Salvatore Pollio 1934 - 2023

Salvatore Pollio, the entrepreneur from Sorrento and co-founder of Apreamare, passed away on Monday April 24, 2023, aged 89.  Beloved by all who knew him, Salvatore Pollio was for many years the heart and soul of the production and work organisation side of Apreamare, the boatyard he founded with Cataldo Aprea in 1988 and a benchmark brand today for classic Sorrento gozzo boats revisited from a modern perspective. A pragmatic and reserved man with a wealth of boatbuilding experience, Salvatore Pollio was a key figure in the company and a second father to all the craftsmen he personally supervised for many years. At work, he was straight-talking and gifted in his ability to pass on his expertise with grace, kindness and irony. When he retired from active duty in the company, he handed over the baton to his daughter Rita, today CEO, and son Tonino, yard director, but never stopped taking an interest in Apreamare and was always excited by the excellent results the company has achieved in recent years. Business partners, but above all friends, Cataldo Aprea and Salvatore Pollio had complementary personalities – the former volcanic and the latter more reserved – and treated each other with great respect and fondness, but most importantly they designed together the first ever planning Gozzo with a fibreglass hull, Smeraldo 7, the first revolutionary example of this hugely successful type of boat for which Apreamare is today known worldwide. “I like to remember Salvatore as the other half of Apreamare’s heart and soul, a reserved person who preferred to keep a low profile but who was always present and passionate about the business. Without him, our brand wouldn’t be what it is today,” said Cataldo Aprea, Apreamare chairman.

Giuseppe Taranto 1969 - 2023

Giuseppe Taranto, Vice President of The Italian Sea Group, has died after a long illness, and left for the better World on Tuesday 28 February at 53 years of age.  Giovianni Costantino CEO of the Italian Sea Group in a press release remembered Giuseppe Taranto with great affection having collaborated and worked with him for the last thirty years. Giuseppe Taranto who is from the Italian region of Apulia, was resident in Lido di Camaiore in Tuscany.  He joined Tecnomar in 2009 as a general manager, and in 2016 was appointed as Vice Chairman and a board director member of the Italian Sea Group. Giuseppe Taranto is remembered with great affection by his wife Lucia, and his two children Ludovica and Valentino, family and friends.

Jan-Eric Nyfelt 19 - 2023

On Saturday, 28 January Baltic Yachts family member, and one of the original founders, Jan-Erik “Janne” Nyfelt had passed away.  Baltic Yachts lost a person that have contributed greatly to what Baltic is today. “Jannes“ career as a boatbuilder started from a very young childhood working in his father small boatbuilding shop. Undoubtedly one of the best ways of learning the practical side of the trade. In addition to his practical yacht building skills, he also wanted to learn more about design, calculations, making line drawings and the theoretical side of creating a boat. He worked, some time, for a local ships engineer and got good insight also into the theoretical side. Janne was involved in the start of Nautor, not as owner but as boatbuilding specialist. He was also one of the five persons starting Baltic Yachts and was a very active member in management and the development of our company until his retirement. Janne legacy to the Finnish boatbuilding industry is invaluable. Janne was a person that had a never-ending energy always intensively involved in many things. Very keen on developing new materials and methods everything that could improve the product. Whatever he got himself involved in he was in with full energy. Janne was a respected member of the Baltic Yachts family over seeing for example the return of hull #one the 46 last Summer he was back at the dock.  Jan-Eric is also closely remembered by the Nyfelt’s family, including those that still work at Baltic which include his son, Kenneth Nyfelt, the sales director.

