Tradition meets passion

RIEDEL Magazine, Issue 03 Autumn 2025 | Text: Marcus Krall | Reading time: 8 minutes

Starnberg is home to numerous shipyards and refit companies. These are the top spots for water sports enthusiasts and those hoping to become one. Text: Marcus Krall

Note on the edition

This article is taken from the Autumn/Winter 2025/26 issue of RIEDEL Magazine. Information regarding companies, employee numbers, facilities and services is correct as at the time of publication.

Tradition, craftsmanship and passion

Wooden boatyard building with a blue gantry crane by the water, motorboats moored in the harbour basin in front. — Rambeck boatyard on the north shore

Anyone travelling along the northern shore – perhaps the trendiest part of Lake Starnberg – will inevitably come across a place where craftsmanship, history and a passion for water sports come together: the Rambeck boatyard. Since the late 19th century, this family-run business has stood for solid boatbuilding craftsmanship, technical expertise and personalised service.

Here, it’s not primarily about moorings – here, the boat takes centre stage. “We’re not a marina in the traditional sense, but a proper boatyard,” says junior manager Anton Dreher. Every boat has its own character – and that character needs to be nurtured, maintained and understood. This is ensured by a motivated team now comprising 23 employees, the majority of whom learnt this almost lost craft right here at the shipyard.

The shipyard’s history dates back to 1883, when Anton Rambeck, a passionate boatbuilder, founded the business. Even back then, exquisite wooden boats were being crafted by hand for the summer retreats of Munich’s high society. With a keen eye for form and function, Rambeck quickly established himself as the go-to name for repairs, restorations and new builds.

From 1899 onwards, Consul Kustermann sailed boats from the Rambeck shipyard for the Bavarian Yacht Club Starnberg at Kiel Week – and won twelve regattas with his ‘Rakete I’, including five first places. By then, at the very latest, the name Rambeck am See was on everyone’s lips.

Following the destruction of 1945, the family systematically rebuilt the business. Today, father and son – both named Anton Dreher – continue to run the shipyard as the fourth and fifth generations.

Two men stand side by side on the jetty, sailing boats with raised masts moored behind them. — A strong partnership: Anton Dreher Jr. and Anton Dreher Sr. run the Rambeck shipyard and all its associated businesses.

Investing in the future of the skilled trades

The workshop has only just been completely refurbished at a considerable seven-figure cost – a construction project which, including the planning phase, took over half a decade to complete and was driven forward by all generations of the Dreher family. This is a bold investment in the future, which also safeguards jobs for many years to come – for simply letting out moorings certainly cannot represent this shared future as a team. Here, wooden, fibreglass and electric boats are serviced, repaired and refurbished using state-of-the-art technology. “We see ourselves as partners to our customers and their boats,” says Anton Dreher Senior. “A boat is not a car that you simply park. It’s alive – and needs constant care and attention.” This mindset shapes everyday life at the boatyard. Whether it’s a classic wooden boat, a modern sailing yacht or an innovative electric boat – every project is handled with the same commitment to quality and precision. The Rambeck service team can guarantee this all under one roof.

In new boat sales, Rambeck has been working with the Austrian shipyard Frauscher for over 40 years, and more recently also with the Hungarian supplier Stickl. Partners are chosen with care – quality, durability and shared values must all align. The long-standing relationships with both customers and manufacturers demonstrate that this approach works.

To ensure that operations run smoothly at all times, it was clear to Anton Dreher from the outset that his son, too, must be able to handle all tasks relating to the business. Both agree that this system works. “I really enjoy working with my son – and he, I’ve heard, enjoys working with me too,” says Dreher Senior with a smile.

Even as small children, both father and son used to roam the shipyard halls and were introduced to the trade by family and staff. It’s a passion that has never left them.

The heart beats in the workshop

Densely occupied harbour basin with covered sailing boats and motorboats, a sunbathing lawn under old trees in front. — Full House: The Rambeck Shipyard’s harbour is completely full, and the waiting list is long.

Although the site has around 300 moorings in the water and 150 berths on land, these are, above all, part of a comprehensive service. Maintenance, repairs, technical support and winter storage are closely interlinked – the boat keeps moving, even when it is at rest. A refuelling service, an accessories shop and catering facilities round off the offering. Many customers appreciate the friendly, family-like atmosphere, the craftsmanship and the tradition that can be felt in every detail here.

The secret of Rambeck Shipyard lies in the combination of craftsmanship, experience and genuine passion. Because anyone who realises that a boat is not just a parking space, but a way of life, understands why Rambeck Shipyard has been sailing – and not standing still – for over 140 years.

The secret of the Rambeck Shipyard lies in the combination of craftsmanship, experience and genuine passion.

