Marine Composite is the story of a shipyard that made its reputation by producing the Gazelle. This polyester dinghy, made from the design of the Morbihan Gulf plates, is appreciated in these waters (80 specimens produced). After the development of the Gazelle Croisière (the same hull with a small cabin), this yard was looking for a new sailboat to produce.
On the other hand, there was the Bihan 6.50, a Finot-Conq design produced in a strip-planking copy (epoxy wood) by the Trégor Composites yard. Bernard d'Assignie, owner of Marine Composite met Pascal Conq and after a price study he started to build moulds to produce the Bihan 6.50 in PVC foam sandwich under vacuum. An investment of 200 000 € to obtain the 9 moulds of the boat.
A growth that was very rapid since it was in June 2015 that the manufacture of the moulds was launched and in December 2015 (6 months later!), the first boat was presented to the public at the Nautic in Paris.
Production was launched using a subcontractor from La Rochelle to produce the polyester parts, while the assembly and fitting of the fittings are carried out on site.
On the commercial side, the adventure is also fast since during the 6 months of the production of the first model, 8 boats have already been reserved! It was a pre-sale, at a introductory price. And in the Nautic, 3 boats were also signed. All these customers were able to navigate during the summer 2016, it is true by relying on copy number 1 to make 2 customers wait. And the 2017 season starts well with 2 boats sold, one in Crozon and the other in Cap Ferret. The price of the boat is fixed at 59 000 € with its sails. At the Nautic de Paris 2016, the Bihan 6.50 number 11 will be exhibited.
The Bihan 6.50 is distinguished by its classic look with its auric rig, but using modern materials (carbon) to facilitate maneuvers. The leaded daggerboard (150 kg) which is entirely hidden in the hull is also an argument for the exits of water on trailer.
Bernard d'Assignies thought that the Bihan 6.50 would meet the expectations of Gazelle owners who would like to move to a more habitable yacht. He was wrong, because for the moment none of the first boats sold is in this case..
