Developing the French houseboat market
The initiatives around floating homes and houseboats are multiplying in France. If a form of legislative vagueness has slowed down its development in ports and at sea, a pilot project has been announced in Gruissan, whilst Sailwood's SeaLoft has already been installed for several years in Lorient. In this context, a new German player is entering the market. Nautilus Houseboats, a company based south of Berlin, is starting to market its boats in France. "It's interesting to see these projects. I think that the more influential players there are on the market, the more we will make things happen," explains Marie Bour-Hutchinson, in charge of developing Nautilus' activity in France.
Houseboats for all purposes
The German shipyard has 4 models, all designed by founder and designer Andreas Hoffmann. Equipped with aluminum hulls, the houseboats are motorized and available for static use or for cruising on sheltered waters. "It's really multi-functional. We can make student accommodation or complementary accommodation for a campsite on a private stretch of water... It's really very broad. In Germany, we have our rental base" explains Marie Bour-Hutchinson.
Find a partner shipyard in France
If the transport of the houseboats is obviously possible from Germany, Nautilus Houseboats would like to establish partnerships for a production in France. "The German yard is reaching its manufacturing limits. We would therefore like to find a licensed manufacturer for our houseboats in France. This would also be a contribution to the after-sales service. The conditions will depend on the number of customers and the turnover. We also have a name to preserve and a level of quality, in line with what we do in Germany" underlines the representative of Nautilus Houseboats.
At a time when river tourism and local holidays are developing as a result of the health crisis, floating accommodation could appeal to the boat industry as a means of diversification.
