Wooden Yachts in the 21st Century: Interview with a Shipbuilder

In a nutshell about Marc Vuilleumin

Marc Vuilleumen can be described in three words: yachtsman, builder and coach. Marc is a true master carpenter who has been building wooden sailboats and yachts for over 40 years. His shipbuilding journey began in his youth, when, as a young boy, Marc decided to dedicate his life to shipbuilding. In 1981, Marc received a diploma in Marine Carpentry in Switzerland.

Marc Vuilleumene. Source: metiersdart-occitanie.com

After crossing the Atlantic solo, Mark founded his own shipyard, MV-Boat, where he still works. Mark himself says: “I have been working independently since 1988 and can provide a full range of services for all types of woodwork on a yacht: internal and external hull work, repairs, teak decks, masts and spars, as well as building a wooden yacht from scratch.”

Mark's approach is to preserve the wooden tradition of yachting while implementing new technological solutions and innovations. In this text interview, Mark looks back on his career and discusses the continuity of tradition. 

This article is an adaptation and translation of the material "Interview with Marc Vuilliomenet, master marine carpenter" by Jennifer Champin for the website BoatNews.com.

Youth, dreams and shipbuilding

In 1981, you qualified as a marine carpenter in Switzerland. What led you to this profession and how did your initial training influence your current approach to shipbuilding?

When you are 16 years old and the “school” announces that a career counselor will soon arrive to interview you and help you decide on your future profession, doubts begin to creep into your head...

There follow multiple choice tests, interviews, cards with career options – and finally, in the end, a “living algorithm” sits in front of you and says: “I don’t know what to offer you, because building boats and driving a tractor – as you yourself put it – doesn’t fit into any of our career programs…”

Model of Le Clemente boat, created by Marc. Source: mv-boat.com

However, one practice helped me understand which direction to take. Dust, soot and cleaning of the workshop, which had caught fire 48 hours before my arrival - all this made me reconsider my first impressions. And I was right: the Chantier Naval LUTHI shipyard on the shores of Lake Geneva literally rose from the ashes and began building magnificent wooden boats again.

Eventually, the owner of the shipyard offered me a place as an apprentice. And so it all started: building boats during the week, racing on the weekends. From the Swiss Championship to the Bol d'Or (the future Mirabaud), with a visit to local regattas - all this quickly teaches you the main thing: how to build boats that are both strong and light.

Having sailed Lake Geneva, the English Channel, the Mediterranean and even crossed the Atlantic alone in 1988, how has this sailing experience enriched your understanding of the needs of sailors and influenced the design of your boats?

With a professional diploma and a great recommendation under my belt, I am still eager to find out what happens after the next wave and to find out if sea water is really the same everywhere. From sailing in the Tour de France to regattas in the Mediterranean, it turns out that in the end it is water that keeps yachts afloat – and it is basically the same everywhere.

I was attracted by the 6m JI class yacht built in 1934 by the Constantini brothers in La Trinité-sur-Mer, and it was this yacht that determined my destiny for the next ten years. After leaving Le Havre, I learned about currents, tides and other navigational peculiarities, supplementing my learning by doing. From outdated nautical charts and minor groundings to the madness of rigging a mast after a sleepy passage through the Canal du Midi, all these became my lessons. 

Wooden boat La Barque. Source: mv-boat.com

Eventually my boat landed in the Mediterranean, where it was modified to suit the dreams of a young sailor. The cockpit was redesigned for long-distance sailing, the hull planking and rigging were completely renewed, second-hand sails were selected for a new rig (for the boat's hull was as porous as an old caulking joint), and the young sailor felt the call of Gibraltar and the trade winds. The sextant and hand pump were of particular interest to him during an eight-year solo voyage that ended in Martinique. Here, in brief, is my story.

In 1988, you founded MV-Boat in Saint-Raphaël. What were your initial ambitions for the shipyard and how have they evolved over the years?

It's hard to get back on land, get used to orders and schedules, so I decided to work for myself and opened a shipyard... in a van. Ambition and exactingness did their job: I invested in a plot of land and built the very workshop I dreamed of, so I could practice my craft - building wooden boats. 

Since the workshop was located in Saint-Raphaël (Var), it was necessary to offer local boats: pointu, barchetta and other types of traditional working boats that became popular from Marseille to Monaco. All possible variants were built - motorboats, sailboats, daysailers, as well as other models of sailboats, launches and simple rowboats, all the while maintaining the special signature of the shipyard: varnished mahogany. Only the kayak was left out, but we will return to it later.

Wood as a distinctive signature

You have made varnished mahogany your calling card. How do you approach the choice of wood today and how does your construction take into account the principle of sustainable, durable, environmentally conscious production?

Importers offer me the best sipo and sapele from Gabon for all construction needs, from the keel to the mast base. After all, a boat's hull must last at least as long as the tree it is made of. For reliability, I use epoxy resin in vacuum bonding (similar to the composite infusion method) and use the best varnishes and paints, mainly STOPPANI. This allows owners to have boats to manage that are light, strong, durable and at the same time remain truly unique.

