Francois Vivier Naval Architect

Plans of authentic and seaworthy classic boats, from the maritime history to today use, designed to be built either with traditional or modern techniques. Thousands of beautiful boats already built by amateur or professional boatbuilders. More than 50 boat plans available. Detailed plans, with comprehensive building instructions, full scale patterns or kits, for easy construction by home builders. The French wooden boat and classic yacht design specialist.

Go to French

Classic / traditional sail boats	Sail and oars boats	Tenders, rowing boats	Motor boats

Heritage decked boats Heritage open boats	Classic / traditional sail boats	Sail and oars row boats	Motor and steam boats

News
My web site is progressively translated into English, as well as my plans. Please be tolerant. My English is not so good. Remarks for improvements and better comprehension will be appreciated! I thank you in advance. Boats on my design are already built by several boatbuilders, mainly in France. I am interested having other builders or representatives in foreign countries.
May 2009 - Morbihan week The Morbihan Gulf Week is, each 2 years, a major gathering of classic and traditional boats in France. About 250 "sail and oars" boats perticipated. Among them, many Ilur, Aber, Minahouet, Seil, Youkou-Lili.... Also 8 Stir Ven and many other. This demontrates that "sail and oars" boats are now an important part of the sailing world. Overall about 200 of my designs and I discovered for the first time many of them. I thank all participants and the organisers. Discover all "new" pictures on my photo album!
May 2009 Icarai boat-builder has turn over Pen-Hir, a new cruising keel boat, 7.5 m long. This first unit is built for myself. Launching is to be held in July. Discover this new classic.
April 2009 Icarai boat-builder has delivered one Ilur and one Ebihen 18, named Corto. She will sail into Morbihan gulf (South Brittany, France) with her Belgian owner. Please discover pictures of construction and under sail. 6 other Ebihen 18 are presently under construction by home builders, in France, UK, Germany, and Polynesia. Overall, 50 Ebihen 15/16/18 are already built or under construction.
February 2009 The first Morbic 12 dinghy, built by Icarai boatyard in France, has been launched. This little boat is very succesful. 12 units are already under construction by amateur builders. She is light and easy to carry away, but she is able to give a lot of satisfaction under sail. Plans translation in English will be available in April.
October 2008 The runabout version of my motor boat Koulmig is now avaialable as plan package, kit or "ready to sail" boat. A first unit is under construction by an amateur builder. This boat may also be built as a fishing boat, replacing the windsreen by a small wheelhouse.
July 2008 A great news for North American home builders : most of my boat plans in English are now marketed by "Duckworks boat builder supply" in the USA. Study plans may be downloaded and plans and patterns my be ordered in-line.
June 2008 Méaban #3, built by Grand-Largue botbuilder, was launched in Rance river (North Brittany) on a windy day of June. This boat is built mainly in plywood and available also as plan for home builders. She is both trailerable and an excellent coastal cruiser (four berths). Dicover the forst pictures.
April 2008 Icarai boat-builder (Nicolas Vivier) has delivered an Ebihen 15, with a strip planked hull and a 2 masted lug-rig (said bourcet-malet). Discover the first pictures. Four Ebihen 15 are built by Icarai this year in its Cherbourg facilities.
February 2008 Morbic 12: a new small and beautiful boat, at the same time a dinghy, a sail and oar boat and a motor boat. Severall units are already under construction, some by children with their teachers and parents, thanks to the easy construction process. Kit and ready to sail boat by Icarai boatbuilder.
February 2008 Koalen 25 is a beautiful cutter, in the spirit of fishing boats of Brittany. A large cockpit protected by a traditional bulwark and accomadations with 4 berths make Koalen 25 an excellent and seaworthy boat for day sailing as well as costal cruising. Koalen 25 is built by Icarai boatbuilder. Plans for amateur builders may be asked to the designer.
January 2008 Jeanne J, a replica of a traditional boat of Noirmoutier island is to be built on my design. Construction is to start in January 2008.
January 2008 Stir Ven is still one my most successful design. Full size patterns on polyester film are available and allows easy construction all over the world. A specific nesting of plywood parts has been made according to US standard panels size. The Stir Ven shown is under construction in the USA (Florida).
January 2008 New year greetings are an opportunity to receive pictures of my boats. Discover Meaban #2 under sail. She was strip planked built in the North of France. This 7.8 m long trailerable sloop is ideal for coastal cruising. I remind that the plan package is available in English.
December 2007 Grand-Largue boatbuilder is just finishing contruction of the first Meaban with a plywood planking. Bottom is made of one developable strake and side are cold moulded with 3 layers of thin plywood. A very attractive and simple method for a round bilge hull. See the photo album. Launching early 2008!
December 2007 I am always very happy to receive pictures from home builders. Here is the last one: a Youkou-Lili built in St Pierre & Miquelon (French Islands near Newfoundland) with a beautiful and efficient sprit rig. I invite you to discover other pictures of Youkou-Lili, either with lug rig or sprit rig, a sail and oar boat inspired by both the norwegian faering and the swamscott dory.
November 2007 The first picture of Morbic 10, sailing version. A charmful dinghy sailing in Scilly islands. She is clinker built. With her light weight, she may be used as a tender or a children dinghy. She has been built by the young crew of Lola of Skagen.
September 2007 These last time, I spent plenty of time translating plans and building instructions into English. More and more designs are now available in English : Ilur (picture), Ebihen, Beniguet, Stir Ven, Meaban. Aber and Seil are also to be ready soon. If you are interested by other one, please ask and I will arrange my working schedule at the best.
September 2007 This summer, I have tested many new boats and I invite you to discover their pictures : Ebihen 18, gaff cutter version, Ebihen, gaff sloop version, Lilou, standing lug version,
August 2007 We have organised a meeting of both Beniguet built by Grand-Largue. Due to design improvements, the second boat proves to have a superior behaviour at sea, faster to windward with a very well balanced rudder. The construction quality by Grand-Largue (near Saint Malo) is superb.
July 2007 Icarai has delivered a Lilou, with a single lug sail (misainier rig). 5.2 m long, she is a perfect boat for day sailing and fishing.
July 2007 Two tenders of the Portzic design have been built, one in france and one in UK. Discover the first pictures.
June 2007 The first Ebihen 18 has been launched on June 13rd in the Rance river and was delivered to his owner 2 days after. Discover the first pictures. This Ebihen 18 was beautifuly built by Grand-Largue. Kit and ready to sail boats are now marketed by Icarai.
June 2007 I have been present at Beale Park Traditional Boat Show on friday 8th and saturday 9th of May. Several British boatbuilders are now ready to build on my designs. More information will come but you may already get in touch with me if you have any project. I thank all people I met who gave me a very warmful welcome.

François Vivier Architecte Naval
7 avenue des Courtils - 44380 Pornichet - France
Tel : +33 (0)2 28 54 97 86 - Mobile : +33 (0)6 74 54 18 60

SARL au capital de 8000 ? - 451 456 669 RCS Saint Nazaire