Pics from our Croatia / Montenegro / S-Italy summer cruise 2014

[BartW]

I am flying down to Bari next Friday in order to discuss with them my winter to do list and I will report on due course about my experiences. My first impressions are positive, it’s a 100% family run business specialized in building steel or timber fishing trawlers. Both brothers are very hands-on and personally operating the travel lift and arranging the propping. I wasn’t sure at the beginning if they are used to work on pleasure crafts, but soon after our arrival, a few other MY’s joined for the winter. I guess, owner of such €€€ vessels wouldn’t come if they weren’t sure about the quality of the service there.

mind to asc them what's the maximum size and weight they can lift ?
this kind of family owned businesses I like that, and Italy has a heritage with boat building, and its not far from where I am, so..
one additional option on top of the one posted by NickH, in Monopoly,
but first have a nose around Tivat next month.

thanks for sharing such a wonderfull story.

 

[AndieMac]

Cheers again H, fantastic report in every way, thanks for sharing your cruise with the forum.

 

[Hardmy]

Thanks for taking the time to post a great report with brilliant photos. It has certainly wetted my appetite to visit Croatia/Montenegro. I spent a week on Brac a few years ago and enjoyed it, seems there is so much more to do and see in that region. It looks truly spectacular. And also interesting to see your boat, it's very similar to ours, also built in Taiwan.

Indeed, there is enough "material" for several seasons. I like also being almost always surrounded by islands. To date, I experienced this feeling only in Finland.

Do you mind to tell something more about your boat? In which area are you navigating her?

 

[Hardmy]

mind to asc them what's the maximum size and weight they can lift ?
this kind of family owned businesses I like that, and Italy has a heritage with boat building, and its not far from where I am, so..
one additional option on top of the one posted by NickH, in Monopoly,
but first have a nose around Tivat next month.

thanks for sharing such a wonderfull story.

Will do with pleasure. What I can tell is that the travel lift reads 160 tons lifting capacity. What is your size/weight?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Indeed, there is enough "material" for several seasons. I like also being almost always surrounded by islands. To date, I experienced this feeling only in Finland.

Do you mind to tell something more about your boat? In which area are you navigating her?

Eos is a DeFever 48 and is over wintering in Plymouth. We are pure displacement with twin Ford Lehman 135s, cruising at approx 7kts. We also have Trac stabilisers so she is very comfortable underway. She is normally based in the Dart and our usual cruising area is the West Country along with as much time as possible in the Isles of Scilly as well as the Channel Islands. Our longer term plans are to be Med bound, hence your report is really useful. Thanks again for taking the time to post it, I'm sure it took many hours to do so.

 

[BartW]

the travel lift reads 160 tons lifting capacity. What is your size/weight?

Weight; the official paperword says 65 Ton, but I think its around 50 Ton
size: beam 5,4m lOA 23m

 

[Hardmy]

Viro Mare yard in Monopoli

Weight; the official paperword says 65 Ton, but I think its around 50 Ton
size: beam 5,4m lOA 23m

So, I am back from Monopoli. They take up to 160t. / 30m. length. BTW - they said having refitted a wooden Canados recently. You may pay them a visit before considering bringing your boat there, it's only 40 min. from Bari airport by car.

There are much more pleasure boats than during my last visit (here a Technema 80?).

On the left, Enzo one of the brothers, his nephew Niccoló at the right and Vito. All really nice people, helpful and knowledgable.

They are working on two newbuilds right now.

As said before, no concrete experience about work quality yet but I know that my expectations will be met. What I liked also, is the pragmatic approach of Enzo saying "in my opinion you don't need to spend money on this" or "there are cheaper ways for the same result". (They have also a sincere passion for boats. As an example, after visiting Boot Düsseldorf 2015 for the first time and just for fun, they want to do a trip afterwards to Rotterdam or Hamburg just for the pleasure of watching to ships and harbour operations!) Sure that without any knowledge of Italian you are a bit lost, but if needed Mirna the really charming daughter of Enzo will come along and translate in English.

For the anecdote, I thought I wasn't hearing well, when a worker suddenly spoke to me in a perfect swiss-german dialect from the canton of Berne. He attended school in the bernese countryside 40 years ago, and he didn't lost anything of the language he learnt many years ago!

BTW - I had amazing weather, what a contrast coming from f***ing freezing Frankfurt with its stubborn stratus cloud deck.

Sunbathing local

Morning view from my B&B

The old town (and its cathedral tower) looking towards N

Catch of the day early morning

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Our longer term plans are to be Med bound, hence your report is really useful.

You kept that quiet, ljs. I'll buy you a beer when you get there

 

[AndieMac]

..............Sure that without any knowledge of Italian you are a bit lost.........

I pretty sure Bart has a clever Italian speaking, boat work negotiator amongst his entourage of friends

 

[MapisM]

Our longer term plans are to be Med bound, hence your report is really useful.

You kept that quiet, ljs. I'll buy you a beer when you get there

+1 of course, I didn't notice that line before Deleted User highlighted it.
Are you thinking to bring Eos down here, LJS?
Contrarily to most folks around here who like to live in the fast lane, I'd be more than happy to match your cruising speed for some joint cruises, if you are thinking to include Sardinia in your plans!

 

[BoatShowAvenue]

Excellent pictures! I'm sure you had one of the most memorable trips of your life!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I pretty sure Bart has a clever Italian speaking, boat work negotiator amongst his entourage of friends

I never cruise anywhere in Italy without an on board translator

 

[Hardmy]

Deleted User, what is your timeline 2015 if I may ask, you are returning to Marina Frapa, right? What route will you take?

 

[BartW]

I never cruise anywhere in Italy without an on board translator

does he / she have the Italian flair which is required for that kind of negociations to get something done in Italy ?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Deleted User, what is your timeline 2015 if I may ask, you are returning to Marina Frapa, right? What route will you take?

Hardmy, I plan to spend next season exploring S Sardinia and maybe some of the Italian mainland and then maybe I'll head for the Adriatic in 2016. But I think I will head for Porto Montenegro or Dubrovnik first. The same company that owns Marina Frapa is developing a new marina in Dubrovnik and that for us is a very attractive location because there are flights all year round from London to Dubrovnik unlike to Split where Marina Frapa is located. I must admit that we liked Marina Frapa a lot and I'd like to go back there some time

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

does he / she have the Italian flair which is required for that kind of negociations to get something done in Italy ?

Absolutely, I only have the best