Wooden Boats 8.3m Limo Blue, the "dolce vita" is super technological

by Wooden Boats 13 Jan 2023 11:55 PST

Marco Arnaboldi, founder and designer of the Viareggio-based Wooden Boats shipyard, is one of the few yacht designers who can make a 50+ metre megayacht "fly" at 60 knots while also being able to develop an equally exclusive line of compact luxury tenders. Limo is not a random name - this boat really wants to bring to mind the limousines of the automotive world, exclusive and luxurious cars that are very often unique, just like the Wooden boats Limo Tenders.

"When I launched the first Limo Tender it was received with enthusiasm and other orders followed, each customised, according to the owner's wishes," says Marco Arnaboldi. "With the 8.3m 'Limo Blue', I thought of introducing a stylistic connotation in the deck and the topsides inspired by Fellini's 'Dolce Vita' and by the timeless design of the runabouts of the time."

So this is actually a daycruiser rather than a tender, with rounded lines that slope towards the stern, bringing to mind some of the motorboats that accompanied divas and VIPs in the roaring Fifties and Sixties. The vintage design stays true to some of the shipyard's distinguishing features, meaning highest level of customisation and carbon composite construction, which deliver compact dimensions (thanks to the automatically lowering deckhouse) jointly with very limited displacement.

All this is combined with a deep V hull, particularly performing in terms of speed, but also very seaworthy, so suitable to face any type of sea conditions. With a 270 hp inboard motor and sterndrive, "Limo Blue" can reach a top speed of 35 knots and a cruising speed of 30 knots.

Wooden Boats Limo Blue 8.3m - photo © Wooden Boats

"In addition to the fascinating look, another characteristic of the 8.3m Limo Blue is the deckhouse, which lowers to the height of the gunwale when it has to be stored in the garage and which guarantees an internal height of 1.80m when in navigation position," continues Marco Arnaboldi. "On this first model, the owner opted for an open helm station in the bow with seats for the two crew members.

"Protected by the deckhouse, 10 guests can be seated on the sofas along the bulwarks and then there are two forward-facing seats in the stern. Finally, in the stern, a sofa welcomes guests who prefer to sail in the open air. Alternatively, however, it is possible to have the bridge at the stern and the sofa at the bow."

The overall length of the 8.3m Limo Tender is included in its name; the maximum beam is 2.65 meters, with a 2.9 ton displacement. On-board equipment includes air conditioning, a hi-fi system with six speakers, four USB sockets for charging devices, indirect LED lighting and a 70-litre freshwater tank. The boat is classified as category C.