The French Boating Market: A Resilient Market with a Growing Focus on Sustainability
France remains one of Europe’s most important boating markets, with a strong marine culture stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean. From sailing and cruising to motor yachts, RIBs, and superyachts, boating is deeply embedded in the country’s coastal lifestyle and economy.
However, like many established boating markets, France is currently going through a period of change. New-boat sales are under pressure, consumers are taking longer to make purchasing decisions, and the cost of ownership is becoming an increasingly important consideration.
Yet the picture is far from negative.
Recent industry figures show a market that is becoming more considered rather than losing its appetite for boating. For Flexiteek, this changing landscape creates opportunities across both new-build and refit markets, supported by an established French distribution and installation network.
A changing market, but strong enthusiasm for boating
IBI’s 2026 annual review of the European boating market reported that new boat registrations in France fell by 6.8% between September 2025 and June 2026, compared with the same period the previous year. Despite this decline, the French used-boat market remained relatively stable, with around 60,000 transactions recorded during the period. (IBI)
More recent figures covering the full 12-month period from September 2025 to August 2026 show a similar trend. According to Marine Business, reporting figures from the Fédération des Industries Nautiques (FIN), new-boat sales fell by 5.2%, from 7,625 to 7,230 boats, while the used-boat market declined by just 3.8%, recording 57,595 transactions. (Marine Business)
Together, these figures suggest that the French boating market is experiencing a shift in how consumers are buying, rather than a decline in their interest in boating. Buyers are becoming more considered in their purchasing decisions and taking longer to commit to a new boat, while the used-boat, servicing, maintenance, and refit markets are proving more resilient.
This shift is important for the wider marine industry. While new-boat sales are facing a more challenging environment, the strong volume of activity in the used market demonstrates that people are continuing to invest in and enjoy boating.
For boat owners, this can mean choosing to upgrade and improve an existing boat rather than replace it, creating opportunities across the refit and aftermarket sectors. The appetite for life on the water remains strong, but increasingly, buyers are looking carefully at where and how they invest their money.
This makes the refit market an increasingly important part of the French boating landscape.
For Flexiteek, it is an area where the combination of local fabrication, installation expertise, and synthetic teak decking can provide a practical solution for both new and existing vessels.
Sustainability is becoming part of the conversation
An environmental transition is also becoming increasingly prominent within the French marine industry.
In 2026, Nice Boating Tomorrow was launched as a dedicated sustainable boating event on the French Riviera, focusing on the environmental transition of the boating industry and solutions designed to reduce its environmental impact. The organisers described environmental transition as a priority for the sector, covering the entire lifecycle of recreational boats from design and construction through to use, maintenance and end-of-life.
This wider focus on sustainability is also visible at other major French boating events.
The Cannes Yachting Festival’s 2026 Innovation Route, for example, specifically highlights innovations and sustainable initiatives shaping the future of boating, with awards including a category for the Best Sustainable Product.
For manufacturers and suppliers, this means sustainability is increasingly being considered alongside performance, design, durability, and ownership experience.
Flexiteek is part of this wider conversation through Flexiteek 3, which uses bio-attributed PVC and has been developed as a lower-impact alternative within the synthetic decking market.
The cost of ownership is also changing
The French boating market is also facing changes to the cost of ownership.
A reform of France’s annual tax on recreational boats, TAEMUP, is scheduled to come into effect on 1 January 2027. Marine Business reported in February 2026 that French boating organisations had raised concerns about the reform, arguing that it could be detrimental to boaters and the wider marine industry.
The debate around the tax comes at a time when buyers are already taking a more considered approach to purchasing and ownership.
For boat owners, this reinforces the importance of looking at the longer-term value of their vessel — not simply the initial purchase price, but also maintenance, upgrades and ongoing running costs.
What does this mean for the French boating industry?
The French boating market is undoubtedly navigating a more challenging period.
But the wider picture is more nuanced.
The enthusiasm for boating also remains strong. As Marine Business reports, French buyers may be more considered in their purchasing decisions, but the desire to get on the water remains.
For companies operating across the marine supply chain, this suggests that opportunity is shifting rather than disappearing.