1,300 hours for a classic

Covered dinghies and yachts stand ashore on the boatyard grounds, behind them the dark boatyard building on the lakeshore. — A family saga: Ernst Sattler and his son Michael run the Sattler shipyard. The Sattlers have been based on Lake Starnberg since 1501.

As well as the Rambeck boat yard, there are of course other boat yards on Lake Starnberg – affectionately known as ‘Munich’s bathtub’ – each with its own unique identity. The Sattler family’s roots on Lake Starnberg date back to around 1501. In 1922, Josef Sattler founded the Sattler Shipyard: with great dedication and painstaking craftsmanship, he built the first marina and the shipyard building. Before long, the racing dinghies built by the Sattlers were renowned as far afield as Switzerland and Austria. Today, the shipyard in Starnberg is now run by the third generation: Ernst Sattler and his son Michael manage the business. As well as selling yachts and electric boats, the company also offers mooring rentals and a comprehensive range of services.

A boatbuilder works in the hall on a wooden motorboat up on supports, its hull sanded bare. — Restoration of a classic motorboat

The Simmerding boatyard was founded two years earlier than the Sattler boatyard. It is based on the Starnberg Lake promenade, opposite the former UNDOSA wave pool. During these golden years, the shipyard employed around 75 people and built wooden yachts and motorboats, whilst also operating a private scheduled ferry service. Since the turn of the millennium, the shipyard has increasingly developed into a specialist in historic sailing yachts and wooden motorboats. Classic motorboats such as the Faul Swiss Craft, Boesch Cabrio, Arcangeli Super Jolly and San Marco California are restored, refitted and, in some cases, fitted with state-of-the-art electric drives delivering up to 50 kW. “Lithium-ion technology now makes it possible to build electric motorboats that are every bit as good as combustion engines in terms of performance and range,” says Ernst Simmerding, the current third-generation owner. A particular highlight is the Rivello 7.5, a classic wooden motorboat dream realised according to individual customer specifications. The team, which currently consists of seven members, spends more than 1,300 working hours each year using only the highest-quality materials to produce just one or two new examples.

The team, which currently consists of seven members, spends more than 1,300 working hours each year using the very highest-quality materials to produce just one or two new boats.

Masterful kite flying and panoramic rides

Historic sepia photograph of a man with a peaked cap and moustache holding a cigar. — Fritz Simmerding, founder of the Simmerding shipyard

Red-painted sailing yacht with furled sail on the calm lake, a wooded shore behind it. — Global player: The Markus Glas shipyard builds boats for customers from all over the world. One of its specialities, however, is bespoke boats for Bavaria’s inland waterways.

Since its foundation in 1924, the Markus Glas boatyard has been successfully building and repairing boats for customers from all over the world. Its success in regattas – World Champions, European Champions, German Champions – laid the foundations for the sale of more than 200 Dragons. But the shipyard produces innovative yachts that are right on trend, not only for regatta classes such as the Dragon or the 45-foot national cruiser, but also for the leisure sector. Tailored to Bavarian inland waters, the L95 and L95CR in particular have become some of the shipyard’s most popular products, giving rise to a vibrant regatta scene that includes the L95 Grand Slam.

The Stephan Fischer boatyard on Lake Starnberg, situated on the lakeside promenade in Bernried, has also been well known for over 30 years. The yard primarily serves the boat owners moored at Marina Bernried, but naturally also caters for external clients. As a master craftsman’s workshop with 35 years’ professional experience, the yard carries out all kinds of boat-related work. Fischer’s team offers repairs to fibreglass, wood, composite materials and metal; they also take measurements for new covers and produce bespoke mooring lines with shock absorbers, as well as carrying out other splicing work – a small but excellent establishment in a prime location.

Meanwhile, anyone wishing to travel in comfort and in professional hands should buy a ticket from Bayerische Seenschifffahrt GmbH. On board the Starnberg steamers, passengers can stroll across the spacious decks, climb a viewing tower or simply relax in a deckchair and enjoy the fresh breeze, the wind and the waves.

Lake Starnberg offers a wonderful break with panoramic Alpine views, whether you’re on your own boat or someone else’s. And should any problems arise on board, help is never far away thanks to the numerous excellent boatyards.

RIEDEL’s perspective

The northern shore, which the article describes as perhaps the trendiest part of Lake Starnberg, is also one of the most sought-after residential areas in the region. Anyone looking for a house or villa here almost always enquires about a mooring too – and the boat yards around the lake demonstrate just how closely linked living and water sports are here. As estate agents with our own office on the lake, we support owners and buyers throughout the Starnberg area.

We are here for you.

We would be happy to advise you in a personal conversation. Contact us.