In 2012, two designers asked a question that nobody seemed to be asking: why do outboard motors have to be visible?
Marc De Antonio, Spanish, and Stanislas Chmielewski, Swiss, had just launched their shipyard in Barcelona. No large factory, no century-old family tradition. Just a conviction: the Mediterranean day boat deserved better than the usual compromise between performance and aesthetics. Their solution would redefine an entire category.
The problem that everyone had accepted
For decades, the owners of day boats had to choose. Either an inboard engine, discreet, integrated into the hull, but heavy, costly to maintain, and eating up interior space. Or an outboard engine, high-performing, simple to maintain, interchangeable, but visible at the stern, visually bulky, and keeping swimmers away from boarding areas.
It wasn't a technical problem. It was a design problem. And De Antonio treated it as such.
The solution: hide what shouldn't be seen
De Antonio's patent is based on a simple principle: the swim platform is designed to wrap around and conceal the outboard motors. From the outside, nothing is visible. The stern is clean, continuous, and fully accessible. Swimmers can access the water directly, without having to go around the motors or impede circulation around the aft platform.
Inside the boat, the regained space is considerable. Without the constraints of an inboard engine, the hull can be designed differently: a wider cockpit, more generous sunbathing areas, and smoother circulation. This isn't an aesthetic detail; it's a real gain in space that everyone on board feels from the very first day at sea.
The outboard motor retains all its practical advantages: simplified maintenance, easy replacement, optimized fuel consumption. To this, we add the aesthetics and comfort of inboard engines. This is what De Antonio calls «powered by innovation,» a marketing slogan that nonetheless accurately describes what they have done.
What it changes at sea
On the water, the difference is immediately noticeable at two specific moments.
At anchor first. The aft platform is completely clear. You go down into the water directly, without any obstacles. You come back up without having to grab a motor for help. For children, less agile people, for everyone really, it's an access to the sea that changes the experience of the day.
Underway. The stepped hull, a staircase-like shape on the hull bottom that creates air pockets under the hull, combined with powerful outboard engines gives De Antonio boats a brisk acceleration and stable directional control. The D42 can reach 1,200 horsepower in its maximum configuration. It is not a slow boat.
Models: D34, D36, D42
Today, De Antonio offers a range of eight models, from the E23 to the D60. Three of them concentrate the majority of demand on the French Riviera.
The D34: compact version. 10 meters, 3.4 meters wide, up to 800 horsepower. This is the model that allows you to go fast and far with a reasonable-sized group, up to 12 people. Its maneuverability makes it an ideal boat for shallow coves, particularly around Cap d'Antibes and the Lérins Islands. Its 0.6-meter draft allows for anchorages that heavier boats cannot reach. The De Antonio D34 is available for rent from Cannes and Golfe-Juan.
The D36: the award-winning one. Awarded European Power Boat of the Year 2023, it strikes the right balance between the D34 and D42: large enough to be spacious, compact enough to remain maneuverable.
The D42: the benchmark. 12.1 meters, 3.99 meters wide, up to 1,200 horsepower. First presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2019, it has since been adopted by premium charter fleets across the Mediterranean. Its generous cockpit, two sunbathing areas (forward and aft), interior cabin, and aft platform make it the most requested format for groups of 8 to 12 people. The De Antonio D42 is available for rent. From Cannes and Golfe-Juan, it is one of the most booked boats in our fleet. You can also check Our Complete Guide to the D42 to go further.
From Antonio on the French Riviera
De Antonio's design is not insignificant to its Mediterranean success. The aesthetics of these boats, taut lines, sober colors, a sleek stern, correspond exactly to what the Riviera was looking for: a fast boat that is easy to board and doesn't look out of place among the yachts in Porto Cervo or Antibes.
The D42, presented in Cannes in 2019, is also a way for the brand to assert its playing field. The Mediterranean, with its short distances and long anchoring times, its shallow coves, its sun, is exactly the context for which the De Antonio platform was designed.
For those who wish to go beyond renting, the The De Antonio D42 is also available for purchase on the French Riviera, new or used depending on availability. It is one of the most sought-after models by first-time buyers in the premium day boat market, precisely because its simplified maintenance and robustness make it a reassuring first boat.
→ Book a De Antonio on the French Riviera
FAQ – De Antonio Yachts
Where are De Antonio Yachts manufactured?
De Antonio Yachts is a Spanish shipyard founded in 2012 in Barcelona by Marc De Antonio and Stanislas Chmielewski. Production is carried out in Spain. The brand is now distributed throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
What is the difference between the D34 and the D42?
The D34 (10 meters) is the compact model in the range, ideal for small groups, more maneuverable in coves, and more affordable. The D42 (12.1 meters) offers more space, a full interior cabin, two distinct sunbathing areas, and higher maximum power. For a day at sea with 8-12 people on the French Riviera, the D42 is generally the more comfortable choice.
Why are the outboard motors hidden on De Antonio boats?
This is the brand's foundational patent: the outboard motors are integrated under the swim platform, invisible from the outside. This solution allows for the retention of all the advantages of an outboard motor (performance, simplified maintenance, lightness) while freeing up the aft space and giving the boat the sleek aesthetic of an inboard. Swimmers can access the water without obstruction, and exhaust fumes are kept away from the swimming area.
Is the De Antonio D42 available for sale on the French Riviera?
Yes. Clapi Boats offers the D42 for purchase, new or used, departing from Cannes. It is a particularly sought-after model for mixed use: personal days and charter management during the season. Contact us for current availability and pricing.
