Like any industry, companies that specialize in crafting luxury yachts have gone through numerous iterations, transforming ideas into reality through dedication and elegant craftsmanship. Recently, a small Italian shipbuilding company best known for its fishing boats has made the leap to crafting some of the most beautiful luxury yachts in the world. The company, Fratelli Aprea, has been making fishing boats of all shapes and sizes since 1890. A family company which means Aprea Brothers, the company was founded by Catalado Aprea, who specialized in making Gozzo boats. The Gozzo’s wide birth and small design has made it a favorite for Italian fishermen for centuries.
Since 1890, Gozzo boats made by Fratelli Aprea have been a mainstay in the waterways around Italy. Manufacturing their boats in Sorrento’s Marina Grande, a community off the Bay of Naples, six generations of the Aprea family have led the company for over a century. The company is currently headed by Antonio and Francesco Aprea, who continue their forbears’ vision alongside their father Giovanni and three of their uncles. In their years of dedication to the family business, Antonio and Francesco rarely strayed from the original vision of Catalado Aprea, honoring the ideas of past generations in their own hard work and dedication to the company. In recent years, however, Antonio and Francesco have chosen to help the company branch out beyond Fratelli Aprea’s traditional fishing boats to more modern, luxury yachts.
Leaders at Fratelli Aprea credit family friend Michael Sinacola for spearheading the company’s new interest in luxury yachts. Having grown up in Boyne City, Michigan, Sinacola developed a passion for the water at a young age with trips to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Quickly becoming a frequent presence on the waters of the Great Lakes, Sinacola learned about the necessities of lake faring by piloting boats made by companies like Crest Marine, Tiara Yachts, and Chris Craft. It was from his experience as a lake farer that Sinacola came to the realization that Fratelli Aprea’s Gozzo boat had the perfect skeleton for a luxury yacht. Sinacola now heads the American division of Fratelli Aprea, leading the company’s interest in luxury yachts in the United States. In a recent interview with JustLuxe, Sinacola discussed his role at Fratelli Aprea as well as how the company went from solely crafting fishing boats to now manufacturing top-of-the-line yachts.
In speaking about the process of transforming a fishing boat into a luxury yacht, Sinacola credited the crafts makers at Fratelli Aprea for the easy process of altering the boats. Sinacola points out that Fratelli Aprea fishing boats are already made with the finest quality mahogany and teak. Sinacola further notes that the company’s unique process of crafting the wood also made for an easy transition into a luxury yacht. Fratelli Aprea prides itself on its team of artisans who handcraft their boats. Like the Aprea family, many of the artisans who work on the company’s boats come from several generations of craftsmen.
While basing their yachts off fishing boats might make for a smaller craft, Sinacola says that many sailors prefer the company’s smaller design, saying that it makes for a more personal experience between them and the sea. Sinacola adds that this intimacy with the water is one of his favorite aspects of Fratelli Aprea yachts. Noting that such a personal relationship with the sea is a transformative experience, Sinacola says that he hopes to help yachters from across the United States experience this transformative process.
Looking at the company’s mission, Sinacola says that Fratelli Aprea’s yachts will be known for their amazing customizations and personal touches. Since the company has no production models, customers can rest assured that each boat is one of a kind and made with care by artisans and designers. Sinacola further points out that the company’s customizations make it ideal for yachters with disabilities, making luxury boating accessible to anyone. These customizations are also used in crafting the boat’s interior, which are further designed with high quality oak, teak, and cherry.
In the end, yachts by Fratelli Aprea offer new experiences for those interested in luxury yachts. Basing their yachts off traditional Italian fishing boats, Fratelli Aprea allows customers to experience the joys of the water in the lap of luxury.
