Boats from La Rochelle 2005

Every year mid September a major boat show is held in La Rochelle, France. Visitors from all over Europe flock here to catch the last of the summer sun and check out the new boats on the water.

The "Grand Pavois" is visited by about 100,000 people from all over Europe (and as far off as Australia) each year at the end of the summer season. Hundreds of boats, and of interest to the amateur boat builder, equipment, motors and the "Village Bois" or Wood Village. The guest countries were South Africa and the British Leeward Islands. The marina in La Rochelle is one of the largest on the Western European coastline so there is lots to see, even outside the show gates.

This year I was disappointed by the number of interesting boats in the Wood Village but a couple did catch my eye. It is very expensive to have a booth, so small companies making kits or selling bare hulls to finish seemed to have stayed away this year. On the water one power cat caught my eye but, as it was outboard powered, I didn't linger and of course I can't find it online. Think of a sailing cat with no mast - very low profile deck. Eye catching open plan living style saloon and galley. About 30 to 35' long. I will catch up on this one in the French press or at the Paris boat show in December.

The "Bahama 20" is one of the runabouts that caught my eye.

Typical of the return to boats that look like boats instead of floating plastic soap holders! The windshield frame is just right in proportion - neither too heavy nor too flimsy. And the shadows of the panel joins really show off the hull lines.


Double console interior with seperate seats up front and two full width benches in the rear.


Transom detail showing slight tumblehome, the rear bench locker is open in this shot. I do not have details on plans or builder because the person was very busy the three times I passed by. I will chase them up in a future episode.

A second example, the "Séal" runabout by Frank Roy, on sale at 54,000 Euros (once again a small shipyard with no web site).

Very handsome hull with a finish none of us would be ashamed of! This hull is strip planked and covered with cloth. More sophisticated all round than the "Bahama 20" but in the end I think less suited to taking the kids out for a picnic or going fishing with the boys.

Once again the obligatory transom shot...

These two stood out but then, there was not much competition, just a few dories (seen one you've seen them all) and riveted pine ready-built boats imported from Lithuania.

I am hoping there will be more to see at the Paris boat show.

Tony Grant, La Rochelle September 11th, 2005