Levi Corsair - 1975. So good they made it twice

BruceK

BruceK

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Having seen one of the originals in the flesh so to speak in Conwy I was very impressed by the classic lines and beauty of the craft and it seems I am not alone now that the boat has been released. https://www.leviboats.com/EN/
An acquaintance of mine has a rather unusual example of a Corsair variant done as a work boat / fast fisher with an extended pilot house and unlike their more familiar work boats used by the Guardia di Finanza.

Anyway it's up for sale in "Find A Fishing Boat" which struck me as a bit of a shame. I thought it would make for a fantastic restoration project that could add some serious value to a venerated classic. What do you guys think... Apart from the poor quality watermarked pics that make her look tatty she is fully functional turn key just begging for someone to give her a refit. Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?

https://www.findafishingboat.com/sonny-levi-corsair-fast-fisher/ad-91032

b43d4cd3-221f-4366-adc0-7a9c5913936f_large2000.jpg
 
BruceK said:
An acquaintance of mine has a rather unusual example of a Corsair variant done as a work boat / fast fisher with an extended pilot house and unlike their more familiar work boats used by the Guardia di Finanza.
Click to expand...
Afaik, the only Levi designed boat ever used by GdF is the Italcraft Drago (twelve of them).
Fairly larger and different from the Corsair, though obviously her hull followed the same philosophy.
This is a brief spec sheet (in IT, sorry).
Worth mentioning the mahogany construction and the Isotta Fraschini engines with surface props, capable of a remarkable 48kts max speed.
 
It is my boat, Bruce kindly offered an opinion on the wsf forum that I would be better trying to sell as a Corsair with potential to restore/modify more towards a cruising/pleasure boat than trying to waste her on the fishing guys. I use her mainly for fishing but he does have a point! With the best will in the world I will not properly look after the wood bits, cleaning, polishing and painting is not something I remotely enjoy doing, fine with oily bits! I would like to sell to someone who appreciates the Levi Design and would cherish her. I have no idea where I might be best advertising her with a chance of achieving this and any advice would be appreciated.
 
gordmac said:
It is my boat, Bruce kindly offered an opinion on the wsf forum that I would be better trying to sell as a Corsair with potential to restore/modify more towards a cruising/pleasure boat than trying to waste her on the fishing guys. I use her mainly for fishing but he does have a point! With the best will in the world I will not properly look after the wood bits, cleaning, polishing and painting is not something I remotely enjoy doing, fine with oily bits! I would like to sell to someone who appreciates the Levi Design and would cherish her. I have no idea where I might be best advertising her with a chance of achieving this and any advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Have you thought about advertising it here, they have a lot of interest in Levi craft (google translate is your friend):
https://www.altomareblu.com/vendita-barche-depoca/


They have written:

We found, more than a year after the opening of this blog dedicated to boats designed by "Sonny" Levi, that an increasing number of fans ask if we can indicate the existence of Levi boats for sale. This makes us immensely pleased and we find that our message is received

I have no connection with that website only that I am Levi design fan!!!
 
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MapisM said:
Afaik, the only Levi designed boat ever used by GdF is the Italcraft Drago (twelve of them).
Fairly larger and different from the Corsair, though obviously her hull followed the same philosophy.
This is a brief spec sheet (in IT, sorry).
Worth mentioning the mahogany construction and the Isotta Fraschini engines with surface props, capable of a remarkable 48kts max speed.
Click to expand...


I have a pic of an Omega 828 with POLIZEI on the side...
 
Interesting drawing, but aside from having never seen that boat in flesh, being in doubt, I just checked the GdF webpage, where they show both their current and old fleet, and there's no mention of this one.
Maybe she was considered at some point in time but eventually not introduced, I don't know...
 
Freebee said:
Levi Settimo Velo
Click to expand...
Nice find!
Maybe a prototype, anyway: she's in fact labelled "V.1143", where V stands for "Vedetta" (patrol boat), and the following numbers are meant to represent the class (1100, in this case), plus the specific vessel number (43).
Otoh, if you check out this official Gdf webpage, you will see that the 1100 class is made of completely different vessels (fast RIBs)... :confused:
 
MapisM said:
Nice find!
Maybe a prototype, anyway: she's in fact labelled "V.1143", where V stands for "Vedetta" (patrol boat), and the following numbers are meant to represent the class (1100, in this case), plus the specific vessel number (43).
Otoh, if you check out this official Gdf webpage, you will see that the 1100 class is made of completely different vessels (fast RIBs)... :confused:
Click to expand...
I agree Settimo Velo is not on that page but Levi refers in his book to supplying SV fast patrol craft and the V1100 class is also referred to here:

https://www.altomareblu.com/speranzella-canav-di-anzio-versioni-corsa-diporto-militari/



Also mentioned here:

http://filmatidimare.altervista.org/la-storia-della-canav-cantieri-navaltecnica-di-anzio/

Patrol boat V1143 built for the Guardia di Finanza and used in several examples during the 60s - 70s to counter the strong contraband of the "blondes".


I should point out to be PC that smugglers with contraband are also available in other hair colourings or indeed no hair!!!!
 
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Freebee said:
Have you thought about advertising it here, they have a lot of interest in Levi craft (google translate is your friend):
https://www.altomareblu.com/vendita-barche-depoca/


They have written:

We found, more than a year after the opening of this blog dedicated to boats designed by "Sonny" Levi, that an increasing number of fans ask if we can indicate the existence of Levi boats for sale. This makes us immensely pleased and we find that our message is received

I have no connection with that website only that I am Levi design fan!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that link, I have sent them something.
 
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