Inside Zodiac Nautic’s Reinvention At The Miami International Boat Show

Sunlight on the bay, a crowd at the dock, and a legacy brand acting like a startup—our sit-down with Zodiac Nautic's CEO at the Miami International Boat Show is a story about getting faster, smarter, and more human. Florent Battistella brings candor and spark as he maps out how a 130-year-old company keeps its edge: design for real life, iterate quickly, and let customers shape the details that matter.We get hands-on with the new lineup—last year’s X10 CC, this year’s 9 CC, and a reimagined Yachtline 4.0 tender. The theme is consistent across sizes: wider, easier, and softer lines that feel modern without sacrificing the core promise of a RIB—safety, stability, and practical fun. Florent shares a 65-knot ride that tested the X10 CC’s US-first hull design, explains how the team compressed development cycles to about a boat a year, and digs into the art of listening at demos, docks, and sea trials. When families can dock with confidence and kids feel secure on the tubes, the product is working.We also zoom out to strategy. Miami and Fort Lauderdale anchor the US market with year-round water time, while Cannes and Düsseldorf pull in European enthusiasts who obsess over fit and finish. The Caribbean remains a tempting frontier, even as the US inland lakes offer massive family-friendly growth. Manufacturing splits between Tunisia for smaller boats and France for larger builds, and even tariffs become a catalyst for kaizen—continuous improvement under pressure.Looking forward, electric propulsion sits as a non-negotiable goal: a real, all-day solution without range anxiety or charger math. Until battery tech clears that bar, Zodiac is obsessing over fine-grain improvements that create delight in the first five minutes aboard. If you care about RIBs, tenders, center consoles, or just how legacy brands reinvent with purpose, this one delivers insights you can feel at the helm.If you enjoyed the conversation, follow and subscribe, share it with a friend who loves the water, and leave a quick review so more boaters can find us.Wards Marine Electrichttps://www.wardsmarine.com/Wards Way YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@WardsWay75