Kenneth Charles Stock 1938 - 2022

It is with a heavy heart that Cruisers Yachts has announced the death of its long-time owner Kenneth Charles Stock, who passed away on November 28, 2022. Born April 6, 1938 in Oconto, Wisconsin. K.C. from a young age had a knack as an entrepreneur. He quickly progressed in business to buy his first company, a contractor yard, in 1971 and renamed it Stock Lumber, growing it to 11 yards across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Following his passion for the lumber business and the entrepreneurial spirit, he bought his hometown boat company, Cruisers Yachts. Growing up in Oconto, it was important to K.C. that the town continued to thrive and that meant keeping jobs local. He invested in the company and the Oconto community to see it flourish. Mark Pedersen, President of Cruisers Yachts, said. With K.C.’s support for over 28 years, Cruisers Yachts has enjoyed tremendous growth and is now known as one of the world’s premier manufacturers of premium yachts ranging from 33 to 60 feet. Named after his father, the Cantius series was born with the launch of the 48 Cantius in 2011. Since then, ten models, including the largest in the line-up, the 60 Cantius, have been badged with his father’s name. In 2019, Cruisers Yachts unveiled the Grand Luxury Sport series, which happens to be the initials of his loving wife Georgia. The GLS series comprises of four models, ranging from 34 to 50 feet. Wanting to continue the company’s growth, KCS International, Inc., parent company of Cruisers Yachts, significantly expanded its manufacturing and production capacity with the acquisition of the nearby Pulaski, Wisconsin facility that formerly built Carver and Marquis brand yachts. Shortly after, K.C. was looking for a new successor that would keep Cruisers Yachts rooted in Wisconsin. In May of 2021, K.C. sold the company to MarineMax, Inc., the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer with the promise to keep Cruisers Yachts, the employees, and the community thriving.  K.C. always believed in giving back to the community. One of his greatest achievements was starting the K.C. Stock Foundation to help those in need. He took great pride in making a positive difference in other people’s lives. His foundation made the lead gift to start the Children’s Hospital in North-eastern Wisconsin at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. He would encourage others to donate to one of his favourite charities, the HSHS St. Vincent’s Foundation that provides Christmas presents to all the children in the Paediatric Oncology Unit. K.C. loved to do this and bring families a bit of joy and happiness during the holiday season.

Dick Mulder 1962 - 2022

Mulder Shipyard is mourning the loss of Dirk Robert 'Dick' Mulder, who passed away on 24 July 2022 at the age of 60 surrounded by his family.  Born on 26 February 1962, Dick Mulder served in the army before taking over his father’s Dirk Mulder Senior shipyard in Voorschoten, the Netherlands, which only had one employee at the time in 1984. From the beginning, Dick built up the business to be focused on quality above all, paying attention to every single detail of the yachts that the shipyard delivered. Since then, Mulder Shipyard has delivered over 134 iconic yachts and has also been awarded three Superyacht Awards.  Dick was distinguished by his resilience, perseverance and bravery, as evident from his bold decision to build a brand new shipyard during the financial crisis. Always looking ahead, his son, Nick Mulder, joined the business twelve years ago as the next generation and represents a safe pair of hands for the business going forward. Words cannot adequately express the sadness at Dick’s passing for the whole Mulder community, and their gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. The Mulder team will honour Dick Mulder’s memory by continuing the work he loved so much and he will be deeply missed.

Robert T. Healey 1929 - 2021

Robert T. Healey Sr., the co-founder of the Viking Yacht Company who helped build the company into an industry leader and led the fight that repealed the Federal Luxury Tax on yachts in the early 1990s, passed away nine December at the age of 92.  Bob Healey Sr. and his brother Bill established Viking Yachts in 1964, and the company went on to become the largest manufacturer of sport fishing yachts in the world. But that success may have never been achieved without the determination and perseverance of Bob Healey. When a federal 10 percent luxury tax was imposed on yachts in 1991, thousands of people were laid off and hundreds of companies went out of business. Viking nearly went bankrupt, closed a plant in Florida and laid off all but 65 of its 1,500 boatbuilders.  