Cantieri Capelli

Established in 1974, the Capelli Boatyard at Spinadesco (Cremona, Northern Italy) has since become one of the leading manufacturers of small- to medium-sized boats.

It was Davide Capelli’s love for the River Po, together with his limitless creativity, that gave him the impetus to set up a new business. He started out by building flat-keel riverboats out of fiberglass, and was soon joined by his young son, Umberto, who concentrated on designing and building new types of canoe intended for use in competitions.

The turning point came at the Genoa Boat Show in 1986, when the Capelli Boatyard unveiled the first 4.7 meter Fisherman – it was rapturously received. In 1992, the company diversified its manufacturing to produce a line of fiberglass-keel inflatable boats which have gone on to win a substantial share of the market.

The boatyard currently manufactures 16 different models of fiberglass boat and 29 different inflatable boats. The success of the ever-evolving Capelli Boatyard can be attributed to two principal factors: the consistent quality of the boats themselves and the forward-looking organizational structure of the company.