Founded in 2003 by François Vivier, a naval architect with a passion for sailing and maritime heritage, VivierBoats was born out of many years of sailing experience and enthusiasm. Our motto, ‘Boat designs for a more beautiful sea’, was suggested by one of our customers and means that we offer boats that are beautiful and invite a connection between today’s yachtsmen and sailors and those of yesteryear. This rich human heritage, both tangible and intangible, embodies valuable expertise that gradually disappeared during the 20th century. Through the construction and sailing of traditional or classic wooden boats, we aim to elevate sailing and boating to the status of a cultural activity that promotes a better way of living in today’s and tomorrow’s world.
Boat plans and kits
We sell boat plans worldwide for amateur or professional construction. These boats are built in wood, which is the most accessible material for individual construction, in combination with modern techniques involving plywood, epoxy resin and digital tools. The detailed plans are designed to be accessible to as many people as possible and can be supplied with full-size drawings on polyester tracing paper (mylar). The price of the plans includes assistance in case difficulties are encountered during construction.
Partner companies, including Grand-Largue boatyard in France, offer kits ranging from cut plywood parts to all the supplies needed to build a boat. Alternatively, VivierBoats offers files that can be entrusted to a local company for cutting plywood parts on a CNC machine.
Boat design projects
VivierBoats has acquired extensive expertise in the design and construction of traditional wooden boats, often in partnership with the French wooden boatbuilding school Skol ar Mor. We are experienced in the design of all traditional rigs, as well as the most modern techniques for working with wood. We offer a wide range of services, including plans for traditional or modern wooden boats, assistance with restoring old boats, sail plans and calculations for traditional rigs, ensuring compliance with current regulations, lines surveys using photogrammetry and lasergrammetry, electric propulsion and expert assessments.