New-build projects remain an important part of the market, particularly around France’s major yacht-building and yachting hubs. At the same time, the size of the existing fleet creates significant potential for refit, refurbishment and upgrades.
A long-standing French distribution network
One of the strengths of Flexiteek’s presence in France is the local expertise available to customers across the country. With two established partners covering the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, boat owners and builders can access local support for everything from decking design and fabrication to installation.
Bonaventura Yachting
Bonaventura Yachting is Flexiteek’s long-term French partner and Official Distributor, having expanded into France in 2011. Based in Dompierre-sur-Mer, near La Rochelle, the team supplies, fabricates and installs made-to-measure Flexiteek decks for boats across the Atlantic coast and throughout France.
With its own workshop, Bonaventura can take projects from the initial design through to the finished deck, helping customers create a solution tailored to their individual boat.
The team will also be at Grand Pavois La Rochelle from 22–27 September 2026, exhibiting at Espace Equipements – Stand S01.
Flexiteek Méditerranée
Further south, Flexiteek Méditerranée provides dedicated support across the French Mediterranean. Based in Six-Fours-les-Plages, the team specialises in the creation, fabrication, and installation of bespoke Flexiteek decking, as well as renovating existing boat decks.
Its location puts the team right at the heart of the French Mediterranean boating scene, supporting everything from smaller leisure boats through to larger yachts.
The team will be at the Cannes Yachting Festival from 8–13 September 2026, giving visitors the chance to meet the local team and discover more about Flexiteek decking.
Together, Bonaventura and Méditerranée provide a strong local network across France, combining Flexiteek’s decking technology with the specialist fabrication and installation knowledge needed to bring each project to life.
Cannes: a window into the French Riviera market
The strength of the French marine market will be particularly visible this September at the Cannes Yachting Festival, taking place from 8–13 September 2026 across the Vieux Port and Port Canto.
The 2026 festival brings together more than 680 exhibitors and 710 boats and yachts, ranging from sailing yachts and motor yachts to multihulls, RIBs, dayboats and marine equipment.
The event provides a snapshot of the premium end of the French and international boating market, with new launches, marine technology and equipment showcased alongside some of the world’s leading yacht builders.
For Flexiteek and its French network, Cannes is particularly relevant to the Mediterranean market, providing an opportunity to connect with boat builders, yacht owners, designers and marine professionals operating across the region.
The focus on innovation is also significant. The 2026 Innovation Route is designed to highlight technologies and initiatives shaping the future of yachting, including sustainable products and innovative vessels.
Grand Pavois La Rochelle: meeting the Atlantic market
Following Cannes, attention turns to the Atlantic coast for Grand Pavois La Rochelle, taking place from 22–27 September 2026 at Port des Minimes.
Bonaventura Yachting will be exhibiting at the show at:
Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026
22–27 September 2026
Port des Minimes
Espace Equipements – Stand S01
Grand Pavois is particularly relevant to Flexiteek’s French Atlantic presence, with Bonaventura listed as an exhibitor and described by the show’s own exhibitor information as a manufacturer and installer of synthetic teak decking, serving boats from tenders through to superyachts.
For boat owners, builders and marine professionals visiting the show, the Bonaventura team will provide an opportunity to discuss Flexiteek decking, fabrication and installation directly with the team supporting the French Atlantic market.
Flexiteek in France
For Flexiteek, France remains an important market supported by a well-established local network.
From Bonaventura Yachting in Dompierre-sur-Mer, supporting the Atlantic and wider French market, to Méditerranée in Six-Fours-les-Plages, supporting the French Mediterranean, customers have access to local teams with the capability to supply, fabricate and install Flexiteek decking.
That local presence matters in a market where customers are becoming increasingly conscious of how they invest in their boats.
Whether it is a new yacht preparing for delivery, a sailing boat being refurbished, or an existing vessel receiving a complete deck upgrade, Flexiteek provides a way to combine the appearance of teak with the practical benefits of synthetic decking.
And as the French boating market continues to evolve, the fundamentals remain encouraging.
The way people buy boats may be changing, but the desire to enjoy them is not.
For the French marine industry, that means a market that is becoming more considered, more focused on value and increasingly engaged with sustainability — but still very much committed to life on the water.
Written and edited by Emily Lofthouse.
