Italcraft
about the shipyard
The Italian shipyard Cantieri Navali Italcraft, based in Gaeta, is renowned for its sporty motor yachts made of composite materials, with lengths of up to 32 meters.
Country
Italy
Type of yachts
Length (m)
30-40
Gross tonnage (GT)
<499
Hull material
GRP
History
Italcraft was founded in 1955 by brothers Sergio and Mario Sonnino Sorisio as a manufacturer of high-speed motorboats designed for sea travel. The company initially operated on the outskirts of Rome for three years before relocating in 1958 to Lake Bracciano, leaving only its administrative offices and showrooms in the Italian capital.
During this period, Italcraft launched its wooden motor yachts, the BUCANIERE and SEA SKIFF. The release of the day cruiser model SARIMA in the early 1960s was a huge success, with over 700 units sold, prompting the company to expand its model range and offer a wider variety of yacht sizes.
Italcraft continued to innovate and integrate new technologies into its production process. Notably, the DRAGO model, equipped with surface-piercing propellers, became one of the fastest diesel-powered leisure yachts of its time. The 1970s marked a new era for the shipyard with the introduction of fiberglass hull construction, a novel material at that time. This led to the launch of the 7.5-meter X-25, the 13.4-meter cruiser ESPADA MEDITERRANEA, and the 16-meter motor yacht BLUE MARLIN, all featuring fiberglass hulls.
In the mid-1990s, the shipyard was acquired by Cantieri Navali del Golfo, which shifted the company’s production strategy. This new direction focused on a radically reimagined design philosophy, reflected in the new version of the SARIMA yacht and the Ipanema 53 model.
During this period, Italcraft launched its wooden motor yachts, the BUCANIERE and SEA SKIFF. The release of the day cruiser model SARIMA in the early 1960s was a huge success, with over 700 units sold, prompting the company to expand its model range and offer a wider variety of yacht sizes.
Italcraft continued to innovate and integrate new technologies into its production process. Notably, the DRAGO model, equipped with surface-piercing propellers, became one of the fastest diesel-powered leisure yachts of its time. The 1970s marked a new era for the shipyard with the introduction of fiberglass hull construction, a novel material at that time. This led to the launch of the 7.5-meter X-25, the 13.4-meter cruiser ESPADA MEDITERRANEA, and the 16-meter motor yacht BLUE MARLIN, all featuring fiberglass hulls.
In the mid-1990s, the shipyard was acquired by Cantieri Navali del Golfo, which shifted the company’s production strategy. This new direction focused on a radically reimagined design philosophy, reflected in the new version of the SARIMA yacht and the Ipanema 53 model.
Facilities
Italcraft has a production facility in Gaeta with a slipway that allows for the construction of yachts up to 50 meters in length.
Range
Cantieri Navali Italcraft offers its clients semi-custom high-speed yachts ranging from 11 to 32 meters in length. Their models include the Sarima 38, Ipanema 54, and Maxi Drago 105.
