Yachting Art Magazine

At the Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026, the ‘Osez le Bateau’ (Give Boating a Go) area is showcasing a range that has become less prominent in recent years: new boats available for under 30,000 euros including VAT. Yachting Art ActuNautique discovered the Ranieri Voyager 17 there, a 5.55-metre Italian open boat offered as a package with a 50 ch Honda engine for 24,900 euros including VAT. A boat aimed particularly at first-time buyers, which we examined in detail with Frédéric Gauthier, Ranieri’s sales manager for France, Belgium and Switzerland.

Ranieri Voyager 17: a new boat for under 25,000 euros

Given the sharp rise in boat prices seen in recent years, the 25,000-euro threshold may seem difficult to meet for a new, motorised and already well-equipped vessel.

Yet this is precisely the positioning adopted by Ranieri for its Voyager 17, on display at the Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026 in the ‘Osez le Bateau’ area, dedicated specifically to motorboats costing under 30,000 euros.

The price announced at the show is particularly straightforward: 24,900 euros including VAT as a package, engine included.

The aim is clear: to offer a gateway to owning a new boat for customers who wish to discover boating without starting with a large, expensive vessel.

5.55 m and under 550 kg to remain easily transportable

The Ranieri Voyager 17 is 5.55 m long and 2.18 m wide. Its hull weighs under 550 kg. These dimensions and weight ensure that one of the main advantages of small boats is retained: their transportability.

The boat is therefore designed to be loaded onto a trailer, transported using a suitable car, launched for a day’s outing and then brought back home. This arrangement may also mean the owner can do without a permanent mooring, depending on their plans.

For a first-time buyer, this feature is far from trivial. The cost of purchasing the boat is, in fact, only part of the budget for recreational boating. Being able to keep one’s boat on land and choose different sailing areas contributes to the versatility of a vessel of this size.

A Ranieri built in Italy

The Voyager 17 is the entry-level model in Ranieri’s range of rigid-hulled boats, but it belongs to a much larger family.

The Italian shipyard is based in Calabria, in southern Italy, and boasts over 60 years’ experience in polyester fabrication. Its range extends from small vessels such as this Voyager 17 up to 45-foot rigid-hulled boats. Ranieri is also developing a range of semi-rigid boats up to 50 feet.

The point of this visit is precisely to see how much of the manufacturer’s production standards are retained in its smallest model.

From the gelcoat and stainless steel fittings to the assembly, balcony supports and upholstery, several details demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the boat is not defined solely by its price.

The upholstery is a good example. Ranieri has its own sewing workshop and produces the cushions for its various models in-house. According to Frédéric Gauthier, this in-house production ensures consistent standards across the entire range.

A 50 ch Honda outboard for 20 to 25 knots

The Ranieri Voyager 17 unveiled in La Rochelle is fitted with a 50 ch Honda outboard.

This power output is in line with the boat’s design. According to Frédéric Gauthier, the combination of this engine and the 5.55 m hull should deliver performance within a range of approximately 20 to 25 knots, depending on operating conditions and load.

The aim is therefore not to achieve high performance, but to strike a balance suitable for coastal cruises and family day trips.

The boat on display also features a 70-litre fixed fuel tank included in the package. During the interview, Frédéric Gauthier estimated the 50 ch engine’s fuel consumption at between 10 and 15 litres per hour at speeds of around 18 to 19 knots. These figures naturally depend on the load, sea state and sailing conditions.

A small boat designed to make the most of the day

On board, Ranieri has sought to make the most of the available space.

The stern features a bench seat capable of accommodating several people. Its backrest can be moved to alter the configuration of the aft space. A fully moulded storage locker is also located nearby and can accommodate equipment, amongst other things.

The helm station is deliberately kept simple. A sturdy handrail runs around the console to provide support for occupants whilst underway.

One of the Voyager 17’s most interesting features is its storage capacity. Despite its length of 5.55 m, its aft hold is large enough to accommodate the boat’s various cushions as well as the components of the forward sunbathing area.

This is an important consideration on a transportable boat, which obviously does not have the storage capacity of a larger vessel.

A table that converts into a sun lounger

The bow is organised around a versatile space.

In dining mode, a table allows two or three people to have lunch or enjoy a drink. Once dismantled, this same area can be converted into a large forward sun lounger.

Ranieri has even provided a specific storage compartment for the table leg to prevent it from being left loose in a locker whilst sailing.

These are small details, but they take on greater significance aboard a 5.55-metre boat where every space must serve multiple purposes.

What exactly does the price of 24,900 euros include?

This is, of course, the central question of this presentation.

The €24,900 including VAT announced at the Grand Pavois represents a complete package and not just the price of the hull.

The 50 ch Honda engine is included, as are the upholstery, the bow cleat and the fixed 70-litre fuel tank. The sunroof, however, is not included in this configuration and remains an option.

Above all, this pricing strategy provides a relatively clear picture of the budget required to start sailing, without having to immediately add up a long list of essential equipment on top of the base price.

A boat designed for first-time buyers

Ranieri is clear about the Voyager 17’s target audience: new recreational boaters.

For Frédéric Gauthier, one of the current challenges facing the boating industry is precisely to bring back to the market buyers who may have been put off by rising prices.

The Voyager 17 can therefore serve as a first boat, intended for day trips and learning to sail as a family. If its use evolves over the years, the owner may eventually move on to a larger vessel.

This is also the whole philosophy behind the ‘Osez le Bateau’ (Give Boat a Go) area at the Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026: to remind people that boating does not necessarily have to start with a 7- or 8-metre boat costing tens of thousands of euros more.

With its compact dimensions, ease of transport, 50 ch engine and equipment designed for day trips, the Ranieri Voyager 17 is an interesting option to consider when looking to understand what else the new boat market has to offer for under 25,000 euros.

In this Yachting Art ActuNautique programme filmed at the Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026, we take a comprehensive tour of the Ranieri Voyager 17 with Frédéric Gauthier, from stern to bow, to examine its fittings, storage spaces, finish and, above all, what is actually included in its price of 24,900 euros (including VAT).