PAOLO LODIGIANI’S ITALIAN FOLKBOATS
MANDOLINO
In my book on traditional Italian boats, I had
published a drawing which had been kindly
given to me by Sergio Spina, a keen, skilled
expert on traditional marine construction, who
lives on Elba island. He has designed boats,
partly based on the lines of the few traditional
boats which have survived today and, partly,
interpreting their lines with a certain amount of
freedom. Among his well-made designs, I had
been emotionally touched by a lovely small
4,80 m lateen sail boat , generally defined as a
"typical Italian boat". Designing the
MANDOLINO, I had been inspired, though
with many variations, both in shapes and sail
plan, by this small cabin boat with a markedly
traditional look. Initially, I had conceived the
boat more for daily use (a cabin cruiser),
dedicating more attention to the aesthetic part
rather than to exploiting internal space, but I
then realized that the shape of the hull - deep
but not excessively narrow - offered the
possibility to transform it (with few
modifications) into a small coastline cabin-
cruiser, fitted with exceptional comfort for a
boat of this size. For this reason, I have
developed a variant (MANDOLINO
CROCIERA) with a higher freeboard and with
a slightly bigger deckhouse. The constructor
may thus choose between a more elegant,
classical version (with reduced internal
comfort) or a more comfortable version, with
an internal standing height of 1,60 m. In both,
there is abundant space for lockers, peaks,
tanks as well as a small toilette. Both boats are
endowed with good marine features. The shape
of the lateral plane and large wetted area,
together with the choice of a long keel, do not
73
favour it when sailing upwind (with average-
weak winds) but, under different conditions,
the boat will undoubtedly, sail fast and
smoothly over the waves and prove to be
pleasant to sail. Its performance will,
undoubtedly improve if one opts for a
centreboard solution. The inconvenient aspects
tied to this solution and the greater
complications in construction are
counterbalanced by considerable improvement
when under sail. As for construction, we have
foreseen two different methods, which differ
from each other for difficulty of construction
and for aesthetic results. Both systems are
carried out in strip planking but, while the first
is - with some variants - substantially classical
strip planking, which foresees an internal
wooden structure (very much simplified
compared to a classical construction, but still
quite long to realize), the latter represents the
so called "composite strip planking", wholly
comparable to a modern sandwich
construction, in which the internal structure is
reduced to the minimum (practically, made up
only of bulkheads). The first system is suitable
for expert constructors and requires more time.
However, it is compensated by the interior lay
out of a classical boat, with a visible wooden
structure. The second system, on the basis of a
large use of plastic reinforced by fibreglass,
does not allow the hull to be left at sight and
must be painted. From the structural point of
view, the two systems are alike; the second
will provide a boat which is slightly lighter.
Both systems are explained in the instructions
- standard and simplified construction.
74 PAOLO LODIGIANI’S ITALIAN FOLKBOATS

MANDOLINO DAY BOAT

hull FLAT BOTTOM hull’s length m 7,43 PLANS

THREE CHINES length OA m 8,50 n° 10 sheets A3
sail plan MARCONI CATBOAT deck beam m 2,49 - building
construction method STRIP PLANKING displacement kg 2.136 instructions
skills requested EXPERIENCE - material list
PAOLO LODIGIANI’S ITALIAN FOLKBOATS 75

MANDOLINO CROCIERA

hull FLAT BOTTOM hull’s length m 7,43 PLANS

THREE CHINES length OA m 8,50 n° 10 sheets A3
sail plan MARCONI CATBOAT deck beam m 2,49 - building
construction method STITCH AND GLUE draught m 54,68 instructions
skills requested EXPERIENCE sail area m2 23,6 - material list