Italian Yard Query

[lambohill]

Hi, does anyone have any knowledge on the Raffaelli yard? Also any on their collaboration with Amercraft? they have built a few boats together in the 90's. I assume Amercraft were at this stage 'designer / developer' and Raffaelli the 'builder'. Thx

 

[MapisM]

Raffaelli was a rather well known yard in Italy, though one of several Adriatic based which never managed to expand outside their courtyard market - even more so than others, actually.
And as several others, they went bust when the internal demand dropped like a lead baloon after the crisis.
Levante and Maestrale are (imho) among their most interesting models.

Ref. Amercraft (which was actually more known as AMC), indeed it was a sort of partnership, in which Raffaelli dealt mostly with production. It ended in tears, due to conflicts between the respective owners.

Just in case you are asking because you have seen some AMC boats offered for sale at what appears an attractive price vs. the boat size, well, there's a catch.
If you see one in flesh you will understand...!

 

[lambohill]

There are a few of sale great variation in price, and perhaps condition. Do you mean a general quality issue, or a condition of a particular vessel?

I have been around a few too many boats recently, and know that perfection does not exist.

 

[MapisM]

I have been around a few too many boats recently, and know that perfection does not exist.

Amen to that!

Actually, I've only seen one Raffaelli-AMC 20, so I was a bit unfair in my previous generalization.
But in the one I've seen, the build quality was nowhere near what you would expect from a 20m boat.
In most ways if not all, much worse than several Raffaellis I've seen, albeit all smaller.
In fact, as the story goes, Raffaelli was not involved in the final assembly of interiors etc. - and eventually, Giampiero Raffaelli dismissed the partnership because he didn't want to spoil the image of his own brand.

Anyway, I guess there's only one way to know for sure, and it's to go and have a look...! :encouragement:
Btw, If you find one which might be interesting for you, if by chance she's located in the North Adriatic, I'm often in that area these days and I could have a look for you, if you wish.

 

[lambohill]

Thanks. PM sent.
I have been recently on a couple of boats of same age and model from a 'quality italian yard with big variation in quality of the 2 seemingly identical boats. The looking is part of the fun, however.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Amer of Permare fame (from San Remo) which build (completed) the AMC 20 and 22 and 25 series where semi custom builds designed by Spadolini also designer of the Elegance brand as build by Horizon and marketed by Drettmann. Quite successful at the time, and competitive in price versus other Italian brands.
The problem with some of the craft was under powered note re 2 x 850hp powered 20 and 22 series. Quality varied between a model and the other, I think this happened more due to the builders trying to clinge a deal at all cost, then the builders themselves. The 25 series ended the cooperation.
Fair to say that since then Permare bounced back and the Amer 24 and the 86 did get some reviews. They build above double digits of all Raffaelli AMC.
If I am remembering the first hulls of AMC where molded at SIAR Moschini (same as the early Ferretti Custom Line) before Azimut both the yard and started building the big GRP Benetti and Azimut there.

Raffaelli are considered as strong boats, and in the eighties and nineties considered as a top choice if you wanted a machine designed to cruise without to much fancy clutter.
Its most recent successful model was the flybridge Compass Rose (100 units plus sold), and Maestrale (also 100 plus sold from 1995 till 2008), and Shamal.
I have been a fan of Raffaelli and always heard good reviews from owners who had them in the past.

 

[lambohill]

Thanks for your replies. IMHO the overall external design was pretty timeless. The window lines reflect that of the series II SL62 and the transom lines with their flared arches that of the FIPA Maiora 20 of the period, another design that I think still looks good today.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Spadolini is a clever designer, but both the Maiora 20 designed by Del Re and Sanlorenzo 62 by Paszkowski are classics without comparison in there period of time.
They created a bench mark for many to copy IMO. The Maiora 20 lasted twenty years and still looks fresh nowadays. Sanlorenzo is SL.....

Do not get me wrong the AMC 20 and 22 still looks cool but it does it in a conservative way and more in competition with the Righini styled Falcons of the mid nineties as the 80 and 82, then the Maiora 20 and SL62.