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SAMOA
34
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Samoas 34 Tanpopo and Libertad, two wood/epoxy boats built to last.
The wood/epoxy Samoa 34 Tanpopo is already sailing. She was custom-built by Flab Boatyards,
from Campinas, Brazil. Taking full advantage of the beautiful tropical woods and the excellent
level of joinery available in that region, Tanpopo was built with the utmost of care, becoming
a dream come true for those who love wooden boats. Our client wanted a very well constructed
boat with a level of finishing hard to be obtained nowadays, while Flavio, the owner of Flab
Boatyards, www.flab-com.br, a relatively new boatyard, wanted to show all his potential in
the fine art of boat building.
We visited the construction a couple of times and were already expecting a very special Samoa
34 to be launched.
We went to the party to commemorate the turning over of her hull. This event was related in
the article ‘Barbecue for a Samoa 34’ which we wrote for our news and is presently
in Club, Samoa 34. That afternoon, the impressive number of guests who came for the barbecue
showed too well the amount of responsibility the boat builder had taken on his shoulders. But
Flavio knew what he was doing. Tanpopo became such a well built yacht, that for sure she is
going to become a classic of the class when prices of wood and labour will turn wooden boat
building an art only accessible to the very wealthy.
The owner has ambitious cruising plans for his new boat, more than a cruising around the world
he is planning a long trip for different places worldwide. We bet no matter where Tanpopo calls,
she will be considered by those who visit her as a beautifully finished yacht.
Paralel to Tanpopo’s construction, it was being built by Franzen Boatyard, in Curitiba,
Southern Brazil, another Samoa 34, equally custom built in wood/epoxy for Nehemias Francisco
de Sales, a local businessman. Zilmar Franzen (zfranzen@hotmail.com) and Ziegot Franzen are
traditional boat builders with large experience in woodwork and the Samoa 34 he produced for
Nehemias compares in every aspect to Flab’s construction. So, practically in the same
week, we were informed of the launching of these two extremely well built sister-ships, each
one having a promising career of adventures ahead. Together with the photos shown below, Nehemias
sent us an e-mail telling us he is very pleased with his boat and wherever he will take his
Libertad, he will recommend the design to other potential builders.
If you live in Europe, the U.S. or any other country where labour is too expensive to build
a Samoa 34 with a superb standard of cabinetry joiner work employing exquisite tropical woods,
you might consider a quotation from one of these two boatyards. If you go for it, while your
boat is being built, you can program one or two tourist visits to Brazil. Besides the proverbial
Brazilian hospitality, these two boatyards are located not far from the most beautiful Brazilian
tourist attractions, as Iguaçu Falls and Ilha Bela. We believe the opportunity is going
to be unforgettable and when the boat will be concluded you might sail her back home, saving
the cost of freight and enjoying a memorable cruise. Rigging, spars, custom s.s. fittings and
sails are competitively priced in Brazil and the boat may be delivered ready for the trip.
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BARBECUE FOR THE SAMOA 34
Arriving in Campinas on Friday night at eight o'clock we went straight
to a dancing party. There we met Carmen and Flávio Rodrigues
from Flab Boat Yard with their friends, clients, and some of the amateur
boat builders, all waiting to see the Samoa 34 being turned upright.
That Saturday, after a night of dancing, the expectation and curiosity
among all present at the party was great.
The barbecue began very early. At the shed, besides Rodrigo Feher's
Samoa 34 hull number one, there was also Piqueres and Ivana's Multichine
28, the interior of which being already in the final stages of completion
and Álvaro's Samoa 30 with the strip planking completed.
After taking many photos and a lot of technical conversation concerning
construction and finishing details, the boat was upturned. With the
curiosity of the amateur boat builders present on this occasion, wanting
to know how they would upturn their boats when the time arrived, there
was far more helping hands than necessary.
Flávio had already developed a system in which two people alone
could handle the job without problems. Two shafts were fixed at the
extremities, one on the transom, the other on the stem. These shafts
rested on bearings. So it was easy, just removing the supports that
held the boat, transferring its weight to the bearings and start turning
it, using two ropes, one to pull and the other to hold. The great fright
was when the boat was at 90 degrees. Nobody could imagine the interior
volume as observed from that angle. That boat looked more like a 40
footer.