Bob was instrumental in organizing a national, grass-roots campaign to fight the tax. He took the industry lead, organizing busloads of out-of-work boatbuilders to converge on Capitol Hill for demonstrations, and setting fire to a boat on a barge in Narragansett Bay as a highly effective symbol of protest. The tax was repealed 20 months later in 1993.  With Bill’s help, Bob privately funded the company out of his own savings, allowing Viking to tool up new models. The company came out of the gate running when the tax was finally repealed – and they never looked back.  Bob graduated from Camden Catholic High School, attended St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, graduating with a B.S. in Political Science, and earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He practiced law in Camden County, N.J., for 25 years before retiring as a senior partner in the firm of Healey, Mueller and Tyler to devote himself full time to business interests.  In the 1950s, his brother Bill joined Bob in the real-estate development business. Among other projects, the two brothers acquired and developed the Bass River Marina in New Gretna, N.J. In 1964 a small, local builder of wooden boats, Peterson-Viking, was having financial trouble, and the brothers agreed to buy the company, changed the name to Viking Yachts, and relocated the business to their property adjoining the marina. The boatbuilding business soon occupied much of their time, so the brothers sold the marina and concentrated on building yachts. Bob was the company lawyer, moneyman and Chief Executive while his brother built the boats.  Committed to their mantra to build a better boat every day, Bill and Bob pushed Viking to the pinnacle of their industry with more than 5,000 boats delivered. They successfully steered the company through the ups and downs of economic cycles. As Viking's Chairman of the Board for 57 years, Bob Healey Sr. diversified their financial interests into multifamily, industrial and commercial real estate, oil and gas exploration and development, and the financial management of the Healey family assets.  Together, Bill and Bob Healey achieved many milestones. In 1996, they founded the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a non-profit organization formed in 1996 to promote sustainable fisheries and a healthy marine environment. Viking has contributed well over $1 million to the RFA. In that same year, the brothers established Viking Sport Cruisers, a company that has been highly successful distributing British-built, high end cruising yachts, built to Viking's specifications, through its dealer network in North America. Bob, Bill and Pat received the Ernst and Young 1998 New Jersey Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Fifteen years later, the family would earn a second award from Ernst and Young. Ironically, the Healeys bought back Bass River Marina in 2002 and reopened it as the Viking Yachting Center.  They were inducted in 2003 into the National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions to the marine industry.  In honor of their service and commitment to the marine industry for more than a half a century, Bill and Bob were honored with the 2019 IBI-METSTRADE Boat Builder Lifetime Achievement Award, which was accepted by his son, Bob Jr.  Bob received many more awards for his achievements, including induction into the NJ Marine Trade Association Hall of Fame and the Rowan University Milestone Award. Bob also channeled his financial success into philanthropic interests, which included building schools in impoverished areas of Mexico, and providing housing, medical assistance, education, food and clean water to the people of war-torn Sierra Leone through the Healey International Relief Foundation. A devout Catholic and product of Catholic school education, Bob brought his business skills to the challenges facing Catholic schools in the U.S. and formed the Healey Education Foundation and the Catholic Partnership Schools in Camden.  With his wife Ellen, Bob founded the Gleneayre Equestrian Program for at-risk youth. The program uses the powerful connection between horses and people to support learning, growth and healing.  For his philanthropic  efforts, Bob received the Lewis Katz Excellence in Education Award, the Beacon of Light Award, the Catholic Charities Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio Award for Leadership, an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Scranton University and the Shield of Loyola Award from St. Joseph's University.  Beloved husband of Ellen J. (nee Baldino), loving father to his seven children: Lizanne H. Jenkins (Thomas), Christine L. Healey, Caroline H. Adillon, L. Toland Sherriff (Robert), Robert T. Healey, Jr. (Bobbi), M. Alexis Iaccarino (Jonathan) and Leigh H. Hughes (Gabriel), and adored grandfather of his sixteen grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Louise L. (nee Lucas), and his two brothers, Patrick J. Healey and Edward J. Healey. He is survived by his brother William J. Healey, and many nieces and nephews. 

