Characteristics

Length: 2,20 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

Designed for a boat owner who wanted to fit his eight meter “yacht” with a rigid tender, the PRAM 220 has the minimum dimensions to be used safely for this type of task, maintaining at the same time a boat appearance and not that of a floating box. Thanks to its light weight it may be lifted on board or launched when the yacht is moored. Fitted with a small sail and a centreboard, it may be utilized by children or adults for enjoyable sailing in protected waters.

Characteristics

Length: 2,60 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The design of the boat comes by request of a customer who already owns a Charles W. Wittholz’s catboat and wanted to have a beautiful tender for his yacht. We designed, therefore, a small dinghy of only 2.6 meters with simple and elegant lines, which can be armed with the Optimist rig and sail.
The boat has a round hull and is made with the modern technique of Strip Planking.

Characteristics

Length: 2,90 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: amateur

Description

JUNIOR is a 10' simple and quick to build designed for partecipate to the class regattas. For anyone who intends to use it more touristy we recommend the version with smaller sail area but we suggest you in this case to choose other 10' of our catalog that might be more suitable for the purpose. In the basic version the sail area is about 6 square meters, but the high stability of the boat allows those who want to excel in races to choose a larger surface area (up to 8 square meters that is the maximum allowed by the rating rules of the 10') with a longer mast.
The stitch and glue method used for the construction is really quick and minimize the finishing procedures.
This is achieved thanks to the fact that all the internal edges (which are the most difficult and take much time to finish) remain hidden in the watertight areas, which enables the construction to be "quick and dirty" limiting finishes outside of the hull.
The cockpit shape is rectangular for building simplicity.
It's not designed with a double bottom: although usually it gives considerable advantages but in this case it was incompatible with the low freeboard and the cockpit is quite small so it can be emptied rapidly in case of capsize, and, last but not least, the lack of the double bottom reduces the weight of the boat, giving a more performance dinghy and ease to carry and handle it .

Characteristics

Length: 2,93 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: amateur

Description

POLLY is a 10' simple and quick to build with medium racing skills. In the basic version the sail area is about 6 square meters, but the high stability of the boat allows those who want to excel in races to opt for a larger surface area (up to 8 square meters the maximum allowed by the rating rules of the 10') with a longer mast.
The stitch and glue method chosed for the construction is really quick and minimize the finishing procedures.
This is achieved thanks to the fact that all the internal edges (which are the most difficult and take much time to finish) remain hidden in the watertight areas, which enables the construction to be "quick and dirty" limiting finishes outside of the hull.
The cockpit shape is rectangular for building simplicity.
It's previewed a double bottom wich drains water through the centerboard case.

Characteristics

Length: 2,95 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: amateur

Description

The Spritz is the evolution of our most successful boat, the Farò (between plans and kits, a few hundred copies). The success of Farò is due to the fact that it is the most basic and cheap boat you can imagine with marine plywood and epoxy resin. On the Spritz with've made a few variations which complicate a little bit to obtain a better boat. The lines have remained essentially the same except for a slight reduction in width at the waterline, which makes it slightly less stable than Farò, just slightly more powerful and more adapt for rowing. The main innovation is the introduction of a double bottom, which makes the boat self-bailing, facilitating the straightening in case of capsize, which was the weak point of Farò.
Inevitably, the building is a bit 'longer and we can not advertise it, using the slogan coined for the Farò, as the boat that is built in a weekend. It takes at least two (for a good builder who works hard), but these are not many.

Characteristics

Length: 2,98 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: amateur

Description

ZEN is a 10' simple and quick to build designed for partecipate to the class regattas. For anyone who intends to use it more touristy we recommend the version with smaller sail area but we suggest you in this case to choose other 10' of our catalog that might be more suitable for the purpose. In the basic version the sail area is about 6 square meters, but the high stability of the boat allows those who want to excel in races to choose a larger surface area (up to 8 square meters that is the maximum allowed by the rating rules of the 10') with a longer mast.
The stitch and glue method used for the construction is really quick and minimize the finishing procedures.
This is achieved thanks to the fact that all the internal edges (which are the most difficult and take much time to finish) remain hidden in the watertight areas, which enables the construction to be "quick and dirty" limiting finishes outside of the hull.
The cockpit shape is rectangular for building simplicity.
It's not designed with a double bottom: although usually it gives considerable advantages but in this case it was incompatible with the low freeboard and the cockpit is quite small so it can be emptied rapidly in case of capsize, and, last but not least, the lack of the double bottom reduces the weight of the boat, giving a more performance dinghy and ease to carry and handle it .

Characteristics

Length: 3,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: amateur

Description

Even if it does not show, the GIORMAX is a classical boat, in the sense that it is a re-elaboration of a project of the nineteen-thirties. History can be quite odd at times. The boat may be found in a book – which is now unavailable - published in 1935 by the magazine “La Vela e il Motore”, “Practical Guide for the Construction of boats”, written by Mario Corsico. He recounts that two boys from Genoa had found a stranded sea-plane float on the beach and to enjoy themselves, they had tried to fit a sail onto it, together with a sort of centreboard. They, surprisingly, discovered that it actually worked and sped on nicely. Through this casual discovery a really new sailing class had been born and was named GIORMAX because the two boys were called George and Max - and had already become widespread before the Second World War. I do not know, however, if it was the charm of this anecdote or that of an extremely simple and essential design that gave me stimulus to re-design and realize a new GIORMAX during a construction course. Of the original GIORMAX, I have maintained its original plan, modifying the sail (slightly smaller and with a single main sail) and the design of the rudder, a little bit more modern: I have added two small decks around the cockpit to make it wider so as to be able to sit more comfortably, as well as to create a support when one has to lean outboard. The boat was built in four days without excessive effort and by the end of the course, was ready for launching. When it showed up for the sailing race, its very unusual shape evoked quite a few ironic comments and various comparisons with other objects which have nothing to do with boats: the closest comparison, I believe, is that of an old blotter, used in the past with blotting paper to absorb ink. Comments, however, died out immediately after the excellent performance of the GIORMAX in the water: it was the fastest among the Ten-footers in sailing close to the wind and, with following wind, only a trimaran was able to reach it. While I was not particularly surprised by this performance, because a narrow boat, which by heeling reduces even further its water plane and places the chine in the water for all of its length, was bound to be fast, I was a little somewhat dubious about comfort and stability which, on the contrary, turned out to be much greater than I had expected. Whether sitting in the cockpit or on the side of the boat, it is quite comfortable and stability is more than sufficient: to capsize you need to make a very serious mistake in manoeuvring. The sail surface is that of the FARO’ with an increased main sail surface, up to 7 sq.m. A main sail larger by a square meter, to the rating limit, would give it more speed, but obviously, makes the boat more difficult to control with strong winds. The boat is very easy to control and thanks to its limited weight, it is also easy to handle on the shore.

Characteristics

Length: 3,02 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: amateur

Description

The SCHEGGIA is narrow at waterline and therefore does not have great initial stability, but having very flared broadsides, stability increases considerably, as we have already said, when the boat starts to heel. It should behave well even with strong winds and be more tolerant in case of wrong manoeuvres; obviously, to gain the best performance, it is convenient to maintain it horizontal because, as soon as it heels, the hull becomes much wider and increases resistance.
SCHEGGIA has a sloop with main sail and jib which allows it to utilize nearly all the sail surface permitted by rating rules, with greater performance, above all when sailing close to the wind. From the construction point of view the boats do not present particular difficulties and thanks to the “stitch and glue” system, they may be built in quite a short time.

Characteristics

Length: 3,04 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction
Diecipiedi Class
Building skills: medium

Description

The premises of the BABY BAGGIE are completely different from those of the Ten-footers with a chine hull which we propose in the catalog: with the BABY BAGGIE, cheapness and simplicity of construction have led to a choice of Ten-footer size, i.e. 3.05 m. This dimension, in any case, sets a reasonable limit to spending sprees. We have operated with absolute freedom in design and construction, together with a little less concern for economy. The highest goal of this boat is also to satisfy the aesthetic desires of having an elegant boat. The result is a classical profile, vaguely inspired by the famous American sandbaggers: beautiful, crazy boats which were famous in the middle of the XIX century, above all in the waters of New York harbour. As long as 30’, they had such enormous sails that, to counterbalance their effect, very strong hired crews were used to shift sand bags from one side to the other at every tacking, while the owners were in the Club House relaxing over a drink, betting on the result of the regatta. BABY BAGGIE is a small sandbagger of our times: the sandbags have been eliminated, which allows the owner himself, even if not so muscular, to sail the boat in a sailing regatta, but maintaining its refined and elegant profile, a low free board, sufficient width and a generous sail compared to its length. All this makes it fast, powerful and sensitive: a small breeze is sufficient to reach a good speed and with fresh winds it knows how to afford strong emotions, even without expecting acrobatic qualities from the crew. Its weight of less than 60 kg, is higher than that of most other Ten-footers. We have, instead, privileged its solidity. With a Ten-footer a little extra weight is hardly influential from the performance point of view, if it is compensated by increasing the sail surface, and, it may afford greater power when passing over the wave. The strip planking construction of the hull is neither easy nor quick (in relation to its dimension) but we have taken more into consideration the harmony of the profile rather than the requirements of the first-time constructor. The cockpit and the deck are made of plywood and are easy to carry out. We propose two versions of sail, the first with a gaff main and jib, which is closer to tradition, the second with a cat sail plan, which foresees a single main sail with an unstayed mast which is easier and more economical. In the first version, the mast may be built in wood or by using an available aluminium profile.

