The Finnish family-owned Otto Brandt Group has on March 28th 2018 bought the newest Yamarin boat
models from Konekesko Oy. The deal comprehends a model range consisting of four different, partly
unreleased, boat models, and they will be launched as part of the Group’s own boat brand Silver.
The deal consists of three fiberglass hulls in different lengths, which during Konekesko’s time had the model
labels Yamarin 81, Yamarin 66 and Yamarin 64. The boats are so called Day Cruiser models made fully out
of fiberglass. The shortest hull is also available as a Bow Rider version with an open bow deck. The largest
of the models, Yamarin 81 DC, was launched to the public by Konekesko during the spring of 2016. Sales of
the 81 DC were, however, suspended when Konekesko later on announced that they were giving up the
marine business altogether.
The four models now acquired by Otto Brandt have been designed by Norwegian design company Eker
Design AS, and are ultramodern recreational boats. The hull design was made by Swedish Petestep Ab, and
the unique Petestep technology makes the boats not only silent and fuel efficient, but it also reduces the
water splashes so that passengers and the interior are kept dry in all conditions. Under the leadership of
mr. Peter Krusberg, who will be joining Brandt, the new fiberglass boats will be refined to suit the existing
Silver model range.
The first Silver boats were introduced back in the early 1990s and since then a total of approximately 16 000
boats have been manufactured at the factory in Ähtäri, Finland. The starting point for Silver’s boat planning
process has since the beginning been quality, practicality and design. Silver was one of the first boat
manufacturers who combined fiberglass with aluminum, and for many years all Silver boats were produced
with the so called AluFibreTM structure (i.e. aluminum hull and fiberglass interior). In later years Silver has also
introduced boat models that are aluminum both inside and out.
All Silver boats are made in Finland, at the Silver factory premises in Ähtäri, Southern Ostrobotnia. Cherishing
domestic boat building knowhow and heritage is something that is very important to the Otto Brandt Group.
In the past few years the marine department of Otto Brandt has become an increasingly important part of the
business. By purchasing the newest Yamarin boat models the group reinforces the existing model ranges and
strengthens the company strategy.
“During the past few years the Silver model range has significantly been renewed, and we believe that this
deal with Konekesko is a natural next step in order to expand our marine business towards a new, significant
boat segment. Many of our competitors have lately expanded their model ranges to include also hybrid
aluminum boats, a segment in which Silver has previously been the forerunner. We see an increased demand
for larger fiberglass boats in all our main markets, and through this deal we want to meet the needs of the
consumers”, states Markku Hämäläinen, CEO of the Otto Brandt Group.
Additional information is given by:
Markku Hämäläinen, CEO of the Otto Brandt Group - markku.hamalainen@brandt.fi / tel. +358 (0)20 7757 203
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Founded back in 1905, the Otto Brandt Group is a family owned business in its fifth generation. The group delivers an
annual turnover of approx. 100 M€ and has around 200 employees. Otto Brandt is one of Finland’s leading companies
in the leisure vehicle sector, importing and distributing world renowned brands such as Honda, Polaris, Indian, Arai,
Vespa and Piaggio. The group also manufactures Silver and Terhi boats in two Finnish factories, and manages the sales
and marketing of altogether four Finnish boat brands.
