy’s, XO, and Yamarin.
The largest – and at the same time, the most expensive – motorboat at the show is the British Sunseeker Manhattan 55. Three large sailing boats are also on display: X-Yachts X4.9 MkII, Beneteau Oceanis 37.1, and Beneteau Oceanis 40.1. Next to the sailing boat area, the Finnish Sailing and Boating Federation's booth showcases racing boats.
In the fishing boat area, there are boats equipped for fishing, including the Alba 440 and 460, Alutroll 405, Buster M1 and XL, Kimple K175, Linder 445, Lund 2075 Pro-V Sporty, Päijän, as well as the Vizion 440, 470, 500, and 560.
Competitions are underway, and the best boats at the show will be awarded
At the boat show, for the 26th time, the best boats of the show are selected from the new models on display. The jury, consisting of journalists from Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish boating media, will choose the boats. The boats are selected in three categories: the Open Boat of the Show, the Weekender or Commuter of the Show, and the Cabin Cruiser of the Show. The finalists will be announced on the opening day of the boat show, Friday, February 7 at 10:00, and the winners will be revealed on Wednesday, February 12 at 15:00. When making the selection, special attention will be given to the boat's news value. Additionally, design, ideas on structure and space utilization, functionality and ergonomics, price-quality ratio, and suitability for the intended use will be taken into account. The Boat of the Year awards aim to drive the boating industry forward and recognize stakeholders for successful product development. In the program area Totalvene´s Mess (Totalveneen Messi), presentations of the boat show's new boats will take place. The boats will be presented by the editor-in-chief, Jan Sjölund.
This year, for the first time, the Fishing Boat of the Show will be selected. The selection is made by a jury consisting of representatives from fishing media. A public vote on the Boat Show's Fishing Boat at Vene 25 Båt is also ongoing. The winners will be announced on Saturday, February 15 at 12:00 on the fishing area program stage.
The show also introduces the competition "A New Life for the Boat," in which three renovated boats compete for the title. The boats are on display at Venemestari´s Wharf (Venemestarin Telakka) in Hall 3. The winner will be selected by a jury consisting of journalists from the boating industry media. A public vote is also ongoing. The winners will be announced on Saturday, February 15 at 14:00 at Venemestari´s Wharf. The competing boats are a Marino Mustang, a RO Buster, and a Tornado.
The fantastic boats of the wooden boat builders
Nostalgia, sustainability, and modern wooden boat building – all of this can be found at the Wooden Boat Builders Association's (Puuveneenveistäjät) booth. A handcrafted or renovated wooden boat is a luxurious and unique, soulful utilitarian object. The appealing texture and warmth of the wood, as well as its technical properties such as rigidity and flexibility, make wood an excellent material even for more demanding use.
The most interesting boats at the Wooden Boat Builders Association's booth are likely the Riva Super Florida and the Kaarna 30. The Riva Super Florida, a genuine classic over 60 years old, looks absolutely stunning after being renovated. The Kaarna is a new boat with modern shapes. Additionally, it is an electric boat, which is not a very common sight in the Wooden Boat Builders' booth. Despite its size, the boat is easy to maintain, and its spacious interior makes it perfect for a pleasant boat trip, such as for a family of four.
The show also features Nordic Crafts' excursion boats Elfyn and Ness Yawl, which are true works of quality. The same applies to Saimaan Puuvene's Wäinö and the newly renovated Louhe model. The booth also includes a Mouse Pram dinghy, the wooden boat Kiisla, a canoe made from Vendia boatbuilding plywood, and the motorboat Hirsala.
This year's raffle boat from the Wooden Boat Builders is the beautiful rowing boat Sommarvik, which is based on a historical model from 1940. The boat, built by Båtbyggeri R. Tuovinen is equipped for rowing and has a value of 7,000 euros.
Classic Riva boats and outstanding restorations
The theme at the Mahogany Yachting Society's booth at the Vene 25 Båt show could very well be Classic Riva boats. Three Rivas are on display, which is a large number in relation to the entire Finnish Riva fleet. In addition to the Italian classic mahogany boats, there is also high-quality Finnish boat design and craftsmanship on display at the booth. This is represented by a top-restored and successful Hai racing yacht from Naantali, as well as the mahogany-built King Salmon, an Albatross Weekend type, designed by Herbert Condun.
Among the Riva models is a Super Florida from the early 1950s. It was originally designed as a waterskiing boat and is the most popular of Riva's models with a windshield. A total of 1,137 such boats were built between 1952 and 1969. The second boat is a 6.25-meter long Riva Ariston from 1962. Its shape represents the classic Riva style with rounded transom edges and a long aft deck. The boat, named Lupo, has been restored three times since 1991: at the Riva family's Ram boatyard at Lago di Iseo, at Monaco's Riva service, and finally in 2023 at the Jacobstad boatyard (Jakobstads båtvarv). The third Riva is a SuperAriston, measuring 6.95 meters in length. These boats were produced in large numbers during the 1960s, which was Riva's golden age for wooden boats. Only the Triton and the flagship Aquarama were larger. The Ariston model was produced between 1950 and 1974, with a total of 1,004 units built. The boat on display is one of the last from Riva's wooden boat production.
King Salmon is owned by Timo Kauppinen, who found the boat as a wreck in Hollola in 2017.
The boat was renovated, or more accurately rebuilt, by boat builder Juha Tiira on the small island of Nahkahousut, just off Lauttasaari in Helsinki. In the MYS booth, there are pictures of the boat when Kauppinen found it, as well as during the various stages of the renovation.
The Helsinki International Boat Show, Vene 25 Båt, will take place from February 7–16, 2025, at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. The Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre is organizing Northern Europe's largest boat show on behalf of the Finnish Boating Industry Federation Finnboat ry. The event's sustainability partner for 2025 is the John Nurminen Foundation. During the first weekend, February 7–9, 2025, the Helsinki Outdoor & Hunting Fair will also be held for the first time alongside the boat show.
For more information: Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, Communications Manager Teija Armanto, teija.armanto@messukeskus.com
Tel: +358 50 376 0804