Characteristics

Length: 3,35 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The origins of the Moth class go as far back as 1930 and the basic idea – very similar to the Ten-footer, was to allow with very small boats freedom of creativity by the designers. In more than 70 years, the success has been enormous and is demonstrated by the fact that from the Moth, a very diffused monotype called Europa evolved – which was also chosen as a female Olympic boat. In these last years, the class has developed into various extreme shapes, giving rise to those “little monsters” which we mentioned in the introduction to the Ten-footer class. The Moth we designed does not expect to compete with these boats, which are too sophisticated from the construction point of view to be built by amateur constructors - the more competitive prototypes, in fact, weigh between 15 and 20 kg and, fully equipped boats ready for sailing, may reach 30 kg. It is, however, a fast and enjoyable boat comparable to the Europe, of which it retains the sail surface. The profiles remind us of the Ten-footer SCHEGGIA - that have been slightly modified to take into consideration the fact that the boat is conceived to navigate with winds, which are on average, stronger than those normally found during a Ten-footer sailing regatta. Although having a narrow hull (with less than a 90 cm waterline) and designed so as to minimize wet surface, it is relatively more stable than the SCHEGGIA and tends more to plane. The extra foot in length of the hull leads to quite a sensitive variation of performance and, whereas in the Ten-footers, play prevails over the sportive aspect, the MOTH may, by all means, be considered as a really enjoyable regatta sailing boat, also affording good performance. The construction is in plywood with the “stitch and glue” method. The V bottom and two chines, besides allowing round hull shapes, give rigidity to the hull, which becomes solid without it being excessively heavy.

Characteristics

Length: 4,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

YOUNG BAGGIE and OLD BAGGIE are the elder systers of BABYBAGGIE.
In this case, not having any limits to dimensions or sail surface as imposed by rating standards, we were able to choose the dimensions to our liking. The choice fell respectively on hull lengths of 4,00 m (YOUNG BAGGIE) and 4,60 m (OLD BAGGIE). A first observation is that, while on a dimension of 3 m the strip planking construction method finds few logical justifications - except as pure virtuous exercise (i.e. the time required is slightly disproportionate to the dimension of the boat which will form), with greater dimensions, the system – although remaining much longer and complex than with the plywood construction - is fully justified: time and effort are compensated for by the satisfaction of having a more prestigious and more beautiful boat. Furthermore, the differences of working times between the two systems diminish as the dimensions of the boat increase. If to realize a Ten-footer with strip planking may require double or treble the time compared to building it in plywood, just for a 4,50 m boat the difference is reduced by 50%. Even from the design point of view, the increase in dimensions allows us to choose better solutions. Compared to the BABY BAGGIE, both major versions have relatively less sail and are narrower. They are not extreme boats (in this respect they are different from the original sandbaggers) but are suitable for relaxation and are also elegant, fast and enjoyable to use. The cockpit is long until the stern and it is self emptying by means of two limber holes at transom. In the BABY BAGGIE, emptying of the cockpit is obtained through the centreboard trunk. The expedient thus adopted in order to have all the cockpit space free, is no longer necessary on the YOUNG BAGGIE and, on the OLD BAGGIE we have even foreseen a pulding centreboard instead of a dagger board. The space occupied by the centreboard trunk in the cockpit is much greater, but the advantages and functionality of this type of keel are enormous. The sail rigging is still with a gaff mainsail and a jib fitted on a fixed bowsprit and looks nice and traditional; efficiency (in relation to the Marconi) is better than normally believed and the sailing centre remains - with equal surface - low. Mast, peak and boom may be made in wood as well as aluminium and specifications are given for both solutions.

Characteristics

Length: 4,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The THALAS 13’ project was inspired by Whitehall, the most classical and elegant American row boat of the XIX century, but obviously, it is a very different boat both for hull lines – which have been modified to facilitate construction - and for its weight, which has been greatly reduced thanks to the adoption of modern construction methods. The narrow water lines allow excellent rowing performance and the V shaped bottom ensures regular speed rate and wave penetration. No centreboard has been considered because it is a boat in which the sail has an auxiliary function and it is foreseen above all for free sailing. We have, however, noticed that even without a centreboard, the boat is able – under favourable conditions - to go up wind without difficulty. In any case the plans include also a version with a centreboard and afford all the details for building the board as well as the trunk. The construction of the THALAS 13’ is within the reach of any builder, including first-time beginners.

Characteristics

Length: 4,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

Four meters seems the minimum size for a “gozzo”, the traditional Italian small fishing boat. This dimension allows to maintain all the advantages connected to this type of boat and it means not just making a miniature version of it. That is why it represents the smallest dimension to be admitted in an organized regatta, according to the rules laid out by the well-known Vela Latina Association, which has done a lot with its popular manifestations to attract the attention of the public on these small traditional boats, thus giving new life to types of boats which seemed doomed towards decline. The reduced dimension offers a few considerable advantages: handiness, lightness and, consequently, easy haulage onto the beach as well as transport, fast construction time, little power required by a motor. To fully exploit all these advantages, we have given up traditional construction systems by choosing fast, light strip planking construction. A small inconvenience with this sort of solution is that the regulations of the Vela Latina Association does not accept - rightly so according to us - boats which have not been built according to classical standards of construction, i.e. entirely made of solid wood. According to regulations the use of plywood is allowed exceptionally for building hatches, partition bulkheads and if necessary, deckhouses. We have limited as much as possible the use of plywood, to maintain a traditional look, but our contribution towards classical systems stops right here. Anyone who wishes to do so, may obviously utilize the hull lines to adapt them to traditional constructions, but must be aware that he will obtain a heavier, less rigid boat that requires maintenance and above all, from the construction point of view, not suitable for anyone who is not a shipwright. We advise our clients to build our GOZZO rather than face the construction (most likely with poor results) of a more classical type.

Characteristics

Length: 4,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

We designed KIS dinghies in order to meet a very practical need of amateur boatbuilders. Since they often find themselves in trouble in building masts, sails and rig of their boats and are likely to spend in these items much more than what they paid for the materials to build the hull , we thought to design four boats, simple and easy to build, suitable to be rigged with spars and sails of four very popular dinghies : Laser , Flying Junior and 470. This allows the builder to easily find equipment and accessories for his boat, either buying them new from dealers either finding them on the second hand market.
The KIS 4.0 compatible with the rig of the Flying Junior ( FJ ). FJ was designed in 1955 by Uilke Van Essen as a smaller and easier version of the demanding Flying Dutchman . In the sixties and seventies of the last century FJ has been the most popular double dinghy for sailing schools and for people who wanted to start racing activity, role that later has rather been taken by the 420 . Compared to the 420 the FJ is easier to sail, which makes it a very versatile dinghy, suitable for racing and for family sailing. The KIS 4.0 has a flat bottom hull with two chines, which makes the hull very similar to a round hull and gives to it good planning qualities. The deck and cockpit layout is that of the classic version of the FJ, built in Italy by Alpa in the sixties, which seems to us the best and most practical one: there is a foredeck from the bow to the mast step, under which there is space for a large locker.

Characteristics

Length: 4,20 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

Simplicity of construction, user friendliness (both for single or double) and high performance – all of this with reasonable costs. These are the main priorities which lie at the base of the DP 14’ design and which justify the main choices made, in particular:
- chine construction with the “stitch and glue” method, that is also within reach of beginners;
- “schooner” sail plan with free standing masts and battened sail, that, besides being simple and cheap, has the advantage of keeping the sailing centre low and facilitates control - even by a single person;
- its reasonable beam, which allows sufficient maximum stability even without the use of the trapeze; flat bottom hull, with little rocker, large stern section and high prismatic coefficient.
All these characteristics denote speed aptitude and tendency to plane. Water trials confirm the achievement of these objectives: the boat is fast, stable and planes easily. Obviously, every choice has a price: the schooner equipment is excellent unless you sail very close to the wind, (in this situation it cannot compete with the Marconi) with very light wind, one has to heel and trim the boat, in order to achieve good performance. There are various versions of sails, one of which also with a Marconi sail and jib. In a series of four articles for the magazine “Nautica”, I exposed the detailed design criteria, construction method and water trials.

Characteristics

Length: 4,20 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The Blitz420 sportive dinghy. The sleek lines and narrow hull makes it fast and fun, especially with weak and medium winds. The boat offers a great stability using the two outer wings, both as a springboard for the balance of the boat in navigation, and as additional buoyancy in the case where it touched the water in conditions of excessive heeling. Furthermore a hinge system allows to fold the wings inside the boat to limit the overall dimensions and facilitate transport. The hull, marine plywood, is achieved through the modern system "stitch and glue" that allows a quick and easy construction within the reach of the amateur builder also at the first experience.

Characteristics

Length: 4,23 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

We designed KIS dinghies in order to meet a very practical need of amateur boatbuilders. Since they often find themselves in trouble in building masts, sails and rig of their boats and are likely to spend in these items much more than what they paid for the materials to build the hull , we thought to design four boats, simple and easy to build, suitable to be rigged with spars and sails of four very popular dinghies : Laser , Flying Junior and 470. This allows the builder to easily find equipment and accessories for his boat, either buying them new from dealers either finding them on the second hand market.
The KIS 4.2S is compatible with the rig of the Laser, the popular single designed by Bruce Kirby in 1971, and it is, like the Laser, a simple boat of brilliant performances. The hull is flat bottomed, with two chines, which allows to build an almost round hull with a simple technique. The cockpit is small to avoid that in case of capsize the water remains on board. The cockpit has a double bottom at the level of the waterline, with a scupper which allows to empty the water eventually boarded. To reduce the possibility of water entering into the cockpit the foredeck is cambered. The letter refers to the number of crew: S stands for single.