Victor B Porter 1931 - 2021

Victor B. Porter, Chairman Emeritus of Formula Boats/Thunderbird Products, Decatur, Indiana, passed away Sunday, October 24, 2021. He was born February 3, 1931, and on June 1, 1950, he married Kristine Striker, his bride of 71 years. Vic Porter spent over sixty years in the boating industry. From small-town beginnings to larger-than-life reality, Vic’s story is truly the American dream.  Vic Porter’s early career ventures included mobile homes sales, real estate, and his own business, Vic’s Frozen Food Center and Center Ice Cream. An entrepreneur at heart, Vic felt the urge to start down a new path, and in 1958, that decision led him to his place in the marine industry today. Interesting developments followed each move Vic made throughout the past 60-plus years.  In 1958, Vic started a boat company, Duo, Inc., to manufacture fiberglass boats in his converted ice cream plant with three employees. His first model, the Volare, was a catamaran equipped with two outboard motors. In 1959, the hundredth boat was built, and the Hepcat, a trimaran, was introduced. Vic was president, and also doubled as sales manager. The following three years, Vic developed the Catfish and monohull runabout design X-Series and F-Series boats. By 1962, Duo Inc. was booming. Vic now had 30 employees who built 20 boats per week. Business continued to expand in a new 18,000-square-foot facility with plans to double capacity. In 1962, Vic developed a V-hull boat series for a better ride. 1964 marked Vic’s first million-dollar year, and in 1965 the plant grew to 100,000 square feet and employed 185 people. 1966 was a whirlwind year and Vic travelled nonstop for a month, visiting 21 cities and numerous dealers to promote and sell his product. Duo, Inc. caught the eye of Starcraft Corporation, a larger, regional boat company, and in 1966 Vic sold Duo, remaining for a time as president. Vic’s entrepreneurial urge surfaced again, and he decided to captain a new ship in 1970.  Signa Corporation was the next step in Vic’s developing career. Manufacturing tri-hull boats in a 20,000-square-foot facility with 50 employees, it wasn’t long before Vic’s second successful boat company attracted the attention of investors. In 1973, Fuqua Industries purchased Signa Corporation. Fuqua had previously purchased Thunderbird Products and Formula Boats in 1969. Vic was named chairman of the small boat group, with $3 million in sales reported that year. Fuqua Industries manufactured the three small boat lines, including both Signa tri-hulls and Formula deep-V hull boats, through 1975.  Once again, Vic felt the need to head up a company all his own, and took advantage of the opportunity created by an energy crisis. In 1976, Vic purchased the small boat group from Fuqua Industries. Vic continued the company as Thunderbird Products, manufacturing the Signa and Formula boat lines. In 1979, Signa tri-hull production was ended, as market advancement indicated heavy preference for the deep-V hull Formula boats. The same year marked Thunderbird Products’ introduction of the Formula 302, a special edition offshore performance boat. In every direction, Vic led the company, creativity prevailed and successful innovation followed.  Vic made it a point during his boating career to be involved in the best interests of the industry. He was active in the BIA when it merged with the NAEBM to become the NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) in 1979. During his years at Signa and at Thunderbird/Formula, Vic served both the BIA and the NMMA in various board positions.  In 1980, integrated, continuous cockpit liners improved both structure and design flow. 1982 marked Formula’s first use of Imron® hull graphics. In 1984, as an industry first, Thunderbird Products innovated and installed curved, tempered glass windshields. Also that year, the Silent Thunder exhaust system was introduced. In 1988, a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility was completed — 345,000 square feet to manufacture the highest quality powerboats possible with a dedicated workforce of 600 employees. From facility additions to the development of new boat lines – Sun Sports in 1994, FAS³Techs in 1997, Super Sports in 1999, Yachts in 2002, Crossovers in 2012, and the Flagship of the Formula lineup, the 500 Super Sport Crossover in 2021 Vic led the company with imagination and integrity into a model business manufacturing today’s prestigious Formula Boats. Vic was often seen in the manufacturing area and in the office. Vic’s entrepreneurial spirit took him, his family and his business to places he only imagined.  Vic remained happily married to his wife of 71 years, Kristine. Together they have six children, five of whom are actively involved in the Formula Boats business. Vic and Kris have 17 grandchildren, and over the years have seen interest in the company flow into the third generation; six grandchildren full time and a fourth generation employed as summer help. Vic and Kris have also been blessed with 19 great-grandchildren.  Vic appreciated the support of his community, family and employees throughout his life, and responded with personal involvement. Over the years he served with a number of organizations in various capacities such as the local Chamber of Commerce, including serving as president, in many areas with his church, area Boy Scouts, and helping spearhead the development and funding of Decatur’s Industrial Park. Vic was Adams County’s Republican Party chairman from 1973-1975, and was on the board of directors of the county hospital. In earlier years he was a volunteer fireman and helped coordinate a high school drug awareness program. He also served on the board of directors of Indiana Central College, the Cole Foundation Board and on various committees of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The Porter Family Foundation provides philanthropic funding to local schools, churches and charities and provided the seed money for the formation of Woodcrest, a local not-for-profit retirement community. The Foundation donated the land for the new hospital in Decatur, as well as aiding substantially in funding an oncology center. He and Kristine also established an ongoing fund through the Adams County Community Foundation to benefit community projects. Over the years, Vic Porter’s service and entrepreneurial spirit gained recognition. In 1964, Vic received the Outstanding Young Businessman Award from the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, and in 1990, Vic was a finalist for the Indiana Entrepreneur of the Year Award and was that year’s recipient of the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, recognizing his outstanding involvement and contributions in his community and state. In 1994, the board of directors of Woodcrest chose the Porter name for the auditorium there, and in 1997, Vic was awarded the Stephen Decatur Community Service Award. In 2000, Thunderbird earned the Large Business of the Year Award. In 2012, Vic was inducted into Junior Achievement's Greater Fort Wayne Business Hall of Fame.  2016 marked the celebration of Indiana's 200th birthday. Vic was honored for his community involvement and contributions and was asked to participate in the monumental event. He was chosen to be a torchbearer for the Indiana Bicentenial Torch Relay, was held from September 9 through October 15. 2,200 torchbearers represented all 92 Indiana counties. Vic carried the torch by boat for 1/3 mile through Decatur.  October 16, 2016 marked Vic's induction to the NMMA Hall of Fame. The National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame was established in 1988 to recognize and honor individuals who have made or continue to make substantial contributions towards the advancement of the marine Industry. One has to be nominated and meet criteria that take many decades of dedication, effort and passion for the industry. Vic had clearly demonstrated a lifetime love for boating and striving to advance the industry.  As gratifying as all this is, his greatest satisfaction surely was that his family is carrying on in full accord with his example of living and giving, as well as continuing the business with the same values and goals he established.   His goal was to build a viable, Decatur-based, boat manufacturing company, and from the looks of it, mission accomplished. From small-town beginnings to the personally fulfilling present, Vic spent his time well, as proven by his business success and family following.

