An innovative 14.5-metre yacht returns to home waters
De Antonio Yachts' D50 is listed among the motor yachts scheduled to appear afloat at the 2026 Barcelona International Boat Show, running at Port Vell from 14 to 18 October. The Spanish builder has developed a recognisable design approach in which large outboard engines are concealed beneath a carefully arranged sunbathing and swimming area.
The D50 offers a markedly different alternative to a conventional inboard yacht of similar size, combining an open dayboat profile with enclosed accommodation below. The show appearance gives owners the chance to examine how the concept translates into everyday use and to discuss options with the manufacturer.
Although the Barcelona fleet list records a figure of approximately 14.9 metres, De Antonio's official specification identifies the model's length overall as 14.50 metres. This difference may reflect the show inventory's measurement convention; buyers should rely on the certified dimensions of the individual yacht when choosing a berth.
Concealed outboards change the layout
At the stern, the engines sit beneath the sunbed and an access arrangement intended to maintain the clean exterior lines of the boat. This creates a distinctive area for swimming and socialising compared with a typical outboard motorboat where the engines occupy the outermost part of the bathing platform.
The builder's specification gives a 4.40-metre beam and a draft of approximately 0.70 metres, dimensions well suited to considering smaller coastal anchorages where local rules and sufficient depth permit. The relatively low hull profile also brings windage and deck circulation questions into focus during close-quarter manoeuvring.
Maximum advertised installed power ranges from 1,200 to 1,600hp using alternative hidden-outboard configurations. De Antonio quotes speeds up to 50 knots and a cruising figure near 30 knots, but both depend on engine selection, loading and conditions, and are not verified results for the specific boat at Barcelona.
A flexible interior for overnight cruising
Below the open main deck, the D50 can be configured with two or three cabins and one or two bathrooms. The arrangement gives an owner the choice of allocating more volume to sleeping space or to a different mix of privacy and living area.
The manufacturer's fuel capacity is approximately 1,500 litres, alongside 340 litres of freshwater. Those numbers provide a basis for planning, but passage range should be calculated from a realistic consumption curve rather than from tank size or theoretical maximum speed alone.
The principal attraction of this class of yacht is the ability to combine a day with many guests and shorter passages undertaken with a much smaller family crew. Buyers should examine ventilation, emergency access and noise while underway, especially around the concealed engine compartment and machinery access panels.
Questions for prospective owners at the show
An alongside inspection can clarify whether boarding feels comfortable from a high pier, whether the side decks provide safe movement when the boat is wet and how the aft lounge is protected from spray. The design emphasis on hidden machinery makes practical service access another important item on a buyer's checklist.
Barcelona offers a natural market for this model, with the possibility of short Mediterranean trips and weekends at anchor. Nevertheless, the actual boat's registration, certification, fuel arrangements and service network will need to suit the intended flag and cruising area.
The photograph accompanying this article originates from De Antonio Yachts' D50 product material and shows the yacht type discussed, rather than an unrelated vessel. The October development is the confirmed show display, not a newly announced model or a guarantee of a particular trial speed.
