Federico Lenardon

Boat builder

Boats made as the sea commands

Federico is an internationally renowned shipwright
He builds customised wooden boats
His work combines historical tradition with modern techniques and tools

"A life in symbiosis with the sea," is how Federico Lenardon sums up his personal and professional path, as designer and master shipwright. Originally from Trieste, his talent was recognised early on in his life by the great master Carlo Sciarelli, a family friend and his mentor since childhood. Federico was five years old when he designed a boat in detail for the first time, and 11 when he took the helm in his first Barcolana, the famous Trieste regatta. Today, he is an internationally renowned master with over four decades of experience behind him. Federico designs and builds bespoke wooden boats entirely by hand, as well as undertaken important restoration projects of historic boats. "My first vocation was to design boats, and to get there I had to go through all the hard work of the craftsman," says Federico.

Interview

What do you love most about your profession?: Designing and the first setup of a new hull with the keel structure are my favourite parts. Every aspect thereafter is planned down to the smallest details. A wooden boat is not printed, it is made of millions of pieces and each piece passes through the hands of the master shipwright.
Have you developed new techniques or solutions?: Yes, both in the design and construction phases, in order to obtain an excellent result with a considerable saving of labour and time, thanks to the use of digital tools. My boats are 'new classics', but not remakes in style. It is very important to be able to build wooden boats with modern techniques and that do not require extraordinary maintenance, to remain competitive.
Is there a specialty of yours that makes your boats recognisable?: The vertical bow and the heart-shaped stern, and the construction of the hulls are three elements that define my signature. I could cite a thousand more small details, which make my boats very different, such as details of historic boats of the great masters, which I put together, blending the past with modernity in the structures and weights.
Can you tell us a memorable moment in your professional life?: The launch of the Amelia in 2007, on a cold winter's day, with an immediate sailing test. For the first time, both the design and the construction were mine. Amelia is a small boat with a particular shape inspired by the American sandbagger sloops of the late 1800s, and shapes reminiscent of Adriatic fishing boats. The concept was then replicated in the making of other boats, such as the Nababbo IV.

Federico Lenardon is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1984