Stefano Righini 1951 - 2021

Stefano Righini left for the better World on Saturday second October.  Born in Rimini 1951 Righini will become one of the most important yacht designers of the past three decades, inventing and introducing together with Azimut-Benetti Group Research and Design important novelties in yachting which today have become a standard in yacht design.  From the large hull cabin windows first with profile and then without a profile, large glazing on the main deck, he will also change how the large open sport yacht above fifteen meter in size look and function with the Azimut S series introduced in 2003. Righini started his career in the seventies, with a bit of luck when his father who was a beach guardian becomes due to the purchase of an area by Lavagna Admiral a shipyard guardian.  He will enter Admiral in 1971 and stay till 1979, then an ownership change happens and he moves to Viareggio.  Here he works with Tecnomarine, Falcon, and Overmarine Mangusta of which he will design all its yachts from 1986 till his retirement in 2017.  With Mangusta Righini will subsequently break the record for the largest open sport yacht ever build every other year till we arrive to the Mangusta 165 in 2008.  With Falcon, Righini will have the same rapport he had with Mangusta designing all there yachts from the late eighties when founded till the yacht builder closes its doors in 2015.  He will also work with Baglietto in the eighties doing three custom yachts for them, and also for Castagnola in the nineties doing two custom designs.  In the early nineties Righini will possibly mark his most important move when he starts to work with Azimut.  His first model is the 78 Ultra launched in 1993, and is followed by the AZ54 CinquantaQuattro in 94, with both yacht models changing how motor yachts in there respective sizes look and function.  From there onwards Stefano Righini will take full design duties at Azimut, designing after that date all the boats and yachts with the exception of the Magellano line introduced in 2009. In the end nineties the Azimut-Benetti Group also gives Righini design duties for the semi-custom less to 45 meters Benetti super yachts.  He starts first with the 35 Classic introduced in 1999, and eventually this line will become known as the Class line.  Righini will also design most of the Azimut-Benetti Group entry level Atlantis range models from 2003 to 2008.  Today Stefano Righini has to his credit over six thousand produced boats featuring his design, most of these being production Azimut yachts.

Cataldo Aprea 1949 - 2021

On Friday January 15, Cataldo Aprea of the boat builder Fratelli Aprea from Sorrento left for the better World.  Aged 71 years, Cataldo Aprea was a family born shipwright and is another of the nautical industry pillars to succumb to the Covid-19 virus.  The news of Cataldo's death was announced on the Fratelli Aprea Facebook page on Friday January 15 at 1200 hours.  Cataldo was the elder brother of six Aprea's; Giovanni, Gaetano, Antonio, Anna, and Lucia, representing the fourth generation of a boat building family which was founded in 1890.  Cataldo managed and run the Fratelli Aprea shipyard from Sorrento with his brothers which builds traditional Sorrento Gozzo from seven to fifteen meters in size.

Giancarlo Ragnetti 1946 - 2020

Giancarlo Ragnetti former Perini Navi CEO and founder left to the better World on November 8 in Viareggio, Italy.  Born in the Marche region on the Adriatic East Coast of Italy in 1946 Giancarlo Ragnetti entered in the maritime industry, first working in 1960 with Cantiere Navale Mario Morini in Ancona which build commercial ships.  In seventies Giancarlo Ragnetti started to work with RINA, and in the mid seventies he returned to boat building, joining Ortona Navi.  While at RINA and Ortona Navi, Giancarlo met Fabio Perini in 1978, and from there on the two went on to open Perini Navi in 1983, with Ragnetti as managing director.  Perini Navi eventually grew without limits from there onwards, becoming possibly the most important sailing superyacht builder of the past three decades.  Along with various prizes for Perini Navi, Giancarlo Ragnetti won himself the Leadership Award in 2013 bestowed to him by the International Superyacht Society.  Other hallmarks for Giancarlo Ragnetti was him overseeing the launch of Picchiotti in 2007 which Perini acquired previously.  Retiring from Perini in 2014, but keeping his post as Director Giancarlo Ragnetti latest duty was as director for UCINA from 2011 to 2015.  Giancarlo Ragentti leaves behind his wife Raffaella, daughter Francesca and son Simone.

