Founded in 2001, the Chantier Naval des Îleaux shipyard in Noirmoutier, Vendée, has found its cruising speed by structuring itself into two divisions:
- a catering, maintenance and wintering unit
- a boat-building division.
Frédéric Maingret and his eight employees have no shortage of projects: " We build boats in strip planking, epoxy plywood and molded wood. In 2018, we launched a Rosso 28 Ioda, in 2019 a Polar Bear, in 2022 a Rosso 35 Nomade II, and we're nearing completion of a Rosso 35 Evo ."
In partnership with Italy's Paolo Bua
The continuation of a fine series since the first Rosso 28, designed and conceived by Paolo Bua. A boat developed to the specifications of a customer who was not happy with industrial boats. And, above all, a masterpiece of craftsmanship! In fact, the shipyard's expertise won awards for the Rosso 28 in 2018, and the following year for its Polar Bear, a small-slat mahogany sailboat. " The yard works in partnership with Sardinian architect Paolo Bua. We have held the EPV label since 2011, which has been renewed for a further five years in 2022, enabling us to restore heritage units such as Jeanne J and Martroger III. "
Going where you least expect it
The team of enthusiasts is constantly innovating and taking on new challenges. Like building its own flagship, by tackling the renovation of the Reder Moor, a 1950 cutter. The maintenance/wintering hangar is in the same vein. It's a rebuilt salorge where the yard stores around a hundred boats, mainly wooden and sailboats.
Multi-disciplinary and a lover of challenges, the site is even one of the few to be listed in... the 2022 backpacker's guide! It's a way of going where you least expect it, and telling a story. Frédéric Maingret finds it fitting: " Our clientele is passionate about wooden sailboats and boats with a history. Our customers are getting older, but the next generations are gradually taking over. "
As for the demand for storage space, it's still there even more so due to the transfer of a number of trade colleagues this year ".
