2001: Angelo Carnevali’s gamble.

Welcome to the special section “BAM 35 Years.” We are presenting “cult” articles from the Motor Boats archive, starting in 1990. A journey through time among stories unobtainable today, even in the great sea of the internet! A dive into the world of epic moments in motor boating. We begin with one of the stories we were most passionate about.

A difficult bet

From Boats to Motor 2001, No. 8, September, pp. 32-35.

The challenge of Angelo Carnevali who, in the aftermath of the dissolution of the partnership with Dellapasqua, wanted to open his own site, starting almost from scratch.

There are times when a man is faced with his destiny. It is the time of life-changing decisions. Angelo Carnevali, son of Ambrogio, the founder, together with Carlo Dellapasqua, of the historic shipyard in Marina di Ravenna, experienced one of these moments in 1990. An unforgettable date, because after 30 years of honored and profitable activity, the two partners broke a partnership that seemed like it could be eternal. Needless to want to understand why. When these great unions break up, the causes are many and complex. All that remains is that in the aftermath of the divorce, by an agreement reached between the parties, the Dellapasquas continued their business with the old brand, the usual boats and the usual clientele, in the sign of absolute continuity. Instead, the Carnevals were faced with a future all to be decided. A problem, in fact, that concerned only Angelo, an only child, because Dad Ambrose had already made up his mind: the time had come for him to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of good work. Angelo, on the other hand, was faced with a difficult choice.

Angelo Carnevali – “When my father and Dellapasqua separated, they decided to divide the factories, while the know-how and the shipyard brand remained with Dellapasqua. It was basically like having closed down. I, however, had in my head the fixed idea of resuming that activity. On my own, in a small way, at least in the beginning, but with great ambitions.” He says this quietly, but with a grit that hints at the determination that drove him through those difficult times. The narrative continues, “I started again from nothing or almost nothing. From an empty shed. The only certainty, let’s say, was the name known by suppliers and customers, but everything else was to be invented: production, marketing, market choices. I knew I could not delude myself that it was enough to present myself as Ambrogio Carnevali’s son to get orders. People want to see the facts, and from this point of view I had nothing to offer.”

Powerboats – Prior to 1990 did you have any experience working in the old shipyard?
BC – I started working in construction right after I did my military service. I began to be involved in production, following the outfitting sector.

BaM – So when you made the big decision, you already had” an idea of what there was to do?
BC – I already had everything planned in my head. But there were a lot of practical problems. From the shed that was slow to aliberate to choosing a designer and a line to launch on the market. It was a stunted start.

BaM – Moreover, in 1990 the market was not pulling like it is today….
BC – In fact, we were in the midst of a crisis. Between 90 and 94 many construction sites failed. It was a difficult time for the economy in general. From a personal point of view, what weighed most was the division from a brand that was now well-known and prestigious and basically from the clientele that knew and appreciated it.

BaM – How did you come up with that?
BC – The first problem to be solved was that of production. It was obvious that I had to put a line in the works that was distinct from the old one, from the one that was now known as Dellapasqua. I had to have my own visibility. So as a first step I had to find a designer with new ideas. So I chose the Ceccarelli studio, designers who were already established in the sailing industry, even though motor boating was a bit new to them.

BaM – Why, then, precisely Ceccarelli?
BC – I was already friends with Giovanni, Epaminonda’s son, who is my age and lives in Ravenna like me. We also have mutual friends and so we hung out quite often. When the division took place, he told me that if I wanted to reopen the shipyard he could make me designs for a new line of boats. I was already in contact with some designers, but I liked that proposal and took it seriously: “I’ll visit you in the studio and we’ll talk about it.” In fact, it seemed to me that Ceccarelli was just the person for me. First because he had the studio next to my construction site with obvious advantages of time and intervention. Then because he was young with young ideas and that was what I was looking for. That the collaboration turned out to be a good one is evidenced by the fact that it lasts to this day.

BaM – What was the market choice?
A.C. – The second problem to be solved, to continue the point made earlier, was precisely that of making a new line, that is, one that would not compete, either in quality or design with Dellapasqua’s product. So we made a choice that differed considerably from the past, elevating the target, that is, making a high-end product, whereas before we made a medium-low one as a customer base.