Characteristics

Length: 4,60 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

These two boats are the elder sisters of the BABY BAGGIE. In this case, not having any limits to dimensions or sail surface as imposed by rating standards, we were able to choose the dimensions to our liking. The choice fell respectively on hull lengths of 4,00 m (YOUNG BAGGIE) and 4,60 m (OLD BAGGIE). A first observation is that, while on a dimension of 3 m the strip planking construction method finds few logical justifications - except as pure virtuous exercise (i.e. the time required is slightly disproportionate to the dimension of the boat which will form), with greater dimensions, the system – although remaining much longer and complex than with the plywood construction - is fully justified: time and effort are compensated for by the satisfaction of having a more prestigious and more beautiful boat. Furthermore, the differences of working times between the two systems diminish as the dimensions of the boat increase. If to realize a Ten-footer with strip planking may require double or treble the time compared to building it in plywood, just for a 4,50 m boat the difference is reduced by 50%. Even from the design point of view, the increase in dimensions allows us to choose better solutions. Compared to the BABY BAGGIE, both major versions have relatively less sail and are narrower. They are not extreme boats (in this respect they are different from the original sandbaggers) but are suitable for relaxation and are also elegant, fast and enjoyable to use. The cockpit is long until the stern and it is self emptying by means of two limber holes at transom. In the BABY BAGGIE, emptying of the cockpit is obtained through the centreboard trunk. The expedient thus adopted in order to have all the cockpit space free, is no longer necessary on the YOUNG BAGGIE and, on the OLD BAGGIE we have even foreseen a pulding centreboard instead of a dagger board. The space occupied by the centreboard trunk in the cockpit is much greater, but the advantages and functionality of this type of keel are enormous. The sail rigging is still with a gaff mainsail and a jib fitted on a fixed bowsprit and looks nice and traditional; efficiency (in relation to the Marconi) is better than normally believed and the sailing centre remains - with equal surface - low. Mast, peak and boom may be made in wood as well as aluminium and specifications are given for both solutions.

Characteristics

Length: 4,60 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

Behind the design of the Blitz was the idea of ​​creating a single dinghy very fast, simple, transportable on the roof of the car, which had, especially with not very strong winds, performance equal to those of the most modern skiff racing, but at the same time was much less acrobatic and easier to carry even by crews not too experienced and athletic.
On this basis we have developed the prototype of the Blitz 460, which has met virtually all of the requirements. However, the sea trials have convinced us that these same requirements could be attained with a smaller boat more practical based on the same principles that we seem to use more practice , lighter to handle (for example, to be loaded onto the car roof) and not very different in performance. The only advantage of the 460 version (except, of course, the speed a bit 'higher) is that it can also be worn by a crew of two people.
The advantage is, however, more theoretical than practical, since these boats very narrow significantly affected the weight and therefore should always take them to the individual.
We also found that the cat rigging (single mainsail) is the most appropriate because it allows the helmsman a better control without the need to have many maneuvers.
The brilliant performance of these boats are due to the extremely reduced waterline beam, which ensures a low wetted surface and therefore low-friction. Although the wave resistance is much reduced, with equal displacement, compared to that of a large boat hull. The main problem is the stability, solved by adding the two terraces, which have the purpose of increasing the heeling arm of the crew, but it is also a safety when the boat heels too much. The system works perfectly and the boat is almost impossible to reverse. As soon as it exceeds 15/20 ° heeling the terrace leeward goes into the water, by carrying out a similar function to that of a floating trimaran. Of course when this happens slows the boat (without stopping) and then, to maintain good performance, the helmsman must try to keep it flat. This is easy with moderate winds and constant. If it succeeds performance are exciting in all conditions. Even for inexperienced skippers the boat is fast (compared to other similarly sized) in favorable conditions and however safe in all wind conditions.
Both boats are also easily transportable on the roof of a car thanks to a hinge system that allows to fold the wings inside the boat to limit the overall beam. The hull, marine plywood, is made through the "stitch and glue" that allows a quick and easy construction within the reach of the amateur builder also the first experience.

Characteristics

Length: 4,60 m
Design: Matteo Costa
Round hull, stitch and glue construction and cold molded
R3 Class
Building skills: medium

Description

Techne is a pure double trapeze skiff, fast, exciting and for amateur boat building
The project was born in the university for the contest "1001 Vela per l'università", organized by Roma Tre with the intention of involving other Italian universities and it was created to "emphasize the formative role of exercise not only as a complementary aspect to the intellectual ... but above all as an essential catalyst of social relations, able to promote and develop solidarity in international and multi-ethnic reality of the university. "
During the project we tried the right balance between planning, governance, stability and reduction of friction: we obtained a planning skiff, which requires an experienced crew, with the water lines of the hull designed to detach from the hull as soon as possible 'water, characterized by a slight V into the end of the bow, to form almost flat and edge separation between the hull and the sides from the drift in the stern, a minimum wet surface, maximum cross-section rather moved towards the stern transom truncated so net, blanket that does not get in the sudden movements of the crew in the race, projecting terraces of nearly half a meter.
The races were held 21 to 23 September 2007.
The Politecnico di Milano with two copies of Techne, won the trophy with two boats on the first and second place ahead of those of the universities of Bologna, Florence, Rome and Venice.
The sports event was accompanied by the exhibition-competition "Design a boat." The project Polis & Techne have been attributed:

Characteristics

Length: 4,70 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

We designed KIS dinghies in order to meet a very practical need of amateur boatbuilders. Since they often find themselves in trouble in building masts, sails and rig of their boats and are likely to spend in these items much more than what they paid for the materials to build the hull , we thought to design four boats, simple and easy to build, suitable to be rigged with spars and sails of four very popular dinghies : Laser , Flying Junior and 470. This allows the builder to easily find equipment and accessories for his boat, either buying them new from dealers either finding them on the second hand market.
The boat is compatible with the rig of the 470. This well-known dinghy, designed in 1963 by the French architect André Cornu, had an immediate success and it has been an Olympic class since 1976. Like all the Olympic classes which are not strictly monotype (as the Laser ), the 470 has become a very sophisticated, complicate and quite expensive boat. Our 4.7 does not share these features, but to a non racing sailor it offers performances fully comparable to those of the 470. We modified the cockpit adding a double bottom in order to make it self-draining and we have changed the design of the benches to facilitate the construction.

Characteristics

Length: 4,88 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The length of the American Whitehall of the 19th century was between 13’ and 23’. The 16’ was the most typical length and the boats were built for 2 or 3 rowers. As with the THALAS 13’, also in this case the classical boat has been re-elaborated to make the design of our boat coherent with the different method of construction, but the seating arrangement of the rowers has been maintained and the boat is also suitable for one, two or three rowers. It is a fast boat, easy to handle and pleasant to sail. We have also foreseen a centreboard, thanks to which - although the boat was studied for rowing and the sail had just an auxiliary function - performance with a sail is satisfactory, also when sailing close to the wind, due to the fine waterlines and low weight. Obviously, stability is different from that of a real sailing dinghy and so the sail has a smaller size so that it may also be kept with relatively strong winds. The construction of the THALAS 16’ is simple and fast.

Characteristics

Length: 5,20 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

This small “gozzo” is the most traditional among the three: built as an open boat and without competitive goals in mind, it represents the typical Ligurian sea “gozzo”, which is easy to row, it is seaworthy and pleasant to use. The only positive difference compared to the classical one is represented by its strip planking construction method, which allows the creation of a more rigid, solid and light hull with much less working time required, as well as the elimination of 90% of maintenance problems.

Characteristics

Length: 5,55 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction
Chine hull. Stitch and glue method
Building skills: medium

Description

The BRIO 555 is what is usually called a “collective dinghy”. This terminology refers to its use as a sailing school boat - where it is common to carry many students with only one instructor. Though its denomination is quite new, its concept isn’t: forerunner of all these boats is the Caravelle, designed by Herbulot in 1952, on which generations of sailing enthusiasts have experienced their first tacks. In the last few years, the shape of these training boats – as well as numerous other types of boats – have changed completely, becoming more refined in shape with a higher sail displacement ratio. Briefly, while sports boats of the past have evolved and become extreme, acrobatic skiffs, the training boats of the past have become similar to what once were sports boats. It is sufficient to compare the features of the Caravelle with those of the BRIO 555 to become aware of the difference. With a length of 4,60 m the Caravelle had a beam of 1.80, a weight of 210 kg and a sail surface of 12 sq.m. The BRIO, 5.55 m long, is just less than 2 m wide and has a weight of 160 kg and a sail surface of 16.2 sq.m. These figures alone show much better performances than the Caravelle. They seem much closer to those of a Flying Dutchman, the typical fast dinghy of the past generation. With the same weight and sail surface, the FD has, however, a beam of less than 1,80 m and a bigger sail surface, thus it is more unstable and nervy. The BRIO 555 may thus be considered as a slightly tamed FD – which is fast but quite stable and safe enough to be led also by a numerous and not very experienced crew. With two people on board, it becomes a non-extreme sports boat, but all the same, it is highly performing and able to carry out extraordinary glides even with moderate wind conditions. Due to its “collective” use, the cockpit is very wide and also extends to the bow of the mast. In case the boat is used by a crew of two people, it is convenient to extend the deck up to the mast. The bench close to the mast foresees a spacious locker for the stowage of personal objects, fenders, etc. The system of construction is the “stitch and glue” (for the chine hull type) and strip planking for the round hull type. This last version certainly requires more time and greater technical know-how and, from the performance point of view, it does not call for any substantial differences. The choice is represented by aesthetic reasons rather than from functional ones. With both versions, however, construction - though not representing particular technical difficulties – takes quite a long time.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

The PALOMA, in its various versions, derives from a fruitful collaboration with our clients and, perhaps, also for this reason, it seems to have met the favour of the public. It all started from the request of a client who wanted an inboard motor boat, such as the GOZZO 540 but with a transom and was studied mainly to be used for fishing. Obviously, it is not sufficient just to cut-off a piece of the “gozzo” to obtain the right boat. In practice, all the hull has been re-designed in view of the new shape and, once the hull was changed, a few modifications were also added to the deckhouse. While we were designing it, a client who had come to see us, saw it and thought the hull would be ideal for the sort of boat he had in mind: an open sailing boat for family outings. We therefore took away the deckhouse and added a centreboard. It was then quite easy to realize that the boat, also for its dimensions, proved to be an attractive, traditional sail cabin cruiser with sufficient habitability. A third version has been developed and already a fourth model has been requested by a client, with Marconi equipment: we shall also prepare this one. All versions have the same hull, a very traditional hull, not suitable for boats which are expected to plane easily, but able to glide smoothly at medium speeds. A suitable motor for this boat is the inboard one (maximum 10 HP) if one wishes to use it with a motor, an outboard one if it is to be considered as a sailing boat. The interior of the deckhouse version is typical of a type of boat of this dimension: space is limited and used only for sleeping at night. Life on this boat takes place above all outside and for this reason, we have chosen a spacious cockpit and a deckhouse that was not too large (even for aesthetic reasons). The construction is in strip planking: not very difficult even if more time is needed if we compare it to a plywood construction.

