Five cult Classic Boats for “vintage” cruising
Despite their age and a landscape laden with new and increasingly efficient boats, even when cruising, Classic Boats retain their appeal, attracting and exciting many boat owners. Among the many, some have become true icons while, others, on the other hand, have passed a bit more under the radar while remaining, however, timeless cult favorites in the field. So here are 5 Classic Boats that launched the “cruiser” concept in boating.
- Italcantieri Bora 103 | 10 m
- Baglietto Elba | 11.3 m
- Grand Banks 42 | 12.7 m
- Cantieri di Pisa Polaris & Super Polaris | 13 m
- Baglietto Ischia | 16 m
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Italcantieri Bora 103 | 10 m
By the late 1960s, Italcantieri (a state-owned company) designs and builds a boat destined to become a classic example of the goodness of domestic shipbuilding.Designed for small and medium cruising, the Bora 103 was a great little fiberglass project, rich in insights, quality and balance of form. Equipped with a flybridge, two cabins and ample deck space, it indeed proves to be a 10-meter with great qualities right from the start, allowing many a first approach to the world of cruising.
Baglietto Elba | 11.3 m
It was 1958 and a newly designed cruiser was launched in Varazze, Liguria. Success was immediate. The first Italian production motoryacht, the Baglietto Elba, had been born. A historic date and a memorable boat, to be followed by a history of great success. Designed in the late 1950s, the Elba is the first recreational boat model in which both interior habitability and open space solutions are studied, adopting formulas that are still identifiable today.
Indeed, it is on the Elba that, for the first time, a forward owner’s cabin, separated from the dinette by a door, is designed and conceived. Also here, for the first time, the dinette table turns out to be convertible, allowing the space to turn into a double berth, a solution still found on most boats today. In short, Elba, was a small revolution. An 11-meter certainly not for everyone (especially in its time), but unequivocal milestone for Italian boating and beyond.
Classic Boats. Grand Banks 42 | 12.7 m
Unmistakable in line and style, the Grand Banks 42 is not just a great Classic Boat. It is a true icon of boating spread all over the world. In fact, in the early 1960s, the Grand Banks 42 was born and immediately became what we would call an “instant classic,” making itself an immediate bearer of a revolution, an incredible success. Adopting canons derived from fishing boats, trawlers combine elegance and pragmatism on hulls with impeccable marine qualities, making this segment famous throughout the seas.
An extremely rational and elegant boat, the Grand Banks 42 is distinguished first and foremost by its lines, characterized by an almost straight bow and large central volumes, where fine, comfortable interiors are carved out, perfectly matched with impeccable marine capabilities.
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Classic Boats. Cantieri di Pisa Polaris & Super Polaris | 13 m
Active since 1945 in the construction of civilian and military boats, Cantieri di Pisa is one of those typical Italian companies that, with the advent of the 1960s, was able to transform itself into a successful “business.”
Looking at the lines of the Polaris series, there first emerges that classic elegance conferred by a clean design and the combination of colors with the wooden finishes, strictly teak or solid mahogany. In fact, the entire hull is made of triple mahogany planking, and except for the brass details, every finish results in a small marvel of cabinetmaking. Overall, there is no shortage of space on board, with large open areas and fine interiors, complete with comfortable cabins, galley and saloon. A homegrown cult and a great period hit.
Baglietto Ischia | 16 m
Among the milestones of Italian boating, it undoubtedly finds its place a 16-meter like few others, an emblematic project of post-World War II reconstruction: the Baglietto Ischia. Classic Boat elegant and strong with 7 beds (including two for crew), Ischia is one of the most successful yachts of the time, with production of as many as 72 units in just 6 years (’59-65)-numbers that take on even more significance in the context of semi-craft production with planking construction.
In terms of style and exteriors, elegance to spare and classic taste fully characterize this 16-meter, originally finished with a “garda blue” livery on the deckhouse (the first Ischia series). The hull design features a star-studded prow, and the overall lines are derived from well-tested studies, coming from the shipyard’s wartime experiences, and specifically from anti-submarine boats and M.A.S. (torpedo-armed speedboats) developed for the Navy.
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