BaM – A higher target audience to capture a different type of clientele. What did this choice result in?
BC – In comfort, in finish, in everything about the interior. As for the design, you could like it or not like it. However, we chose with Ceccarelli to do a very modern line. So in 1992 we put into production a rounded boat, when they were still using only edged boats. Our boat was also criticized at first because it was too round. We, however, went ahead with this line, which was an absolute novelty in nautical design In motoring, on the other hand, it was already becoming established as a general line, and we were inspired by this trend, until everyone came after us a little bit. This, too, if you will, was a winning bet. I remember when we made the molds of the 36th, my first boat, and we saw the models so round, we wondered with some apprehension, “I wonder if they will like it?” They did like it.

BaM – Did you present it at the Genoa Boat Show?
BC – Yes, and it has been quite successful (about 30 of this boat have been made to date, ed.), so much so that we have continued along this line by making new models.

BaM – How many boats did you do the first year?
BC – Two. Not many, you might think. But for me, who had started with two employees, it was already a satisfaction. Once we restarted the business, however, some of the workers from the old shipyard followed us; especially the older ones, who were the ones most attached to my father, because my father had worked for thirty years on production and had established a relationship of esteem and affection with the workers. We currently make about twenty boats a year and have fourteen employees. Much of the work, however, we outsource to outside craftsmen, such as electricians, mechanics, carpenters. Here, too, we have revolutionized a little bit. Before, most of the work was done in house, that is, on the construction site. There was the carpentry department, for example. Now, but you have to consider that I really started small and initially found it more convenient to outsource the work to outside carpenters, the work is delivered to us already finished. I go to highly skilled craftsmen, and you can see it in the very well-maintained finishes.

BaM – Do you feel that you are still in the process of development or do you feel that you have now reached your full potential?
BC – We are definitely still on the rise, so much so that we are planning to produce new models.

BaM – To give further development to production, however, you will need new spaces.
BC – This year we opened a shipyard in Fano, where we moved the production of the smaller boats, those 12 to 14 meters, to be clear. Here we will continue to make the larger boats (15 and 16 meters) and the new 13-meter whose assembly line we have already set up. We had to make this diversification not only for reasons of space, but also for problems of labor, which is scarce here in Ravenna, while in Fano there is a more complete availability in the various specializations we need.

BaM – As a production line will you remain tied to the fly?
BC – For now we are staying on the flies. We’ll just try to complete the range so that we can make a full range between 11 and 18 m.

BaM – And with the foreign market, how are you doing?
BC – We have clients in France, Spain and Germany. I have personally been dealing with them for about four years. Until recently no one knew us. Today they come looking for us and half of our production goes abroad.

BaM – Medium-small shipyards, as yours is, only find a reason to exist if they value the craftsmanship qualities of their work. Do you believe that?
BC – I am more than convinced of that. In fact, for fiberglass processing I relied from the beginning on De Agostini’s yard, which is in my opinion the best. They do not use the new cut-and-spray machines, and the processing is still all by hand-the boats are rolled and resined by hand. The degree of quality and durability is very good. Not for nothing is it the most expensive. We then try to get even more by having the first three layers done so that the degree of water resistance is even greater. It costs more, but it reduces the danger of osmosis.

BaM – Take us out of curiosity: how many hours do you work a day?
BC – All hours of the day. (Angelo turns to his wife who is expecting the first heir and is watching the conversation and almost seeks understanding. She smiles patiently).

BaM – There are entrepreneurs who have no other interests than their work. Do you live to work (the young, blond wife nods), or do you work to live (Jennifer shakes her head)?
BC – I love my work, and if you want to consider it a disease, I think it is common to many in our industry. You see, we are expecting an heir, it will be a boy, his name will be Alexander, and he will work at this site. My wife is here to get him used to it.

But he says it smilingly, with self-mockery, to respond sympathetically to our provocation. Her convictions, however, she does not give up: “This is a somewhat peculiar profession, which gets you, you are passionate about it, and even your free time you end up living it in the work environment.” Jennifer confirms, “My husband is extroverted. he makes friends easily and is therefore able to establish friendly relationships with clients. So you end up confusing work with private life.” But she does not seem displeased. “Angelo is one of those people who should be called ‘positive.’ He is convinced of his ideas and choices, has an optimistic view of the future, and can instinctively establish a sympathetic relationship with others.”

A man who loves challenges and knows how to overcome them.

by Riccardo Magrini

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