Bob Roscioli 1942 - 2020

Bob Roscioli owner of one of South Florida's most well-known shipyards, died Monday 27 July 2020 from Covid-19 complications.  Bob Roscioli was 78 years old, founder of namesake Fort Lauderdale boating businesses Roscioli Yachting Center and Roscioli Donzi Yachts which produces custom sportfish yachts from 58 to 92 feet in an offer of thirteen models.  Bob Roscioli was hospitalized for more than a week before his death. He was a decades-long presence in the marine industry after launching his career as an apprentice in 1962.  Roscioli was known to offer opportunities to anyone ready for hard work, and would often hire veterans and former prisoners.  Roscioli began his career as a painter, using brushes to painstakingly color entire vessels before developing a novel spray-painting technique. When he was 20, he was fired for asking his employer for a raise, but this was a catalyst for his career and instead of quitting the marine business, he kept working on his own and eventually secured a few big clients. Eventually, he brokered a deal to lease space for his own business.  Bob Roscioli is survived by Sharon, his wife of 51 years; his children, Robert and Heather; and three grandchildren.

Howard Arneson 1921 - 2020

Howard Arneson has passed away at the age of 99, on June 16 at 2200 hours. His today world famous Arneson surface drives were first developed in offshore racing in 1980. The system allows the propeller to run partially above the the water line which in turn creates less drag.  Unlike previous invented surface drives the Arneson Surface Drive could also steer and trim, with previous similar inventions being fixed units and with rudders. After first testing the drives on an 18 Arena Craft, Arneson purchased a 38 wooden Cougar Cat to prove their worth.  Arneson driven by Tony Garcia, won nine races and two World Championships.  The system was also used on fast sport cruisers and yachts, with the first builders to commercial use the system being Italian builder Baia and American Magnum.  In 1992 Twin Disc acquired the rights to distribute and manufacture the Arneson Surface Drvies.  Arneson held eighteen patents for his various inventions, his most commercially successful was the Arneson Pool Sweep.  Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer promoted the product in the 1970’s.  Arneson was born May 25 1921 in Benicia, California, he died June 16 2020 in San Rafael, California.  Howard Arneson died of natural causes.

Ambrogio Carnevali 1933 - 2020

Ambrogio Carnevali went to the better World on Sunday 19th April at the age of 87 years old.  Ambrogio Carnevali leaves behind his wife Fernanda, his son Angelo, sister Anita and nephews.  Ambrogio Carnevali enters boat building in 1960 with Giancarlo Dellapasqua forming the Dellapasqua and Carnevali DC brand.  They where among the first in Italy to inspire themselves to the Hunt deep-v hull shape, and the use of a stern drive propulsion set up.  The success is immediate and they sell seventeen boats in the first year.  In 1992 Ambrogio Carnevali part ways with Dellpasqua and forms the Carnevali company with the help of son Angelo, who will take over complete management in 2005.  Carnevali is immediately a success from the launch of the first 36 model, up till the 2008 recession.  Carnevali has over the years and up till today made a total of seventeen different models from 30 feet up to a 72 flagship motor yacht.  It major sales come in the flybridge motor cruisers and yacht of thirteen to sixteen meter in size.

Tullio Abbate 1944 - 2020

Tullio Abbate founder of the same boat building name and famous powerboat racer for both inshore and offshore races passed to the better World this morning ninth April at ten o'clock, 2020.  Aged 75 Tullio Abbate was hospitalized at San Raffaele hospital in Milan since Saturday due to Covid-19 complications, and  lost the battle with the deadly virus this morning.  Tullio Abbate founded his boat yard on Lake Como in 1969, in-front of his father Guido, Abbate premises.  The Abbate family name has been building boats since 1873, and eventually the company splits in two separate names with Tullio and Bruno in the mid late seventies.  As a boat builder Tullio has build over eight thousand boats in over fifty years from smaller five meters speed boats, up to ninety feet plus sport yachts.  As a racer Tullio was a competitor and winner in both inshore and offshore races with his biggest success coming at the legendary One Hundred miles Centomiglia Lario race which he won eleven times with a self built boat.  Tullio Abbate was loved and respected by celebrities with various sport and Formula One racers not only becoming his customers over the years but also friends.  Tullio was one of the few who still followed the Italian power-boating tradition of putting high performance car engines from Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche into powerboats.  Tullio Abbate leaves behind his wife and five children.

Paul Fiore 1943 - 2019

Paul Fiore, the founder of Hustler Powerboats in New York, which kicked off the stepped V-bottom hull revolution that swept through the high-performance marine industry in the 1980s, died the morning 26th November after a four-week battle with an undisclosed illness. He was 76 years old. Fiore was the father of Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats founder Mike Fiore, who died following an accident in the 2014 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in Central Missouri.  Though Fiore often described himself as retired from the boat building world, he regularly consulted with the Outerlimits crews.  Fiore is survived by his wife, Diane, and daughter, Donna, who works at Outerlimits; his former wife; Joyce, the mother of Mike and Donna; and grandchildren Nicole, Sophia, Jet and Moxie.

