The year was 1906, when Augusto Pedrazzini his home onLake Como to seek his fortune elsewhere. In terms of direct distance in kilometres, the distance is not great, but from a cultural perspective it is: half a world trip separates the Catholic north of Italy from Protestant, German-speaking Switzerland.
However, it is the boatyards at the Lake Zurich where the 22-year-old demonstrated his talent and experience in theWooden boat building would like to prove.
Knowledge that he gained atGiuseppe Abbate a specialist for workboats, whose family name still has a great ring to it today - not least thanks to his great-nephewTullio Abbatethe well-known boat builder and racing boat champion. Finally, in 1914Augusto his own company under the proud family name.
Master craftsmanship
When selecting and installing the timber used, the following applies Pedrazzini right from the startHighest standards down to the smallest detail - whether visible or invisible. At the same time, the still young shipyard is increasing its reputation on the market with ever new models. Design elements become trademarks.
After the "Superleggera", a very successful small dinghy with an outboard motor, was followed in the mid-fifties of the last century by the " Capri ", a slightly larger runabout that can still be found in the catalogue today.
The distinctive rounded stern of the Capri is a real pioneering achievement, enabling convenient, direct access to the water for the first time, for example for swimming or water skiing - a trend that would be imitated by many in the following years.
In 1965, Augusto's son Ferruccio presented the larger "Aquamarine" the first Pedrazzini runabout powered by two motors, now in turn inspired byCarlo Riva and his "Aquarama" from Italy, which was presented three years earlier.
TheSwitzerland is famous for its down-to-earth attitude and its special national feeling, both of which characterise the lives of its citizens in many ways. This also means that local brands are favoured. At Pedrazzini, just as with our colleagues atBoesch healthy economic situation in the region and a pronouncedLoyalty of customers who prefer high-quality products manufactured at home.
In the wake of the "Dolce Vita"
The traditional way in which the family business is handed down from one generation to the next is undoubtedly of great importance to many Pedrazzini enthusiasts. When Ferruccio died in 1993, he left his sonClaudio a small but very active company that not only customises its boats toAll of Europe exported, but even toNorth America. However, there are two interlinked challenges: thePreservation theTradition of wooden boatbuilding on the one hand and the careful, gradualRenewal of the offer catalogue.
After the year 2000, Claudio decided to focus on three different models, but without breaking continuity. And so the "Capri" contemporary revision of a second careerwhile with thedual motorisedalmost nine metres long " Vivale " - which Claudio named after his two children Viviana and Alessandro - a completely new design has been added. TheTop position of the trio, in terms of size, strength and price, the " Special ", which measures 10.30 metres and is built to order. TheNet prices for the respective basic versions with V8 petrol engines are270,000, 455,000 and 542,000 euros.
Kings of the mahogany wood
You will look in vain for technical gimmicks on Pedrazzini boats. The shipyard has no other aspirations than traditional wooden boatbuilding fromMahogany internationalleading to be. The indispensable basis for this are thequality of the types of wood used, as well as the exceptional care and patience in every phase of production, from the cutting of the wood to the drying process and assembly. Each work step is stillby hand from the drawing board to the final polish. In the workshops, there is a mixture of serious concentration and honest joy at what has been achieved.
A reliable source for the requiredMahogany is essential to ensure the quality and durability of the end product. TheTree trunkswhich must have grown particularly straight and should have a length of about eleven metres, come fromAfrica. They are purchased in Germany before being stored in Switzerland for four years to dry. The precious wood in the shipyard's warehouse usually lasts for a year.
The hull of a typical Capri, Vivale or Special is built around a framework whose individual elements are sawn out of solid wood in one piece. The sides of the fuselage consist of three layers of wood made up of individual strips, which are sawn out of solid wood in one piece.Fibre course inLongitudinal direction or diagonally to give the structure the greatest stability. The total thickness is 13 millimetres, with a maximum of eleven layers of 12.5 to 15 millimetres on the fuselage floor, depending on the model.
Fifteen workers - including several apprentices - in this waySix to seven hulls per year here. At present, this roughly corresponds to what the shipyard's order book shows. Almost ten years ago, there were two to three times as many orders, reports Claudio, but today there are also the storage, maintenance, restoration and care of up to thirty other runabouts on the site.
Three lucky stars
Round100 years after the company was founded Pedrazzini is therefore looking to the future with confidence. About2000 boatswere built on Lake Zurich during this period, but Ferruccio did not introduce construction numbering until 1958. The last runabout currently delivered therefore "only" bears the number 1155.
It is no coincidence that theOriginal Pedrazzini steering wheelmade by the famous Nardi company, is adorned with three stars: theLucky symbolfluttering on the pole is a symbol of protection in a world that is becoming more complicated, but fortunately still values perfect craftsmanship - from generation to generation.