Characteristics

Length: 6,98 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: medium

Description

The Venetian boats seem intensely tied to their magic scenery to be exported anywhere else. As with the extraordinary city of which they are an expression (from the proud and sumptuous gondola to the more humble “sandali”) they all have a unique and incomparable character. So natural is their gliding in the canals, along wonderful palaces reflected in the water, or through the melancholic islands of the Laguna. How ungainly they could seem elsewhere! It will seem strange, therefore, that we are proposing a new, re-elaborated and corrected version of the Sanpierota; the potential clients from Venice will almost certainly prefer the authentic “Sanpierota”, while others may remain disconcerted by technical solutions which are difficult to find in boats from other geographical areas. The main reason why we were led into this experiment is that these technical solutions – although anti-conventional – seem to have their validity and go beyond the particular scope for which they were determined. Any narrow boat, with a flat bottom, a large rudder - which also acts as a centreboard – with a sail - extended in length and not in height - will offer certain advantages, as well as a few disadvantages. Among the advantages, undoubtedly, we have:
- short construction time, facilitated by a flat bottom and by the lack of a centreboard trunk;
- limited resistance of its narrow racy hull, whose chine (as soon as the boat starts to heel)
contributes to reduce leeway;
- low draft;
- simplicity of manoeuvre and abundant free space at the bow of the mast;
- concentration of structural strains in the rear zone of the hull. The main disadvantages - as with all narrow hulls with a flat bottom - is little space if one expects to turn it into a real cabin cruiser. With our “Sanpierota” we have given up this idea: we have limited this space to afford a covered rest area for two people, with the possibility of mounting an awning inside the spacious cockpit available, to be able to stay overnight with the boat anchored or, when necessary, even on the beach. It may seem little for a 7 m. boat but we have to consider that in terms of cost and work, this type of boat is more comparable to a 5 m than to a 7 m boat. Sail performance may not be exalting when sailing close to the wind, but even in this case, if we compare it with boats having the same cost, the comparison will not play totally to its disfavour. It seems, therefore, that there are valid motives into proposing this boat even to those who do not keep it in Venice or in its surroundings. Obviously, it is on a lagoon or on the delta of a river with shallow waters that the boat gives its best. The construction, in line with the principles we have just set out, is very simple and fast.

Characteristics

Length: 5,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Micro Class
Building skills: medium

Description

The PUCK reflects the spirit of the original class which was to create a boat used in regattas but also suitable for coastal cruising, easy to carry and inexpensive.
All of these features are found in PUCK, a boat comfortable and stable, relatively spacious interior (there are 4 berths, one more than the minimum required by class rules), fairly easy to build and therefore economic.
The sail area is the maximum accepted by the class rules, which is reasonable and moderate, but enough to make a boat fun to use. In the race PUCK can compete honorably with many of the series boats but is certainly out of the competition with the racers.

Characteristics

Length: 5,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction
Micro Class
Building skills: medium

Description

The PUCK 550 REGATA has been designed with the intention of creating a MICRO with a chine hull and therefore, realizable with the stitch and glue method in quite a short time, (obviously, we are always referring to months of work, not days or weeks) by boat builders who are not so skilled, which could be quite competitive and comparable with the best prototypes. Obviously, a boat built professionally (with the best techniques) will have an extra margin but this should not impair a good crew from reaching a good position and competing with the very best. As for the chine, it is somewhat debated as to whether it constitutes a real handicap from the hydrodynamic point of view; however, the hull of the PUCK regatta type (which has three chines) is very similar to a round hull. The wetted surface is thus quite similar to that of a round hull. As for adaptability of the boat to cruising, the same considerations made for the SAM also apply. With regard to sail equipment for the three boats, we supply the specifications necessary to construct the mast in aluminium, but should one intend to compete in a regatta at top level, and prefer a carbon mast it is better to contact a specialist. We wish only to point out that, also in a world championship, many of the boats which compete for the title have aluminium masts and Dacron sails. .

Characteristics

Length: 5,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction
Micro Class
Building skills: medium-expert

Description

SAM is a boat designed to win the SAM has been realized in the second year of our participation in the events of the class, what has allowed us, taking advantage of the experience gained, to design a boat able to fightwith the bests in the class. With light winds was very fast and also with medium to heavy winds remains fully competitive. The building system is sophisticated: the minimum weight limit imposed by the rules makes the use of high-tech materials such as carbon and Kevlar in fiberglass sandwich, possibly laminated under vacuum. This system is not very suitable to DIY. Alternatively you can build it in strip planking, slightly heavier but more suitable for amateur construction.
The SAM is not suitable as a cruise boat, even if a “Spartan” sports crew might use it occasionally also for this scope – as long as it is clear that its main purpose is that of a nautical camping boat, rather than a real cruiser.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

The PALOMA, in its various versions, derives from a fruitful collaboration with our clients and, perhaps, also for this reason, it seems to have met the favour of the public. It all started from the request of a client who wanted an inboard motor boat, such as the GOZZO 650 but with a transom and was studied mainly to be used for fishing. Obviously, it is not sufficient just to cut-off a piece of the “gozzo” to obtain the right boat. In practice, all the hull has been re-designed in view of the new shape and, once the hull was changed, a few modifications were also added to the deckhouse. While we were designing it, a client who had come to see us, saw it and thought the hull would be ideal for the sort of boat he had in mind: an open sailing boat for family outings. We therefore took away the deckhouse and added a centreboard. It was then quite easy to realize that the boat, also for its dimensions, proved to be an attractive, traditional sail cabin cruiser with sufficient habitability. A third version has been developed and already a fourth model has been requested by a client, with Marconi equipment: we shall also prepare this one. All versions have the same hull, a very traditional hull, not suitable for boats which are expected to plane easily, but able to glide smoothly at medium speeds. A suitable motor for this boat is the inboard one (maximum 10 HP) if one wishes to use it with a motor, an outboard one if it is to be considered as a sailing boat. The interior of the deckhouse version is typical of a type of boat of this dimension: space is limited and used only for sleeping at night. Life on this boat takes place above all outside and for this reason, we have chosen a spacious cockpit and a deckhouse that was not too large (even for aesthetic reasons). The construction is in strip planking: not very difficult even if more time is needed if we compare it to a plywood construction.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

In the GOZZO 650, an attempt has been made to combine its classical lines with ease of operation, together with comfort – which the pleasure boater normally seeks in a boat, even if with modest dimensions. This has meant a few compromises: a small deckhouse to allow a minimum space below deck, a compatible trailing, maximum beam and weight, a powerful enough motor to allow quick transfers, a lateral plane of the hull to allow the sail to play not only a purely decorative or symbolic function. The ideal for which we have designed this boat is for day cruising, with frequent and long stops along the coast or in small coves. Internal comfort has been studied to suit two people, but daily trips may be done with larger crews. Hull construction is made in strip planking; the deck has a considerable camber, it is built in plywood and covered with teak strips. This is done not so much for embellishment (which would be improper and not in the spirit of this boat, and for this reason the strips are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the boat, which facilitates laying) but because, nowadays, teak represents the most pleasant deck material which to walk on.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction
Minitransat Class
Building skills: medium-expert

Description

The Mini Transat Class was born from a somewhat crazy idea of organizing a solitary Transatlantic regatta on board a small boat of 6,50 m in length, with rating standards that gave designers great freedom of choice, with few imposing limitations (besides its length) and allowing free sail plan. As with many crazy ideas, even this one has had enormous consent and this class has gained considerable success; in the last period it has become popular also in Italy. With time, class evolution has led to the development of boats which are more and more extreme, highly technological, open to design experimentation, reserved for very expert crews who love risk. The boats, however, have turned out to be quite safe, managing nearly every time to reach the other side of the Atlantic even when they were subject to severe weather conditions. This aspect, together with brilliant performance, makes this type of boat very interesting also for those who do not have a particular interest for risky challenges or for high level competition, but who rather prefer an enjoyable boat to use – which is fast and quite cheap. It is this public we are addressing for our two Mini Transat, the MINUETTO 650 SPRINT and the MINUETTO 650 CROCIERA. The most evident difference between the two is the beam (3 m – the maximum admitted according to regulations for the fastest version, and 2,50 m - so as to allow transport with a trailer - for the more composed version) and sail surface of 38 sq.m. for the regatta version and 32,8 sq.m. for the cruise version. Also the MINUETTO SPRINT, even if it is able to reach exceptional performance and exciting glides, has not been conceived to compete with the very top of the class, which adopt much more sophisticated technical solutions, but at least to do well and give a good impression. Even the cruise version may take part in a competition class, fully complying with rating standards, but stands a few chances only under favourable weather conditions, with average-low winds and when beating up to windward. We would like to point out that the rating rules are very detailed and rigid as far as safety equipment is concerned and those who intend to take part in a regatta, obviously, have to conform to these standards. In a certain sense, our Mini boats take up the initial spirit of the class without indulging in extreme solutions – which have affected the Mini Transits of the last generation. The keel, in both versions, may be lifted by means of a tackle manoeuvred from the cockpit. The lead keel bulb, which lies in a very low position, together with a water mobile ballast, allows the use of a considerable sail surface. The interiors are spartan but quite spacious and suitable for 4 people. The construction method adopted is the “stitch and glue” type with many fibreglass (or carbon) reinforcements in stressed areas: everything has been devised in order to be as fast and simple as possible and the system is suitable for amateurs with little experience, particularly if a final very high finishing level is not the main objective.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction
Minitransat Class
Building skills: medium-expert