Fabio Buzzi 1943 - 2019

Fabio Buzzi tragically left for the better World on September seventeenth 2019 at around 2100 hours in a Montecarlo Venice record breaking attempt which ended in tragedy in the final moments.  Records which Fabio Buzzi made so many times his in the years all over the World.  Fabio was a firm believer of application of his design theories with the real test being that of competition, which he was very much involved since 1960.  A unique trait of the genius that was Fabio Buzzi was not only involved in hull design but also in his expertise in diesel engines which he revolutionized in the eighties with Seatek, and also in that of propulsion with the Trimax surface-drives.  Buzzi was born in Lecco, Italy in 28 January 1943 to a family tied for centuries in building and design.  Buzzi started his involvement in powerboat racing in 1960, in 1971 he graduated from the Polytechnic of Turin in mechanical engineering with a thesis of self construct vessel, and in the same year FB Design is founded.  In 1974 he build his first powerboat a three pointed hydroplane called Mostro, first ever build boat with Kevlar 49 and with it will set at the time a World speed record for the S4 class at 95.39 knots. FB Design first specialization is high performance vessels, and later over the years enters the area of building specialized fast patrol craft for military and maritime control.  In 1986 with Carlo Bonomi, Fabio Buzzi founds SeaTek, specialized in high performance diesel engines.  Fabio Buzzi will collaborate over the years with many yards in designing hulls, most of which coming from his native country Italy.  His most known and famous boat building collaboration was with Milan fast sport cruiser and yacht builder Cigala and Bertinetti in the eighties, off which with them he will produce various legendary models most of which the famous Nitro 50, which was baptized as Cesa 1882 in the Class One offshore, and recently reborn as FPT red.  Cesa 1882 won two World Championships in 1988 and 89, and was unstoppable in racing when the sea got choppy and rough and the design over the years evolved into the Kerakoll, and then in the Metamarine/Tommy One, both taking top honors in the Enrdurance Powerboat World champions.  Other builders which saw Buzzi collaborate where Off Course, Tecnomar with the first TB series it launched in mid eighties, Novamarine for the high performance rib cruisers and yachts line, Alfamarine with the 43 and 50 models, and Otam which has the 80 HT and 2019 launched 85 GTS model based on his 2001 FB Design 80 Record hull.  That 80 Record which did the Montecarlo to London record.  Buzzi also collaborated with Sunseeker twice selling to the British company the design of the XS 2000 and the 2019 launched 38 Superhawk, this later being his recent 38 Stab with more refined finishes.  Fabio Buzzi has over the years conquered over 26 titles and records.  His designs have captured 52 World Offshore titles, 22 European Offshore titles, 27 Italian Championships, forty World speed records, and won seven Harmsworth Trophies.

John Erin Edson 1932 - 2019

Founder of Bayliner John Orin Edson, a dreamer and a powerhouse in the recreational marine industry, died on August 27, at age 87. From founding Bayliner to owning super yachts and investing in Westport Shipyards, he had an extraordinary, long-lasting, impact on yachting. Born in 1932, Edson was a boating entrepreneur, from an early age. He grew up boating with his family on Lake Washington in Seattle. When he was just 13, he built his first boat with money from his paper route. He then turned to boat racing on Lake Washington in his teens. The Korean War, where he served in the U.S. Army, interrupted his college years. The lack of a formal degree did not dissuade him upon his return, however. In fact, Edson began building wooden sailboats in the garage of his Washington State home when he came back. Together with his brother Walt, he began selling them in an open lot in Seattle in 1955. Wood-hulled motorboats soon followed. The first year’s success allowed them to start selling other brands, too, in just their second year. Advance Outboard Marine, their dealership, exceeded the $1-million sales mark in 1960. With business booming, and more locations opening, Edson rebranded the company Bayliner Boats. It’s no exaggeration to say that Bayliner revolutionized boat buying. Edson believed a Bayliner should be a reliable, affordable boat for any family. Furthermore, he introduced the Total Value Package, offering a Bayliner boat, motor, and trailer for one price. Before this, each item sold separately. For perspective, consider that in 1982, a Bayliner 1600 Capri, with an outboard and trailer, cost just $6,295. By the time Edson sold Bayliner to Brunswick Corporation in 1986, the brand was worth $425 million. Edson was not yet done with boating and in 1993, he took delivery of Evviva, a 161-foot custom super yacht from Admiral Marine Works. Notably, she was an all-composite super yacht, in an era where naysayers said the material was unsuitable for such a large project. Evivva went on to prove them wrong, winning multiple awards. The yacht still cruises today, as Aurora A.  Evivva also served as a prototype for the Westport 164 series.  Edson became the owner of hull number two in the Westport 164 series in 2006, nine years after becoming the shipyard’s majority shareholder. Naturally, he christened the yacht Evivva, loosely meaning “cheers” or “to life” in Italian.  Edson and his family cruised the world aboard each yacht. In 2014 Edsoin sold his interest in Westport to the Chouest family, selling Evivva the following year.  A noted philanthropist, Edson established the J. Orin Edson Foundation, which supports educational and healthcare causes. He and his wife Charlene donated $50 million to Arizona State University earlier this year. The funds were earmarked for research and education on dementia.  Edson leaves behind his wife Charlene, two sons Jack and Mark, and grandsons John, Alex, Coral, and Mark.

