Comitti Yacht sol. in business since 1956, has recently expanded its operations to produce for the greater EU, Scandinavian and North American markets. Currently building three models from 5 to 8 meters in length with gasoline or diesel powerplants driving Hamilton Jet, Mercruiser or Volvo outdrives or traditional inboard, Comitti carefully manages its production volume to maintain the highest quality artisan-crafted wood speedboats in Italy. With designs inspired by the timeless style of La Dolce Vita, "the sweet life", Comitti uses state of the art wood boatbuilding methods to produce a strong, lightweight and incredibly beautiful vessel that will last a lifetime with minimal annual maintenance.
The Portofino (8m) and the Sanremo (6.5m) will have their North American debut on Lake George at The Sagamore in July 2004. Boat show attendance includes Newport?s Wooden Boat Show, Clayton Museum Boat Show, Lake George Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show. Alassio, a 5m yacht tender, will arrive later in 2004 and a 10 meter twin engine runabout will be available in 2005.
Comitti uses wood epoxy saturation technique (WEST) and vacuum bag lamination methods for hull construction. Frames are mahogany and oak stock, water-jet cut and reinforced with gussets at all joints. Topsides are planked port and starboard with full length matched mahogany boards vacuum fastened with epoxy glues over two 45 degree diagonal layers of solid mahogany veneer. The underwater running surface is top-grade RINA certified marine plywood with epoxy and stainless fastening to longitudinal and transverse frames. Topsides and deck are finished with wood sealer and Stoppani varnish.
In 1956, Mario Comitti began building high-speed motorboats on Lake Como. His boats were at the forefront of experimental design and expressed the Italian passion for speed. Comitti?s son, Elia, raced the boats and built their reputation as he won race after race. Racing designs evolved and gained elegance along the way. Design of the hull running surface, which had begun relatively flat, was the subject of experimentation. A new Comitti ?V? shape evolved, which resulted in better rough water handling while providing an ideal wake for water skiing.
In recent years the company has matured from a small artisan shop to a fully staffed production operation. The first phase of business development for the new owners included sales efforts in Europe ? providing a testing ground for both fresh and salt water. According to Raimondo Reiner, Managing Director, "The North American market represents an important stage in our long term business development. With production capacity grown and quality standards established, we have targeted the US market for growth. Upon meeting Michael Turner at the 2003 Genoa Boat Show, it was clear to me that he was a great fit with our organization. Michael represents to us a sales professional of high integrity whose knowledge of boat design and mechanics are hard to find.?
Michael Turner researched the US market carefully to determine which line to import. He notes, ?A new construction wood boat of this caliber is very rare in the North American market today. Attention to detail is uncompromising and the styling speaks for itself. I am very impressed with the craftsmanship and quality of these boats. We are excited and honored to be an integral part of the Comitti business.?
Michael Turner has worked in the marine and outdoor industries for 20 years. He is an engineer and designer with a passion for wooden boats. Michael studied yacht design with Henry Scheel and holds an Engineering Degree from Brown University in Mechanical and Materials applications. He previously worked as a designer and prototype builder for Hackercraft Boat Company from 1987 to 1992.
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