Description

The Mini Transat Class was born from a somewhat crazy idea of organizing a solitary Transatlantic regatta on board a small boat of 6,50 m in length, with rating standards that gave designers great freedom of choice, with few imposing limitations (besides its length) and allowing free sail plan. As with many crazy ideas, even this one has had enormous consent and this class has gained considerable success; in the last period it has become popular also in Italy. With time, class evolution has led to the development of boats which are more and more extreme, highly technological, open to design experimentation, reserved for very expert crews who love risk. The boats, however, have turned out to be quite safe, managing nearly every time to reach the other side of the Atlantic even when they were subject to severe weather conditions. This aspect, together with brilliant performance, makes this type of boat very interesting also for those who do not have a particular interest for risky challenges or for high level competition, but who rather prefer an enjoyable boat to use – which is fast and quite cheap. It is this public we are addressing for our two Mini Transat, the MINUETTO 650 SPRINT and the MINUETTO 650 CROCIERA. The most evident difference between the two is the beam (3 m – the maximum admitted according to regulations for the fastest version, and 2,50 m - so as to allow transport with a trailer - for the more composed version) and sail surface of 38 sq.m. for the regatta version and 32,8 sq.m. for the cruise version. Also the MINUETTO SPRINT, even if it is able to reach exceptional performance and exciting glides, has not been conceived to compete with the very top of the class, which adopt much more sophisticated technical solutions, but at least to do well and give a good impression. Even the cruise version may take part in a competition class, fully complying with rating standards, but stands a few chances only under favourable weather conditions, with average-low winds and when beating up to windward. We would like to point out that the rating rules are very detailed and rigid as far as safety equipment is concerned and those who intend to take part in a regatta, obviously, have to conform to these standards. In a certain sense, our Mini boats take up the initial spirit of the class without indulging in extreme solutions – which have affected the Mini Transits of the last generation. The keel, in both versions, may be lifted by means of a tackle manoeuvred from the cockpit. The lead keel bulb, which lies in a very low position, together with a water mobile ballast, allows the use of a considerable sail surface. The interiors are spartan but quite spacious and suitable for 4 people. The construction method adopted is the “stitch and glue” type with many fibreglass (or carbon) reinforcements in stressed areas: everything has been devised in order to be as fast and simple as possible and the system is suitable for amateurs with little experience, particularly if a final very high finishing level is not the main objective.

Characteristics

Length: 7,12 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction
Building skills: expert

Description

The design of Aletheia, in the Greek language means “truth, come from desire of a our customer that wanted a boat with good marine attitudes and safe to sail alone. The general design was inspired to classical Norwegian sailing boat with round hull and typical deck plan form. The space below the cabin has been optimized to use each centimetres of the hull. The interior layout includes: cooking stoves, sink and icebox, one bathroom, a chart table and one double seats convertible into one comfortable berth. The sail plan of the boat is a Marconi rig with self-tacking jib and a Genoa on a bowsprit.
The hull is built by Strip planking construction method strengthen with epoxy resin and fiberglass sheathing to have light and strong structure. For auxiliary propulsion can be installed an inboard engine 13Hp with shaft line or an outboard engine onto custom engine mount.

Characteristics

Length: 7,31 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction
Produced by Ninfa Yachts
Building skills: medium-expert

Description

If we have to base ourselves on market demand before 2008, the two daysailers that we propose are very small. At that time, generally characterized by a continuous increase in boat size, it seemed as though a daysailer could not be less than 12 m, (even better if it exceeded 15 m). That is not to mention many maxiyachts which, although they cannot be defined as daysailers, were routinely used by their owners as such, for daring voyages of few miles, between Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo or between Portofino and Santa Margherita. Today, after the financial crisis, it seems that the trend is moving towards more compact daysailers. Our opinion has always been that small boats offer great advantages. It's true that today it is said that thanks to the various gadgets (bow thruster, electric winch, etc.) even large boats can be handled effortlessly. However, it seems to us that this triggers a downward spiral for which the more gadgets you add increase the size the boat, which, being large, takes other devices, and so on and so forth. Instead, we have focused on small size and simplicity, which also means lower costs. However, this does imply a cheap boat. The quality of construction, the choice of technologically advanced and high quality materials, and the excellent level of detail imply a final cost relatively high. However, we prefer that the price is justified by the intrinsic quality of the boat rather than by the presence of frivolous accessories.
The other aspects on which we focused our efforts were the study of efficient hulls, appendages, and sail plans. The daysailers must be fun, vibrant, and responsive boats to use, even if they aren't made for competition. Therefore we designed a sail plan with generous sail areas and with the possibility to fit an asymmetric on a retractable bowsprit, an efficient keel, (though with a moderate aspect ratio in order to maintain a reasonable draft) and high efficiency rudders.
The interior is basic, with simple berths for 2 or 4 people (respectively for the 24' and 30'). These boats are, of course, meant to stay mostly outside, so we left more space in the cockpits, which are able to very comfortably accommodate 4 people (on Dafne 24') and up to a maximum of 6 (on Dafne 30'). Given the size, a small crew or a single can handle the daysailers effortlessly.
Those who want to sail in a group and take aboard more than 6 people must actually look for a larger day-boat.

Characteristics

Length: 7,43 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: expert

Description

In my book on traditional Italian boats, I had published a drawing which had been kindly given to me by Sergio Spina, a keen, skilled expert on traditional marine construction, who lives on Elba island. He has designed boats, partly based on the lines of the few traditional boats which have survived today and, partly, interpreting their lines with a certain amount of freedom. Among his well-made designs, I had been emotionally touched by a lovely small 4,80 m lateen sail boat , generally defined as a “typical Italian boat”. Designing the MANDOLINO, I had been inspired, though with many variations, both in shapes and sail plan, by this small cabin boat with a markedly traditional look. Initially, I had conceived the boat more for daily use (a cabin cruiser), dedicating more attention to the aesthetic part rather than to exploiting internal space, but I then realized that the shape of the hull – deep but not excessively narrow – offered the possibility to transform it (with few modifications) into a small coastline cabin-cruiser, fitted with exceptional comfort for a boat of this size. For this reason, I have developed a variant (MANDOLINO CROCIERA) with a higher freeboard and with a slightly bigger deckhouse. The constructor may thus choose between a more elegant, classical version (with reduced internal comfort) or a more comfortable version, with an internal standing height of 1,60 m. In both, there is abundant space for lockers, peaks, tanks as well as a small toilette. Both boats are endowed with good marine features. The shape of the lateral plane and large wetted area, together with the choice of a long keel, do not favour it when sailing upwind (with average-weak winds) but, under different conditions, the boat will undoubtedly, sail fast and smoothly over the waves and prove to be pleasant to sail. Its performance will, undoubtedly improve if one opts for a centreboard solution. The inconvenient aspects tied to this solution and the greater complications in construction are counterbalanced by considerable improvement when under sail. As for construction, we have foreseen two different methods, which differ from each other for difficulty of construction and for aesthetic results. Both systems are carried out in strip planking but, while the first is – with some variants - substantially classical strip planking, which foresees an internal wooden structure (very much simplified compared to a classical construction, but still quite long to realize), the latter represents the so called “composite strip planking”, wholly comparable to a modern sandwich construction, in which the internal structure is reduced to the minimum (practically, made up only of bulkheads). The first system is suitable for expert constructors and requires more time. However, it is compensated by the interior lay out of a classical boat, with a visible wooden structure. The second system, on the basis of a large use of plastic reinforced by fibreglass, does not allow the hull to be left at sight and must be painted. From the structural point of view, the two systems are alike; the second will provide a boat which is slightly lighter. Both systems are explained in the instructions – standard and simplified construction.

Characteristics

Length: 7,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction

Building skills: expert

Description

A 7,50 m length is, for a small cabin cruiser, a dimension which offers a great advantage and a few inconveniences. The advantage is that it represents the limit-dimension within which it is possible to build a trailable cabin cruiser, without straining its characteristics too much. Beyond this length it is difficult to design a boat whose beam and weight fall within the limits of trailability. On the other hand the inconvenient aspect is that the boat lacks internal space for comfort to be a real cruise boat, that is, standing height in the saloon, a suitable separate head and kitchen. It would be necessary only to have an extra meter and all these could be easily fitted in. The result is that many boats of this size are hybrids which try to combine all the characteristics among them which is incompatible, thus leading to poor results. In the DIAPASON we did not wish to strain things: it is a modern, sports boat with racy lines, very suitable for fast cruising. Internal living space is not that of a larger boat, but is ideal for a 7,50 m boat. There are four berths, a small essential kitchen and a WC. The two stern berths may also be used as seats around a folding table.
We have foreseen the possibility of an inboard motor, even if, with this type of dimension, an outboard motor offers some advantages. The boat, anyway, has been studied for sailing: even if the sail area is not excessive, it should reach good performance thanks to its rather narrow streamline hull. In order to limit the size of its internal centreboard trunk, we have foreseen a pivoting centreboard out of the hull. This prevents the boat from actually beaching but with a draft of about 65 cm and with the rudder up, it has easy access nearly everywhere. The construction is quite simple as it is made with the stitch and glue method, not only for the hull, but also the deckhouse; of this too, we supply the surface development plan.