Marco Camuffo 1932 - 2019

We hereby give the sad news of the passing of Marco Camuffo at age 87 on 14 July 2019.  Marco Camuffo master boat builder is the pinnacle of the Camuffo boat yard from Portogruaro Venice, Italy, founded in 1438 and currently considered as the oldest with and still origin family operated shipyard in the World.  Marco Camuffo will leave behind him his wife Norma, brother Giacomo, his mother in law Maria, nephews Dragon and Igor, cousin Antonio, his loved workers, and friends.

Robert Braithwaite 1943 - 2019

Sadly, in the early hours of morning 7th March 2019, Sunseeker’s founder Robert Braithwaite passed away.  Robert was an inspiration to everyone at Sunseeker and to the wider marine industry, recognized as a boating pioneer, a true visionary and someone who changed the face of boating.  Robert was not only the company’s founder but the father of the Sunseeker family from Dorset, and worldwide through our its dealers and clients. Robert Braithwaite will always live on as the driving force behind Sunseeker's success.  Robert started the Sunseeker journey in 1960 first founding Poole Powerboats, as a dealer and importer of small and medium sized sports boats and cruisers and eventually venturing into boat building and founding Sunseeker. From the mid eighties onward Sunseeker has seen growth of market share and size, with an important milestone being reached in 1995 when the company launched the Predator 80, its first super yacht over 24 meters in size, which was the sign of bigger things to come.  Since over a decade Sunseeker is a front runner in the top ten builders of super yachts over 24 meters in length, and have so far build up to a size 155 feet in length.  Sunseeker was also an innovator among the British production boat builders being the first to produce boats, designed around the Mediterranean sporty side of the market. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his immediate family.

Dave Christensen 1931 - 2018

Dave Christensen, who founded the Christensen mega-yacht business in 1983 in his hometown Vancouver that catered to the rich and sometimes to the famous, died Monday evening, 15th October at the age of 87.  Christensen, who’d been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, died at an assisted living home in Vancouver surrounded by his three daughters.  Christensen built his first fortune as a home builder and then real estate developer, choosing to retire at age 50. As a retirement gift to himself, he commissioned a 95-foot-yacht to be built at Westport Shipyards in Washington.  At the conclusion of its maiden voyage to Mexico, Christensen decided he could build a better yacht, and that’s how Christensen Shipyards got its start.  Christensen was born on June 19, 1931, on a Flaxton, N.D., farm, the eldest of three children. His father, John Christensen, also owned a Red Owl grocery store in Flaxton, a community in the northeast part of the state that had 66 residents in the most recent census. Christensen’s mother, Madeline Clauson, was a school teacher who later became a homemaker.  When Christensen was 12, his father died in a tractor accident. His mother chose to move the family to Vancouver in 1943 to be near relatives. The family joined many others flocking to the city to work at the Kaiser Shipyards.  His mother didn’t take a job in the shipyards, however, working instead in a variety of roles for Wolf Electric Home Supply and later as a photographer for Meier and Frank.  While Christensen floundered at Hough Elementary School and later the old Fort Vancouver High School at Fourth Plain Boulevard and Main Street, he flourished at work.  By age 23, Dave Christensen was building houses.  In addition to believing he could build a better boat, Christensen also once said in an interview that he thought retirement might be boring, and that’s part of the reason he started the yacht business in 1983.  His yachts, with their composite shells, were known for an opulence that attracted the likes of golfer Tiger Woods and country singer Jimmy Dean, perhaps better known for his sausage. It was a rare customer who’d allow their identity to be known, reflecting the reticence to be associated with a multi-million-dollar, made-to-order purchase.  Christensen Yachts built super yachts at average length of forty meters. The company expanded in 2006, building another plant in Tennessee. In 2009, Christensen stepped away from the business, leaving its leadership to a stepson.  Currently Christensen has two super yachts in construction, one set to launch later this year,and another in 2019.  Dave Christensen is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters Kathy Maynard of Vancouver; Teri Kelly of Roswell, Ga., and Cindi Curtain of Vancouver; stepsons Riccardo Foggia Jr. of Lake Oswego, Ore., David Foggia of La Grande, Ore., and Joseph Foggia of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.