In less than a minute more than 20 people were aboard, and it didn't
seem to be crowded. The hardest job was to convince Rodrigo to leave
his new dwelling. To commemorate, another barbecue was served, with
plenty of beer and dancing. The turning operation having lasted only
five minutes. The party ended up with everybody diving into the swimming
pool.
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Samoa 34 built by Flab Boatyard.
Flab Boatyard from Campinas, Brazil, is delivering another custom built wood/epoxy sail boat. The warmth and beauty of the construction of this superbly built Samoa 34 really impressed us. The builder, Flávio Rodrigues, deserves our sincere compliments.
If you are fond of wooden boats, Flab Boatyard, www.flab.com.br is a great choice for obtaining a long lasting, low maintenance yacht at an affordable price. Their construction blend the most varied types of wood with a superb joiner work and their general quality are among the best you can find anywhere in the world.
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ANOTHER SAMOA 34 HAS HER HULL TURNED
UPSIDE.
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First time out |
Turning over |
Front view |
Interior details |
Seen from astern |
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Click on images |
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A DREAM
COME TRUE
Yesterday,
after nearly three months without talking to Roberto Barros, I phoned
the office for news of the construction of the Samoas 34, to remind
him of the plans of the dinghy and to hear from my friend. It's
always a pleasure to talk with him. All the family are nice people.
His wife Eileen, without knowing her personally, is always very
helpful every time we talk over the phone. Like good trees that
give good fruit, Astrid doesn't escape this rule, and is a very
good yacht designer. Those who have read the book "The fantastic
Adventures of Maitaroa", admires and respects this nautical
family. The Samoa 34, designed by the family's office and of which
I have the pleasure of being one of the first to acquire the plans,
is proof of what I have mentioned. Before opting for the Samoa 34,
I surveyed all possibilities, fibreglass construction, steel, or
yet, wood epoxy. I visited professional boat builders, as well as
amateur constructors. I visited constructions in various stages,
from hull construction to finishing, nothing pleased me. Finally,
I took some holidays and passed by Rio de Janeiro to get to know
the Samoa 34. Doing this I killed two birds with one stone. I had
the pleasure of getting to know personally Roberto Barros and Sabadear,
the first Multichine 28 built in Cabo Frio by the boat builder ,
Marcos Toledo. A jewel of a boat, but a bit small for two families
on a long trip.
When I commented this detail with Roberto, he immediately gave me
the solution.
I have a "Samoa 34" in the final stages of being designed.
We are finishing the details of construction. Can you wait?
By its simple description, good internal distribution, good head
room, a lot of comfort and good ventilation, there remained no doubts,
this had to be my next boat! The six months of waiting to receive
the plans was no problem except for my anxiety. But one day the
plans arrived confirming my expectations. I was the target of family
jokes. I couldn't separate myself from the plans. Since then I am
taking the plans with me anywhere I go, and at every opportunity
, I study all the details of the construction.
The Roberto Barros office really makes good plans for amateur boat
building. Even people with no experience, but with some skill and
adequate working tools can build this boat. This will be my fourth
construction. With the three first plans I got the feeling that
I could fly higher. I had never built a boat the size of the Samoa
34, with a complete set of plans, and a construction manual, besides
being able to count on the assistance of the designer. At any rate,
I am now feeling an increased confidence in my shipwright abilities.
I am finishing the frames, floors and beams. The parts missing are
the support cleats for the furniture and the finishing of the transverse
bulkheads. Up to now the job seems to be quite good looking.. I
keep imagining the end of the construction - still a bit distant
- but I can feel life in the progress of the work.
They say that boats talk with their owners. Mine is still in the
embryo phase. When sawing the strips, gluing each peace of timber
to another one, I can feel the vibrations growing as I see the hull
taking shape - it will take time till the day arrives when she will
be launched, but the pleasure of building a boat with good plans,
the warmth of the wood and the pleasure of creating something with
our own hands, justifies all the work I still have ahead of me.
Eduardo Guariglia Jr.
Amateur Constructor |
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