Characteristics

Length: 8,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: expert

Description

The little brother of the ALBATROS series, still maintaining the general lines and setting of the other two models, is completely different for typology, characteristics and navigation program. It is, as the others, a sea boat that is able to safely face sudden weather changes, but its size makes it inevitably less suited for long or committing trips. The kitchen and the heads are inevitably smaller and the interior lay out is classical, with a V double berth at the bow, a saloon , with a lowerable table which affords a second double couchette and a single one, under the cockpit seats. Maximum habitability is for 5 people and, even if there are boats on the market that offer greater possibilities than this, we believe it is better to utilize the space for lockers and closets, rather than overloading the boat with people. To be exact, four is the right number of people to stay on an 8 m boat, with reasonable comfort. From the performance point of view, the boat has a generous sailing area and the lateral plane, though maintaining draft under 1,40 m, is sufficient.
Although it does not have any racing ambitions, the ALBATROS 26’ is also agile and capable of taking advantage even of light breezes. Construction is suitable for skilled amateurs, but in view of the lower dimensions, the time and effort required are about half than would be expected for an 11 m ALBATROS.

Characteristics

Length: 8,70 m
Design: Alessandro Comuzzi
Round hull, Plywood construction

Building skills: medium

Description

The design of D870 was born for creating a simple and functional boat as in use and management, as in the construction.
It's been experienced, for the first time, the union of two construction methods: plywood and strip planking.
The boat has been tested with different weather conditions to validate the strenghts and the architecture. The results were positive for a boat of this category both in extreme conditions tests and in classical daysailing.
The hull is 870 cm long and 225 cm wide with a bayonet keel that allows a maximum draft of 195 cm and can be raised for the transportation.
The boat can be transported on a cart pulled by an average car.
The weight of the boat is between 500 kg and 600 kg and can be carried a crew of 5 people (300-400 kg)
The deck layout has a set of easy to use maneuvers, even in limited crew and the flush deck configuration of the entire forward part allows you to have a large sundeck area.
The most of the vessel design is taken by the large cockpit that represents more than 50% of the length.
The cockpit is equipped with benches that allow you to comfortably accommodate 6 people, leaving them off the running rigging.
The two spreaders are swept to 30° in order to eliminate the backstay and to provide a fractional rig at 7/8 with a roached sail plan and reduced overlap.

Characteristics

Length: 9,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction
Produced by Ninfa Yachts
Building skills: medium-expert

Description

If we have to base ourselves on market demand before 2008, the two daysailers that we propose are very small. At that time, generally characterized by a continuous increase in boat size, it seemed as though a daysailer could not be less than 12 m, (even better if it exceeded 15 m). That is not to mention many maxiyachts which, although they cannot be defined as daysailers, were routinely used by their owners as such, for daring voyages of few miles, between Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo or between Portofino and Santa Margherita. Today, after the financial crisis, it seems that the trend is moving towards more compact daysailers. Our opinion has always been that small boats offer great advantages. It's true that today it is said that thanks to the various gadgets (bow thruster, electric winch, etc.) even large boats can be handled effortlessly. However, it seems to us that this triggers a downward spiral for which the more gadgets you add increase the size the boat, which, being large, takes other devices, and so on and so forth. Instead, we have focused on small size and simplicity, which also means lower costs. However, this does imply a cheap boat. The quality of construction, the choice of technologically advanced and high quality materials, and the excellent level of detail imply a final cost relatively high. However, we prefer that the price is justified by the intrinsic quality of the boat rather than by the presence of frivolous accessories.
The other aspects on which we focused our efforts were the study of efficient hulls, appendages, and sail plans. The daysailers must be fun, vibrant, and responsive boats to use, even if they aren't made for competition. Therefore we designed a sail plan with generous sail areas and with the possibility to fit an asymmetric on a retractable bowsprit, an efficient keel, (though with a moderate aspect ratio in order to maintain a reasonable draft) and high efficiency rudders.
The interior is basic, with simple berths for 2 or 4 people (respectively for the 24' and 30'). These boats are, of course, meant to stay mostly outside, so we left more space in the cockpits, which are able to very comfortably accommodate 4 people (on Dafne 24') and up to a maximum of 6 (on Dafne 30'). Given the size, a small crew or a single can handle the daysailers effortlessly.

Characteristics

Length: 9,80 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: expert

Description

ALBATROS 32’ springs from the same inspiring principles of ALBATROS 36’, but to maintain its overall length within the limits for which no registration is required, everything is lower in scale, from the navigation plan to internal habitability and difficulties of construction. Even in this case, we have a very marked classical style, highlighted by a traditional deckhouse, by a heart-shaped transom and by a good amount of deck sheer, combined with modern characteristics which liven performance. It is a boat that has been studied for Mediterranean cruising, with frequent stops at ports, but also suitable to cover long passages of open sea and bravely face sudden weather changes. It affords sumptuous comfort for a couple, but even four people may stay comfortably with abundant space available. Its sail plan is the same as for its bigger sister: a fractional sloop rig – a solution which has, not by chance, become the most widespread nowadays – even on cruise boats, almost supplanting mast head rigs. There is the possibility of adding a gennaker or a code 0, for downwind sailing, hooking it onto a mobile bowsprit. This system, which was conceived for regattas, offers enormous advantages also to a cruise boat, allowing it to take advantage of the smallest breeze and by limiting the use of the motor. The construction method is with strip planking and, in view of the dimensions, even an amateur may take up the task without excessive effort and time – avoiding that his dream from becoming a nightmare.

Characteristics

Length: 9,94 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction

Building skills: expert

Description

Sailing boats between 10 and 12 m with flat bottoms, 2 or 3 chines and a centreboard, are particularly popular in France, (we may like to remember the OVNIS, made in light alloy), where they are appreciated by those who love long and demanding navigations. In Italy they have not gained the same popularity due to aesthetic rather than functional reasons; in fact, not even the Anglo-Saxon market is particularly keen on these boats, perhaps because traditionally, according to an English conception, the “blue water yacht” has opposite characteristics (for some aspects) to this type of boat: it is narrow, heavy with very low centre of gravity, deep hull and reduced stern volumes. In fact, each of these characteristics has its own justification and personally, I would not readily define the SPHERA as a real blue water boat. Should I have to face a storm around Cape Horn, I would prefer to do so on an English type of boat of similar dimension than on the SPHERA. However, under typical normal conditions - that an average yachtsman has to face - it is perfectly safe and able to meet quite easily, even cruises with a certain amount of difficulty, with the advantage (compared to the traditional heavy displacement English boats) to allow greater performance with less sail - which at times, allows you to escape from bad weather, instead of having to face it. The SPHERA has an average-low displacement (182 of displacement/length ratio) and quite a generous sail surface, even if not excessive (the sail area/displacement ratio is 18.8, rather high for a cruise boat), a feature which guarantees good speed performance. The high beam, (the length/ beam ratio is 2,78 on deck and 3,15 at waterline), affords good initial stability and allows full use of the sail plan, even with quite strong winds. These characteristics, however, besides the hull shapes, make it more suitable for reaching downwind, rather than beating upwind, which for cruising does not represent a great hindrance. Draught is greatly reduced thanks to the low aspect ratio with centreboard and to the double rudder, a classical solution which has been well experimented for boats of this type. Among the advantages there is also improved direction stability, which is an appreciated feature during long passages. The fixed keel in which the centreboard casing is housed, avoids taking up valuable internal space and allows the lead ballast to be placed in the lowest possible position. The centreboard may be made of cast iron (heavier) or in steel and wood (more simple to build for an amateur constructor). With the SPHERA, we have aimed at maximum simplicity from the construction point of view and construction is without particular difficulty: all the surfaces of the hull, deckhouse and cockpit are made and built in plywood. The internal flat bottom offers the advantage of exploiting all the available internal height (between 180 and 190 cm) and a rational distribution of spaces. The lay-out is typical of modern boats of this dimension, but it is also possible to choose other lay-outs. Construction is quite easy in relation to the dimension even if, increasing the size of the boat, the advantages of marine plywood construction tend to diminish in comparison with cold moulded or strip planking construction.

Characteristics

Length: 11,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Round hull, strip planking construction
Produced by Ninfa Yachts
Building skills: expert

Description

The ALBATROS is the boat whose design philosophy and basic characteristics are laid out in our publication “La barca da viaggio/ The blue water yacht” which we advise reading to those who are interested to know more about this type of boat. The title itself summarises the navigation programme: off shore cruises that may also be quite demanding. Moreover, the boat is also expected to be suitable for navigation with a small crew or for single-handed cruising, with a reduced draft in order to enter small ports, and to be sufficiently agile and lively, so as not to require intensive use of the motor. As for its design philosophy, we feel it may be described as “moderate”, i.e. neither too conservative nor totally innovative: we have refrained from extreme solutions, convinced that, also for boats, virtue stands in the middle. Its lines may be defined as classical, but the design of the hull, keel and sail plan is modern, the displacement is medium, but slightly higher than average compared to more recent mass production boats of the same size; the interior has been studied not with an aim to house as many people as possible, but rather to offer maximum comfort and functionality to a smaller crew. Ample space is available for stowing useful objects to take with you during long trips. Construction is in strip planking - which seems the most logical choice for a boat of this size built to unit.
It may also be built by an amateur constructor, but he must realize that the construction of a boat of this size is not exactly a sort of adventure that may be faced light-heartedly.

