Aicon Yachts, a Sicilian Flybridge Builder That Came Back

A joinery business that decided to build whole yachts

Aicon's roots are in fitting out other people's boats. The Sicilian company, usually dated to 1993, built yacht interiors for Italian builders before launching its own models around the turn of the century, and that background showed in the glossy cherry joinery and in-house stainless work that American testers praised. Its workforce passed 250 across three Sicilian plants, and a Florida subsidiary, Aicon USA, handled boats aimed squarely at American buyers, with Caterpillar engines and US-sourced electronics and components.

The first model, the Aicon 56, was drawn by Fulvio De Simoni and tested by Yachting at the end of 2002. The 52 and 64 followed, then larger flybridges and open hardtop yachts such as the 72, 75 Fly and 85. The parent, Aicon S.p.A., listed on the Italian stock exchange and in 2007 took control of Morgan Yachts, the Messina builder of commuter-style yachts.

Bankruptcy in 2013 and a second life at Giammoro

The original company did not last. An Italian court declared Aicon S.p.A. bankrupt in January 2013, leaving owners of earlier boats without factory support.

The name is back. A relaunched Aicon Yachts, led by chairman and chief executive Marc-Udo Broich, builds at Giammoro on the north coast near Messina, groups Aicon and Morgan Yachts with interiors, resin and design units, and keeps a US contact line and a North Miami office. Its current range includes the A50 open, the V70 Vivere flybridge and the V80, and in 2022 it announced a hydrogen power partnership with Renewable Innovations. Buyers should treat it as a new company using a familiar name rather than a continuation of the 2000s factory.

Buying an early Aicon today

Our coverage is the Aicon 56, a 57-foot, three-stateroom flybridge on twin Caterpillar 3406 diesels with a modified deep-V hull. Boats like it usually ask less than same-age Azimut or Princess flybridges, which makes them tempting projects. The Caterpillar engines are the easy part, since parts and technicians are everywhere in the US; the harder part is hull-specific parts, drawings and trim that once came from Sicily.

• Assume no factory support for 2000s boats, and ask the seller for every drawing, manual and parts list.
• Have the Caterpillar 3406 engines surveyed with oil analysis and a full load test.
• Inspect window frames, hatches and deck fittings for leaks into the cherry joinery.
• Check stainless fittings and rails, which Aicon made in-house and may be hard to match.
• Price any repair to custom interior panels before making an offer.