Wooden Boats, set up in 2012 by Marco Arnaboldi of Studio Arnaboldi, is a boutique shipyard that has collaborated with leading Italian brands such as Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Pershing, Baglietto; and also worked with top designer names which include Giorgio Cassetta, Guido de Groot, Marco Casali and Achille Salvagni.

“I set up Wooden Boats as a boutique shipyard to continue the progressive research that has always characterised Studio Arnaboldi,” says the naval engineer. “This time I was interested in combining wood, the noblest of boatbuilding materials that have outstanding mechanical properties, with advanced carbon composites. The advantage was that we could create unique custom boats without having to invest in expensive moulds and tooling.”

Out of this boutique shipyard comes its first yacht built using this particular construction technique, the WB40′ Classic, a 12.95m luxury day cruiser custom-crafted for a European owner. The hull and the deck are formed from sandwiched layers of multi-directional mahogany plywood and carbon fibre. Even though Arnaboldi’s original mission was to build in wood and carbon fibre, Wooden Boats also specialises in construction from purely advanced composites alone.

Fully designed, engineered and produced in-house with a deep-V hull engineered for water jet propulsion, the WB40′ classic combines optimal performance and excellent seakeeping with an absence of vibrations in all sea conditions.

Conceived for weekend cruising in the sun and able to comfortably carry up to 14 guests, a forward sunbed sits atop the deckhouse, while a central cockpit with a height-adjustable table transforms into another sundeck, with a third sunbed aft above the engine compartment. The helm station is raised above the main deck for optimal visibility while under way and manoeuvring.

Entering the cabin on the right side, one finds below deck a spacious double bed, bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Fitted behind the helm is an open-air kitchen cabinet with sink, worktop, two-burner hob and fridge. The whole area can be protected by a bimini top, with the option of a hard-top and an additional full-carbon fibre hull with fold-down bulwarks to increase the size of the swim platform.

Powered by twin 420-hp Yanmar engines coupled to a pair of MJP water jets with the latest generation joystick controls, the WB40’ Classic reaches a top speed of 40 knots, with a cruising speed of 36 knots.

“The client came to us as the only yard able to build to his very specific criteria,” says Arnaboldi. “He wanted a custom boat with classic lines that were lightweight to improve performance and reduce fuel consumption, required low maintenance and had minimal environmental impact in case of demolition. Building in wood and carbon fibre meant we could meet all of his needs.”