Yuniboat – Turning Abandoned Vessels into Opportunities

27 April 2026

TransEurope Members hear from Yuniboat CEO Thierry Boussion on circular solutions for neglected boats.

Thierry Boussion, co-founder and CEO of Yuniboat

At a recent members meeting, TransEurope Marinas managers enjoyed a presentation from Yuniboat, offering a highly attractive solution for no less than five separate challenges: liberating berths occupied by abandoned vessels; extending usable boat-life; reducing waste and related emissions; driving the shift to eco-propulsion and contributing to the market of more affordable boats.

The perennial issue of abandoned boats

One of the most common gripes voiced by marina managers concerns challenges related to abandoned or underused boats. Unsightly disrepair upsets neighbours, operational and environmental risks increase, and valuable commercial space is held in unproductive limbo.

Boat ownership can be the source of plenty of wonderful memories, but when berthed in the water, upkeep is a fundamental requirement. When time constraints, deteriorating health, or financial concerns translate to disuse, these vessels join a fleet of some hundreds of thousands of boats across Europe that are currently neglected or abandoned.

Where recycling is an option and contact is retained, managers might intervene to suggest that a neglected boat could be removed for destruction, but an owner’s understandably strong emotional tie with their vessel can often act as an impediment. The associated costs of transport and recycling can also represent a significant hurdle.

Extending boat life with a sustainable solution

Yuniboat is an innovative French firm dedicated to sustainable marine stewardship. Based on four years of research, founder Thierry Boussion’s model is built on giving vessels a second life rather than consigning them to the end of their lifecycle. Through salvaging, refurbishing, and reintegrating up to 80% of the original structure, they reduce both the need for new materials and tonnes of additional waste. Propulsion systems can even be replaced or amended to suit buyer needs where regulation permits, such as electric engines or the use of biofuels.

Boussion relates that 70% of the boats they receive are donated, with owners pleased to know that their boat will be responsibly reconditioned and kept in service, contributing to a more sustainable marine future rather than ending up as landfill. Transport is covered by Yuniboat offering an instant solution. In France, the company can also facilitate obtaining ownership of an abandoned vessel, removing a costly and complex logistical headache for the marina manager. The company also provides value by supporting rental services for eco-reconditioned boats in marinas.

Evaluating suitable candidates

Yuniboat – Before and After the eco-reconditioning process

In order to retain the vast majority of the boat, the hull (currently GRP-only) structure needs to be intact and the overall project economically viable, ensuring that the environmental cost of restoration remains balanced against the vessel’s projected future utility. Yuniboat is not restricted to France for boat collection and encourages marinas to get in touch to help assess potential cases.

Thierry Boussion explained his company’s rationale and the evident connection with marinas, where Yuniboat has also stepped in to support the hire of reconditioned vessels:

“The greatest satisfaction lies in turning a liability back into an asset. With marinas struggling with the logistical weight of abandoned vessels, our role is to provide a clean, industrialised solution. Each new sale comes with a two-year guarantee, and our aim is to keep prices as low as possible to attract new people into boating.”

Capacity and future plans

Yuniboat currently recycles around 20-30 boats a year, focussed mainly on small motorboats, as dictated by the market. The company aims to scale up to reconditioning around 400 boats annually over the next four years with the launch and stabilisation of the industrial facility in Port Lavigne, Nantes.  Eco features of the site include the use of green energy, algae-based water filtering and vertical storage for land optimisation.

The long-term vision is to establish a network of 10 reconditioning facilities across Europe over the next decade. The strategy targets key maritime markets, including the Nordic countries, Poland, Croatia, Italy, Spain, and Greece.

TransEurope Marinas is working with Yuniboat to educate marinas about alternative solutions for neglected boats, establish an evaluation process to identify reconditioning candidates and consider adopting related processes in their own facilities.

Dr. Roberto Perocchio, owner of Marina del Cavallino in Venice, contributed the following observation after listening to the Yuniboat presentation:

“We shouldn’t rush to scrap a sound hull when its service life can be extended. Digital assessment tools now make it simple to gauge a vessel’s potential for renewal, helping marinas avoid the burden of accumulating abandoned boats. If industries like fashion and furniture can thrive on a second-hand culture, yachting must do the same. Yuniboat offers the industrial approach we need to turn neglected assets into affordable, sustainable boats, supporting a genuine circular economy.”

Connecting the company with European Boating Industry (EBI), Secretary General Philip Easthill provided helpful advice, commenting on the timely introduction in terms of EBI’s work promoting circularity in the boating industry and referencing the estimated figure of some 10,000 – 15,000 vessels reaching end-of-life each year. He made the following comment:

“European Boating Industry, of which TransEurope Marinas is an active member, is heavily engaged on these topics in relation to a number of upcoming pieces of legislation in 2026 such as the Circular Economy Act and European Product Act. EBI’s target is to ensure circular business models are supported by the legislation with pragmatic and unbureaucratic approaches that allow boats to continue to be used or recycled depending on their state.”

For more information about Yuniboat, visit their website: www.yuniboat.com; contact them via hello@yuniboat.com / +33 676061026