Italian Speedboats

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

On a recent visit to Lake Garda we spent a lot of time travelling around the lake on the various ferries plus a trip in a tourist motorboat. I was struck by the variety and elegance of many of the small craft on the water so took a number of photos which are displayed here.

Colin

Of course every smart boat must have its appropriate accessories as shown below but she could change the driver if she wants…

The next three images are of some very nice little runabouts of which there are hiundreds on the lake.

A relatively rare sight was this passenger carrying RIB.

If you have the money you can hire something a bit more exotic complete with driver…

Those of us on smaller budgets have to share but it is still a great experience as the boats are capable of up to 25 knots loaded and 30 plus with just the driver. Lots of different designs too…

This monster below should be right up Paut T.s street with it's minimalist design. It cruises at 35 knots with a top speed of 40. At idle its exhausts sound like a carpark full of Harley Davidsons. The owner was a bit worried about scratching the paint coming alongside and in this case there is no doubt as to the identity of the accessory!

Edited By Colin Bishop on 15/09/2018 10:00:41

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Style on Lake Garda

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Italians have that certain style, don't they? These boats look like they're doing 30kts even when tied up!
DM

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Talking of sounding like a herd of Harley's just look at this pair of mighty V8's that the good people at Bruno Abbate cram into their boats.

For more mouth watering lottery winning boats try this LINK

Paul

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All,

If like me the tablet is becoming more interesting than the TV have a look at Skyline Live Webcams Venice St Marks Basin, a constant stream of water taxi's gondolas & cruise ships being towed through the grand canal of course you have to sit in front of the television but it's switched off then off to New York it's brilliant

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 18/09/2018 19:35:08

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

We did visit Venice on a cruise ship a few years back and the view from the ship is stunning – I have some superb photos. The cruise ships are not normally towed though.

But I can understand why Venice is becoming increaingly critical of these behomoths coming right inshore the way that they do.

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Colin

You go to all of these exotic locations and bring back these fantastic photos……Are you the Black Magic man?

Paul

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

No black magic Paul. Lots of people go on holiday by jetting off to the sun for a couple of weeks and spend all their time on a sunlounger or in the pool – and enjoy themselves.

We prefer to go away little and often, usually a week or less, and do our homework in advance so that we have an 'experience intensive' time. Variety is the spice of life as they say and it needn't be unduly expensive either. But you do have to put the research in and I don't mind doing that.

Colin

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Riva of course at the top. Once made on Lago D'Isleo, nearby. I think the silver one is a Rivarama, one of the newer ones. As for the rest, well I think they show that actually, Italy is displaying very little style with that collection.

Far more regular updates and amusing comment on really stylish timber can be had here:-http://www.woodyboater.com/

Cheers,

Martin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Martin,

It's all relative really. Look around any UK marina and 95% of the boats are of the 'plastic bathtub' variety. Italy does seem to have a more varied selection.

We also visited Lale Iseo if that is the one you mean, and in fact the photo of the green boat was taken there.

Colin

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Oh this country's marinas are a dire reflection of our nautical heritage. Plastic everywhere.

No I was referring to America and particularly Canada. Take a look at Port Carling, Gravenhurst or other parts of the Muskoka lakes. The boathouses are worth looking at too and indeed whole books have been produced about them, with their gorgeous contents.

We had a few Brookes, the odd Andrews launch, a Taylor or two, but otherwise Fairey made the only seriously flash bits of aquatic kit. Thorneycroft and Silver built some nice cruisers which were fairly elegant. But we don't have a big tradition of elegant craft. I don't class any GRP as elegant and aluminium were more functional than elegant.

Martin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Quite agree that there are some lovely boats on the other side of the Pond. Back in 2010 in Vancouver our visit coincided with the Wooden Boat Show and there were some wonderful vessels on display including this one.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 19/09/2018 18:36:51

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Aha Commander. A very popular and common cruiser. I believe Dumas or Sterling did a nice kit of this craft.

Martin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Just dig the colour coded mooring line…

My favourite was the steam tug Master though.

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi All here's some Thornycroft glamour, White Marlin aka HMS Fervant in tip top condition, 50ft diagonal carvel

Dunkirk little ship

Regards Ray

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Very nice. Thorneycroft always did elegant. My Uncle had a Thorneycroft 32 foot high prow cruiser which was also a Dunkirk Little Ship. She had a Meadows 4ED petrol and we used to go away for weekends on her. My Dad did most of the work on her and was the only one who could coax that lovely old engine into reliable life.

Happy days

Was that White marlin built as a cruiser or a pinnace?

Martin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Martin,

She was ordered by an Armenian sugar broker as a private yacht and completed in 1939, but he never took delivery she was handed over to the Ministry of War Transport. The Royal Navy named her HMS Fervant, she went on to have a distinguished career. Being bought by a director of Tate & Lyle she plied the Thames as the company launch. Complete restoration in 2012 by her current owner.

Regards Ray

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Hi Ray,

thanks for the info. A lovely boat.

I wonder (nitpicking) if you can say a boat was a Dunkirk Little Ship if it was already an HMS? As it wasn't really commandeered.

And odd that she ended up a sugar magnate's boat after all. Any idea what engines she had? Often big Wolseleys in boats like that.

Cheers,

Martin

[Author]

Posts