A group of Italian professionals and entrepreneurs with experience in the yachting industry are partnering to relaunch Pisa, Italy-based Leopard Yachts, with plans to build a 65-foot, outboard-powered vessel as the company’s first new model.
The Leonard Shipyard site in Pisa site is equipped to build recreational crafts up to 180 feet, according to Press Mare.
Next fall, it is planning on debuting what the builder is calling the “Evolution by Leopard” line of fiberglass boats with the 6.0 — a 20-meter (nearly 66 feet LOA) vessel powered by outboards.
“Certainly it is a world first,” chairman of the board Michele Parini told the publication. “If we think of such an impressive yacht, of almost 30 tons, powered by outboard engines we can immediately understand the innovative entity of the project, which is unique in the world. This model will then be the trailblazer of a greater model, of 75 [to] 80 feet”.
The builder is also planning on offering Volvo Penta IPS drives and straight shaft inboards as power options on the Evolution Series vessel.
Additionally, the company plans on developing different lines of recreational vessels. The History brand will consist of aluminum-hulled boats from 28 to 38 meters (approximately 92 to 124 feet LOA) designed by designed by Paolo Giordano of PYGD.
The Classic series will consist of 44- and 45-meter (144- and 148-foot) displacement and semi-displacement yachts. The designer’s name is still being kept secret.