Characteristics

Length: 5,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction
Floats construction: stressed plywood
Building skills: medium

Description

The recent America's Cup has proven what is the potential of fast acceleration with a trimaran hull "piercing bow," that is designed to penetrate the wave and not to float on the waves. Beyond the result the difference in behavior between Oracle and Alinghi was bright watching the races. The Swiss catamaran advanced pitching and with constant changes of direction the American trimaran seemed to move on tracks while maintaining a trim at a constant angle of heel. Of course this is not enough to explain the overwhelming victory of Oracle and many other factors come out, but there is no doubt that the choice of bow-piercing trimaran has been winning. Three years ago, before hearing about the multihull America's Cup, we had designed and built in a course of boat building a trimaran of 5 m of this type, we also tested with satisfaction. As we considered it a very experimental project, we had shelved the project without developing it in detail. Perhaps the designers of Oracle have seen it somewhere and they get inspired but we can not prove it and however we would never been against Ellison's lawyers, we would have any chance. However, the success of Oracle encourages us to propose the project to our clients. This is of course a very special boat, fast and exciting but very wet and not really easy to use or build.
The central hull is made with the strip planking technique, which fits very well to the long and narrow shape. The side floats are in stressed plywood, a relatively simple technique that achieves a good balance between rigidity and weight. The crossbeams in aluminum pipes are bent and it might be a challenge for an amateur boatbuilder. However it seems the simpler, faster and cheaper system. Alternatively, it could also be in laminated wood but we didn't develop it.

Characteristics

Length: 5,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The TRICKY FIVE has been conceived for a precise scope: to realize a boat, which in relation to its size would maximize the ratio between speed and cost. This means that for a determined cost for materials and hours of construction required, it would be the fastest possible. Due to the lack of a specific index that would allow us to determine if this scope had been achieved, I had to create one myself (the Lod number, which measures the degree of economic efficiency of a boat – see box). The Nlod for TRICKY FIVE is 0.22 and we believe that it is difficult to reach a better result. This has been achieved thanks to hulls that are at the same time easy to build and efficient from the hydrodynamic point of view. The chine hull has a wetted surface slightly higher to that of a round-bilged hull and the length/width ratio is 10.3, which is very high for a trimaran of this size. The boat is not too wide, which makes it easier to manoeuvre and light. The sail area is quite large, but rather than a Marconi rigging, we have chosen a gaff rig (to be more exact, a way between the gaff rig and the gunter). This helps to keep the centre of sails low and, above all, is much more economical to build, as the spars may be built in aluminium or wood. As the main sail does not have roach, this eliminates the need for battens. For those who prefer more conventional solutions, we also afford the version with Marconi rigging, which is more expensive but undoubtedly more performing upwind. The beams are simply aluminium tubes fixed to the amas and to the main hull. Assembling is done by inserting the tube of the amas into those of the main hull. This operation takes only a few minutes. Also for the centreboard, we have chosen the simplest of solutions from the construction and manoeuvre point of view, i.e. fixed low aspect ratio centreboards mounted under the amas. It is not the ideal solution for sailing upwind and obviously, we cannot expect this boat to beat against the wind as an American Cup boat would do, but this limit is compensated by absolute speed. While sailing, the boat reaches its best and it is extremely fast and enjoyable. The construction of the TRICKY FIVE is stitch and glue and is very simple. The finishing of internal edges, the most tiresome and lengthy task of this construction technique, is reduced to the minimum, as the internal edges are hidden in the hulls or under the double bottom of the central hull. Outside, all the edges are covered with a single layer of fibreglass – which makes the hull rigid, solid and resistant to abrasion.

Characteristics

Length: 5,04 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

We illustrate the spiritual and sociological reasons that led us to state in the MOSCHINO the ideal boat for many of us. Now let's see the characteristics of what we present: it is inspired by the traditional rowing boats I remembered from the beautiful Ligurian summers of my childhood, at between the '50s and '60s. Since you were swimming to the rocks (we had this sense of superiority to those who did at the beach) I do not think I've ever step on one of these boats, but sometimes some of the nearby beach were close to our reefs and roamed, languid and curious, in front of them. For my part, even then I was curious of this boat which conveyed a delicious sense of calm and serenity. Without technical documentation on these boats, this is designed from memory, and I am sure it changed some details: for example, the bottom was flat and not V. As the umbrella, I don't really remember if there was, perhaps those scientists didn't yet explained that the sun hurts. The principal difference between the original boat and ours is that the first was essentially static, while mine is medium-dynamic. A reason for this choice is for practical nature: in those days it was enough leaving a few hundred meters from the beach to find a quiet and isolated place. Nowadays, at less than a mile from a beach town is hard to find any refuge from the crowds and noise. Our MOSCHINO must be able to move easily on rowing (for this reason the V bottom and stretch lines of the hulls) but also have to be able to move under sail. From an aerodynamic point of view there is no reason for it that does not work at all and some lift can be generated on beach umbrellas. Efficiency is not the best but anyway we're at sea, on a MOSCHINO where we boarded everything we need, maybe we are also in good company: what's the hurry to get back to earth?

Characteristics

Length: 7,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction
Round hull, strip planking construction
Building skills: expert

Description

For those who design boats for amateur boat builders, the small cruise trimaran represents a complex and stimulating theme. The challenge is to simplify its design and facilitate the construction of a boat which, in itself, is rather complex. It is obvious that, compared to the study of a mono-hull, that of a trimaran is more laborious, due to the fact that there are two more hulls and the beams. Things become even more complicated if these have to be quickly dismounted to facilitate transport and be retractable in order to reduce overall dimensions at mooring. Besides that, nearly all the problems encountered in nautical design work are – for this type of boat – aggravated and of difficult solution. Take, for example, the need to combine high performance with navigation comfort (with less available space compared to a mono-hull boat), lightness and structural solidity, or safety issues connected with heeling or even capsizing; that would be enough to discourage the designer from getting involved with this type of boat in the first place. If, despite this fact, we have decided to tackle the ordeal, it is for two motives: the first is that during navigation, few other boats are able to give the same emotions and satisfaction as the trimaran does. No other cruising mono-hull, with similar characteristics and dimensions, is able to compete at the same speed, with a multi-hull. Compared to a catamaran, the trimaran is more agile, enjoyable to sail, evolutionary and fast with light winds. We, therefore, consider it the ideal boat for fast, enjoyable cruising. Internal space is not much (less than what we might find on a mono-hull or on a catamaran) but, it is compensated by the possibility to utilize open spaces, both in the cockpit as well as on the sheets of netting . As far as safety is concerned, multi hulls have pros and cons if compared with mono hull boats. Without going too deeply into the question, we will simply say that for a non-extreme trimaran, such as the TRILLO, safety margins are high and to be able to capsize it, one has to commit very serious or heedless mistakes. However, in critical conditions, the helmsman will have to understand when it is the right moment to reduce sail , but this is valid for any type of boat. If boats with such positive characteristics are not so widespread, neither among users nor among self-builders, it is because of the complex design which we spoke about, that often lead to high costs and difficulty in construction. With the TRILLO, we believe (and this is the second reason which has pushed us into designing it), it is possible to offer something simpler, more economical and easy to build, compared to what the market has to offer. There are, on the market, excellent trimarans of this size or dimension and, we do not believe that - compared to those - ours is better from an aesthetic point of view, that it offers better performance or, that it is more functional or innovative. What we have, actually, concentrated on is to achieve the simplest and most practical solutions for the constructor. For example, with regard to the, we believe that our solution (with telescopic) looks less elegant compared to others based on sophisticated systems. It is, however, the simplest and most functional for an amateur. The same applies for the type of (simple aluminium tubes), for the keel, the rudder and all other details. Despite this effort to reach maximum simplicity, the boat looks modern, pleasant and reasonably aggressive – as it should be for quite a sportive multi hull. We propose two versions, one with a round bottom and one with a chine hull. The difference in construction time and required skill by the builder is not very much, but there is not even much difference between one and the other as far as performance is concerned: they should be just a little better for the round hull. The flat bottom hull offers a number of advantages to internal habitability. The pros and cons aspects tend, on the whole, to compensate each other and the choice between one or the other should be made on the basis of aesthetic aspects.

Characteristics

Length: 9,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium

Description

TITICAT is a 9-meter sailing catamaran designed with a modern style for the transport of tourists and to build in strip planking. It was designed to sail on Lake Titicaca (Bolivia). As you can see from the drawings and photographs the TITICAT is a catamaran with modern lines and capable of good performance. The sail area may seem a bit too generous for a boat which will bring tourists in small tours but considered the lower air density due to the altitude of the lake Titicaca and the pressure exerted by the wind on the sails is proportionally reduced. However, there is a version of the catamaran designed for coastal cruising.

Characteristics

Length: 9,80 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

We have been totally inspired by the traditional, beautiful and extraordinarily functional Senegalese pirogues for the design of the hulls of the SIRENE DU SALOUM. The building technique is the stitch and glue, it's new to Senegal where the boats are still built with the semi-primitive and extremely cost effective systems but laking from the point of view of resistance, durability and water resistance of the hulls you'll get. Of course adopting modern systems can not solve all the problems and our first direct experience of building in Africa has been illuminating for understanding the potential development of the idea and the limits.
The boat is suitable for use as a charter daysailer and can accommodate up to 8 passengers and two crew.

Characteristics

Length: 3,33 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, stitch and glue construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The SILVER 333 is a very small classical runabout for one or two people which may easily be transported on top of a mid-size car roof. Maximum suggested power of the motor is 15/20 HP, which is sufficient for planing. The bow of the boat acts as a tank and crash-box, while in the cockpit a double bottom is foreseen, to make the boat unsinkable and the cockpit self bailing. The construction method is a variant of the stitch and glue type and may be built by amateur builders with little experience. Fibreglass coating is foreseen only for the bottom so as to avoid affecting the upper works, which may be varnished.

