The Whalers, so we revive the legendary Boston Whalers

A tribute to the companies and people who have made Barche a Motore great over these 35 years allowing it to be born, grow, and become great up to this historic anniversary. In these articles the great excellences of boating tell their stories and reveal their projects, making an important contribution to the knowledge of this world, which allows us all to go to sea, in all forms and contexts.

Where the “unsinkable” are reborn

The rediscovery of classic Boston Whalers has also put models from the past on the crest of the wave; Andrea Colli and his team make them as good as new again.

Say Boston Whaler and you can’t help but think of the photo that has made the history of the American shipyard, the one depicting a motorboat sawn in two that continues to sail quietly: “unsinkable, rational, ingenious in their simplicity,” Andrea Colli tells us. The more experienced and passionate will have understood who we are talking about; he is Architect Andrea Colli, owner and founder of the Milan-based H3O Yacht Design studio. In 2005, with Tecnorib, he revived the Pirelli brand in the inflatable boat sector before exiting the company in 2008. Andrea Colli ‘s new challenge is called The Whalers, a company that will deal with the restoration of the aforementioned Boston Whaler motorboats: “The Whalers was created to rebuild and not just restore classic Bostons, updating them without distorting them. We bring them back to the state of the art with current materials, original components, new technologies, but leaving the original spirit intact,”Architect Colli tells us, who brings to the boating industry a concept that in automotive jargon is called restomod, a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon words restore and modern. Let’s take a step back and ask Colli first and foremost where his passion for boating comes from: “From childhood and the summers spent on dad’s boats; it all started, as it happens, from a Boston Whaler 17′ Sakonnet, on which I learned to experience the sea as a child. I was surrounded by a mix of water, spearfishing, wood and salt. Since then the fascination for smart boats, built well and with an authentic spirit, has never left me.

“I have always been attracted to the engineering, design and aesthetic side of boating: a boat is a technical object, but it is also expressive, because it tells who you are, how you live the sea and how you interpret elegance. Its lines must be harmonious, proportionate and essential: a balance between function and beauty, where every detail has meaning.” It was precisely thanks to the moments experienced on that motorboat of Dad’s that the spark for the Bostons was ignited, which led Andrea Colli in the 1990s to work for Marine Union, the exclusive importer of American motorboats to Italy and which was also awarded by the shipyard as Best dealer in the World: “Today, with The Whalers, I return to that world with a new look,” explains the architect. What Colli ‘s company proposes to do is not a simple aesthetic restoration, but a true technical project of reconstruction and enhancement of the original design, updated through the use of modern technologies and materials. Classic Boston Whalers are reconstructed, restored to their original splendor, and updated with current technologies.

Basically, what does the restoration of a Boston motorboat performed by The Whalers consist of? The staff will research the motorboat required, if the owner does not already have one, selecting those with the best potential based on experience. Once the ideal hull has been identified, the workshop work begins: it is completely disassembled, bringing it back to bareness. At this point, work can begin on the fiberglass part, which is brought back to zero by milling, is rebuilt in its damaged components, and repainted with a new gelcoat. Meanwhile, all the systems are redesigned, the instruments renewed, and the engine replaced; wood and steel parts are also rebuilt or restored to their former glory. At the end of this chain, the new motorboat is tested in every part and launched. “The average time to completely rebuild a Boston Whaler is between 9 and 11 months, depending on the initial condition of the hull and the level of customization required.”

Some models may require longer processing times, especially when original period components need to be sourced or adapted to maintain the authenticity and design integrity of the boat. For those who want an even more tailored approach, we offer a comprehensive custom rebuilding program. Each project begins with a free exploration phase: we listen to desires, needs, and visions, even if they are still undefined, because the path itself is an integral part of the experience,” Andrea Colli clarifies. In one year, The Whalers is able to rebuild up to 7 boats, pursuing very high levels of quality and adhering to a high standard; the design and creative part is followed by the technical studio in Milan, while the workmanship is carried out by highly specialized technicians on the brand, many of whom have worked on Boston Whalers since the 1990s. Architect Colli concludes with a credo of his own: “People do not come to us to have their dream boat built: they come to dream. To embark on a journey without knowing exactly where it will take them. This is the magic of adventure and sailing; without limits, our results exceed all expectations. At the end of the journey, when reality takes shape, we will shake hands and say: we did it.”

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