You prefer to build cabinets from molded wood or glued veneer lumber using templates. Why do you prefer these methods? Is it a way to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern demands for strength and durability?

Since 1977, molded wood has been my main technique. And now it is clear that this solution gives the best balance between strength, weight, durability and hull characteristics. To remain true to the craft approach and at the same time meet the expectations of modern customers, I began to use longitudinal planking with slats. On top, it is covered with one, two or three layers of 3 mm thick mahogany - depending on the desired result. By the way, I also build kayaks using this technology ... but more on that later.

Among your works, the boat "La Clémente" stands out in particular - classic lines and ten layers of varnish. What inspired you to create this project, and were there any technical difficulties during the construction process?

In 2021, after the shipyard moved to the southwest of France, the need to pass on the accumulated knowledge arose. Thus, the idea of a new hull was born: a boat in the spirit of the old school, but assembled using modern technology. This is how La Clémente was born. Its shape is inspired by the workboats of Lake Geneva, such as La Vaudoise, La Neptune or L'Espérance from Lake Annecy.

Boat Classic 6.50. Source: mv-boat.com

The project was not an easy one: only 5 meters long, but with contrasting, complex lines - and only molded wood is capable of such a result. And the multi-stage varnishing is a way to emphasize not only the shape of the boat, but also the level of craftsmanship required for this shape to appear.

Other projects

You also designed the Classic Power, an electric boat that combines traditional molded wood with a modern electric motor. How did you manage to maintain the aesthetics and craftsmanship while incorporating eco-friendly technologies like gel batteries?

When I received an offer from the CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) in Grenoble to participate in a project on clean mobility – combining hydrogen, electric propulsion and recreational boats – the innovation of “Classic Power” finally took on its true meaning. In 2011, both fuel cells and lithium still scared the public, but there are always pioneers ready to show that everything is possible. The key is a strong, lightweight hull that does not require fossil fuels and allows you to spend a relaxing day on an electric boat.

This is how the first version of “Classic Power” appeared – with gel batteries, which opened up a whole direction for small boats for rent without a license, pleasure boats, ferries and other water solutions. Today, lithium is already installed on board, which allows saving space, reducing harmful emissions and at the same time preserving the classic forms and spirit of style.

In addition to boat building, you have created Le Clos du Gaja, a holiday home on a private lake in an exceptional natural setting. How does this environment influence your work as a boat builder? And how do you help guests experience the craft of the sea and wooden boat building?

The move of the shipyard to the Gers department was part of a larger idea: to introduce "maritime professions" even in places far from the sea. We began to offer schoolchildren from all over Occitanie an immersion in maritime topics: from administrative areas (maritime service, customs) to manual and technical ones (sailing, wood, leather craft, mechanics, electricity, electronics), including architecture, legislation, certification and marketing.

The Pointu boats are classic Mediterranean fishing boats. Source: mv-boat.com

The BIMER project is one such example that I am particularly attached to. We train teachers, and they then pass on this knowledge to children. At the same time, I conduct introductory courses in boat building using molding technology - right in the workshop. Together, we mark out the shape of the canoe, create a matrix and build the boat - of course, from varnished mahogany! From two days to a week - this is enough time to go through the main stages that a future student, a keen amateur craftsman or just a person interested in why some boats float and others do not.

This is why the MV-Boat shipyard is located on a 7-hectare site next to our private lake. It serves not only as a testing ground for our boats, but also as a space for guests: here we offer chambre d'hôtes, seminars, weddings and other events in a setting where rural idyll meets maritime spirit.

A look into the future

With your wealth of experience, how do you see the marine carpenter profession evolving, and what advice would you give to a young craftsman who wants to get into building wooden boats?

While the academic and technical training offered by government programs is indeed high-quality, these courses often lack depth—an understanding of the “how” and “why.” Being the best in one narrow area is useful only within that link in the chain. 

The Ebihen boat. Source: mv-boat.com

But knowing the entire chain, even if incomplete, but with historical and technical context, is definitely an advantage for those who want to work in the maritime industry. I belong to the Métiers d'Art community, and our task is to involve all participants in the process: from the very first idea to the moment when the owner takes the keys to his boat.

What are your future plans for MV-Boat?

Today, it is no longer enough to simply build boats – you need to pass on knowledge and involve the younger generation. Communication via the Internet plays a huge role in this process. For my part, I create boats that are designed for people, easy to transport, durable and meet the high standards of “Designed and built in France”. One such example is the Canoe 3.7.

And I will add, with a dose of conviction and a drop of humor: today's algorithms are a pale shadow of those very living algorithms of the 70s and 80s, which simply said: "Follow what attracts you, and don't count the hours." If you want to be a carpenter, be one. And you will be truly rich - even if not in the values that are in fashion today. Here's an example: this morning I was varnishing a canoe, and after lunch I got back to the tractor - the one I mentioned at the beginning.

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03.05.2025