Characteristics

Length: 4,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium

Description

It would be easy to define the SILVER 45 and SILVER 55 as “Riva of the poor people” as we had ironically called them when they were presented in the pages of our newsletter. Obviously there is no intent of comparison with the famous runabouts (real Rolls-Royces of the sea) which we cannot strive to achieve or equal in luxury, or elegance of lines, nor finishing. Compared to the Riva motorboats, we also believe that the SILVER ones even share that rather bumptious tone which inevitably goes along with perfection. Certainly they do not share the costs and, the scope of our plans is to offer the amateur boat builder the possibility to realize a practical and efficient runabout that may, with a little extra time and work – together with a certain amount of care for finishing – have its own particular elegance. The research for elegance is quite evident, for example, from the reverse transom: in imitation of the Riva types, we could also have made it slightly convex but we didn’t think it was proper to impose on the constructor this type of difficulty. The shapes of the SILVER boats are very classical and, although they have lines that are quite racy, to give them quite a modern look, there is nothing particularly new in that: in the 60s and 70s the runabout boats were already built in wood with similar shapes and it is only with the introduction of fibreglass that these typical shapes have changed.
..continue on Silver55:

Characteristics

Length: 4,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

The SCHIZZO was born out of an evolution of the Aladino, our old flat bottom motor boat and it shares to a large extent its design philosophy. The most substantial difference is that, instead of a flat bottom, the SCHIZZO has a V shape bottom. On the inside, it has a double bottom placed over the waterline which serves as a sole, to make the boat self- bailing and unsinkable. The space between the bottom and the double bottom is watertight and may be filled with PVC foam which, besides making it more rigid, ensures unsinkability even if there should be a hole in the hull. In view of major construction complexities compared to the Aladino (the flat bottom, as we know, is the simplest from the construction point of view), the SCHIZZO offers more advantages. Besides the ones that have been mentioned, we have to underline the better performance at sea. Compared to a flat bottom hull, a V one is smoother and more stable on the wave when planing. Considering the limited power applied, the deadris is moderate so as to facilitate the planing. As for the other aspects involved, it is pretty much like the Aladino: the boat is simple, essential, but with an elegant line. The motor power should be between 15 and 20 HP, which allows it to plane easily with 2/3 people on board. The weight is around 85 kg, therefore within the limits which allow it to be carried on top of a large-size car.

Characteristics

Length: 5,00 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, plywood clinker construction

Building skills: amateur

Description

We included in our catalog this boat for a request of one of our customers who identified in this model the traditional American boat, whose designs were published in Wooden Boat magazine, with the strange name "Dispro", which meant the "Disappearing propeller boat". It's an open motor boat 16' lenght inspired from the elegant traditional lines of the classic clinker construction with an inboard engine and the transmission line that can rotate and disappear inside the hull. It's the ideal boat for excursions on a quiet lake at moderate speed. Of this boat we kept the basic philosophy, hull lines (hardly improvable, since it's a traditional boat) and we changed the building method (a modern clinker, with a semplified internal structure), the interior layout and the motorization system. It's inboard and disapparing as the original, but it's and electric propulsion with a different lift system that seems more simple to manufacture and uses with components readily available on the market.

Characteristics

Length: 5,55 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

..from Silver45:
The classical hull shape of the old wooden runabouts of the 70’s go perfectly well with the use of marine plywood and this allows the SILVER to be constructed with a similar method to the stitch and glue one. The SILVER boats are not “instant boats” and construction takes quite a long time, but does not represent insurmountable difficulties, not even for the inexperienced boat builder. The bottom panel has a rather elevated curvature and, to obtain it, we have opted for quite thin plywood, which must be coated with fibreglass. The sides, instead, are not coated, so as to finish them transparent stain. The SILVER 45 is the minimum dimension for a motorboat of this type, while the SILVER 55 offers more space and the possibility to have the driver’s seat astern, a large enough cockpit which may be transformed into a sundeck. The power should be 25/40 HP for the SLIVER 45 and 40 HP for the SILVER 55, which lies within the limits foreseen for driving without a driving licence, but which allows one also to glide with full load. The boat is unsinkable as the bow is watertight (with crash-box function) and it is fitted with a double bottom.

Characteristics

Length: 5,70 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium

Description

Rustica 570 is a cabin motor boat ideal for coastal cruising and camping. It's particularly suitable for river tourism in protected waters. The shallow V hull, semi-displacement, is designed for an outboard motor hosted inside the cockpit with a power range between 10 HP and 15 HP. The large cockpit and a double berth below deck make Rustica very comfortable for short trips. In addition there are large quantity of lockers in the cockpit and below the double bottom where you can store all the necessary.
At the bow there is the watertight box and the anchor locker, and the doublebottom in the cockpit ensures the unsinkable and the flow of the water.
The construction system, in "stitch and glue".

Characteristics

Length: 5,70 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium

Description

The design of Sportfish 570 comes from a collaboration with a Senegalese society, with the aim of creating fishing vessels for inland waters of modern conception.
It's a fast planning boat and stable. Its V bottom with a deadrise angle not very accentuated favors planning attitude even with low engine powers.
It's adapt for sport fishing and is also comfortable for short trips with friends or family.

Characteristics

Length: 5,70 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium

Description

The Vila are female fairy figures in Slav mythology, similar to Greek nymphs. They control storms and live on fields, in ponds, in the ocean, on trees and clouds. They may take on different forms and appear as a swan, horse, wolf, as well as being very beautiful women. The pilot boat which we are proposing developed from a project tied to the Slav, Balkan world: of navigating, starting from Belgrade, the two rivers that meet in the Serb capital, the Danube, the Sava and their affluents.
...continue on Vila 620

Characteristics

Length: 6,20 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

from Vila 570... This means thousands of kilometres of internal waters, not very exploited by leisure boating, but which offer numerous possibilities for touring and discovery. Obviously, the boat is also suitable for completely different types of navigation, for internal waters and the sea: it has, however, been conceived for long navigations which are rather fast, but peaceful, along the coast in protected waters. It is very suited to fishing, with some variants in deck layout or in the cockpit, which the constructor may carry out according to the fishing technique. The hull has an accentuated V shape at the bow, so as to allow it to pass smoothly over the wave, as it opens towards the stern, to favour planing, even at moderate speed. With 40 HP, the boat planes easily under normal load conditions (2 people).
...continue on Vila 650

Characteristics

Length: 6,42 m
Design: Enrico Macera and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, plywood and strip planking construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

In designing Capriccio we have been inspired by the aesthetics of the classic sport runabouts of the Thirties, which had the pilot seat in the extreme aft-wards of the boat and a powerful engine under a long deck in front of them. We kept the hull lines very similar to the classic ones and the boat, with a less powerful engine but substantially lighter than the old ones, has very similar and quite brilliant performances. The reduction in size of the engine compartment allows to obtain a large cockpit in front of the pilot location where 4 people may seat comfortably. A sun deck has been arranged in the forward zone of the boat creating a space which is not generally used in these kind of boats. It’s length can be increased to 2m by lifting the back of the cockpit seat. The construction system chosen is a mix of plywood and strip-planking techniques, it is studied in order to be affordable by amateur boat-builders with a good experience. The boat has to be realized with good finishing and a certain taste for elegance but it is rather simple and the cost is reasonable.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, plywood construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

from Vila 620... The bow of the boat acts as a watertight and crash-box while in all the cockpit, a double bottom guarantees self-bailing and unsinkability. The interior layout foresees a 1,80 m high pilot-house which contains the protected steering gear and a small kitchen, and a double berth. To make the boat unsinkable, reserves of PVC foam guarantee floating even in case of collision. The construction method, a variant of the “stitch and glue” system, is also suitable for boat builders with little experience. The weight and dimension allow it to be transported easily.

Characteristics

Length: 6,50 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Round hull, strip planking construction

Building skills: medium-expert

Description

The PALOMA, in its various versions, derives from a fruitful collaboration with our clients and, perhaps, also for this reason, it seems to have met the favour of the public. It all started from the request of a client who wanted an inboard motor boat, such as the GOZZO 540 but with a transom and was studied mainly to be used for fishing. Obviously, it is not sufficient just to cut-off a piece of the “gozzo” to obtain the right boat. In practice, all the hull has been re-designed in view of the new shape and, once the hull was changed, a few modifications were also added to the deckhouse. While we were designing it, a client who had come to see us, saw it and thought the hull would be ideal for the sort of boat he had in mind: an open sailing boat for family outings. We therefore took away the deckhouse and added a centreboard. It was then quite easy to realize that the boat, also for its dimensions, proved to be an attractive, traditional sail cabin cruiser with sufficient habitability. A third version has been developed and already a fourth model has been requested by a client, with Marconi equipment: we shall also prepare this one. All versions have the same hull, a very traditional hull, not suitable for boats which are expected to plane easily, but able to glide smoothly at medium speeds. A suitable motor for this boat is the inboard one (maximum 10 HP) if one wishes to use it with a motor, an outboard one if it is to be considered as a sailing boat. The interior of the deckhouse version is typical of a type of boat of this dimension: space is limited and used only for sleeping at night. Life on this boat takes place above all outside and for this reason, we have chosen a spacious cockpit and a deckhouse that was not too large (even for aesthetic reasons). The construction is in strip planking: not very difficult even if more time is needed if we compare it to a plywood construction.

Characteristics

Length: 7,30 m
Design: Paolo Lodigiani and Matteo Costa
Chine hull, Plywood construction
Produced by: Il Cantiere del legno
Building skills: expert

Description

The design of the Fisherman 23' came from the request of a customer to build a sport fishing boat, fast, trailerable and also comfortable for family trips.
It's a boat of modern design that is inspired by the American fisherman, with forms less pronounced.
It's powered with a 225 HP outboard and can install up to two engines of 150HP. With the single 225HP engine can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots.
The planing hull, characterized by a variable deadrise angle between 20 degrees aft and 26° at midhsip, allows a navigation stable even at high speed.
It's been designed with a large cockpit full of lockers, suitable for sport fishing, with folding benches, a sink and a fridge. The sun deck and the comfortable double berth below deck make the boat comfortable for family and friends cruises.