The Maserati Boat – The Forgotten Story of Neptune
Companies and brands in the luxury segment often like to try their hand out in different things. One such instance would be car manufacturers foraying into the world of boats. Yes, boats, like a Maserati boat. Not just a simple boat, but rather powerboats.
Today, we shift our focus to what Maserati has done in the world of boats. While it may be surprising for some of us, some of you already know the company’s history. To better understand it, this article aims to dissect Maserati’s involvement in boats and why it is not as surprising as some of you think.
It all starts at the beginning, with the origins of the iconic auto maker Maserati in Bologna, the fountain of Neptune and the glorious statue of Neptune holding the iconic trident we see adorn the front of Maserati’s today. It is no surprise that he is the god of fresh water and that Maserati has dabbled in the world of water and come out victorious in their many triumphs. Let’s start with the question that’s on all our minds.
Does Maserati Make Boats?
The short answer is no, Maserati does not build boats. The long answer is that while it does not build boats, Maserati sailing exists. They lend their emblem and name to a select few sailing boats. The Maserati trident is reminiscent of Poseidon’s trident and is meant to represent the power of the seas. Naturally, the brand was persuaded to showcase the badge in the seas. However, this is only part of the story and Maserati has been in the boating world for a fair few years.
So then how does this iconic brand have an association with machines in the water? The answer lies with the engine of course.
Maserati Boat History
Maserati engines are powerful. Their early racing prowess and heritage are a testament to the power of the engines and since their very first step into the world of production cars, their engines have been envied by everyone. The power and reliability of the engines encouraged Italian boat-makers to use them. They used it to compete in various national and world championships and many ways, it was a Maserati racing boat.
Maserati has been working with Italian boat-makers since the early 1930s and has helped them win various accolades. Interestingly, Maserati has produced a lot of engines specific to the requirements of boat-makers, and yet none of the boats carry the influential name. While it may be a no-go these days, back then the Maserati brand was associated with racing rather than being a carmaker.
The history of Maserati in the sport of boat racing is simply fascinating. The Maserati brothers were keenly interested when Gollinari started bringing much-needed attention to the sport by winning various races for Italy. As Maserati already made engines out of aluminum and came loaded with power, it became ideal for boat racing.
The brand has been associated with various power and speed boats. There has been an iconic Maserati speed boat or two that came out in the 1960s and were associated with their cars at the time. The imagery was simple, own a Maserati on the road and one on the water. It was sold as the European dream and to be fair, it doesn’t get better than that.
To get a better idea of how Maserati’s were associated with boats, we need to take a look at some models that housed the engine and some that carried the name, just the name.
Maserati and Neptune Unite
We could take a look at a Maserati boat that won world championships, instead, we shall focus on two models. The Maserati Multi 70 a sailing boat that was created to fly on the surface of oceans and the 1963 San Marco Runabout, a classic speed boat that evoked prestige and elegance on the water, while jetting through lakes and seas with ease. First, we begin with the 1963 San Marco.
1963 San Marco Runabout – The Heart of the Trident
For many, the ideal Mediterranean dream and experience is to ride a speedboat in the Italian riviera. A speedboat that is sleek, beautiful, and most importantly, fast; seriously fast. Perhaps no other boat represents the culmination of this dream than the 1963 San Marco Runabout. A boat built by San Marco, which was the brainchild of Venetian powerboating champion Oscar Scarpa.
Oscar’s vision behind the San Marco brand was to lure the elites of the country and get them interested in speed boats and racing boats. Oscar’s dream and vision are partly responsible for the Mediterranean dream that we all are exposed to. In many ways, it came to fruition and the 1963 San Marco Runabout was the thing that made it happen.
So how did Maserati end up being a part of this boat? Simple, Oscar decided to use the same engine as the Maserati Mistral for the Runabout. The result was a 4500cc V8 Maserati boat engine housed in the mahogany cabin of the boat.
The boat was stupendously fast and broke several European records and had a claimed top speed of 75kmph. At the time it was an object of adoration for many and even today, it exists as an elegant reminder of what Maserati’s heritage means in Italy.
Maserati Multi 70 – A Sailing Masterpiece
The Maserati name has been etched into history with the Maserati Multi 70. The legendary yacht skipper Giovanni Soldini decided to use the Maserati Multi 70 a racing boat that virtually flies in the water for his races. Soldini is considered a pioneer in the sport of foiling, which is where the boats practically move faster than the wind, without the use of an engine!
Sailing boats are very different from the racing boats that Maserati have been a part of. They are lightweight, sleek, and contain vast sails that help propel the boat to speeds of over 40 knots with just winds of 15 knots. The staggering difference should be impossible, but skippers like Giovanni are known to defy the odds.
The Maserati Multi 70 is a 70-foot long trimaran, a sort of foiling multi-hull yacht that uses hydrofoils to lift the boat out of the water. Unlike the engine expertise that boatbuilders relied on Maserati for, here their design experience is utilized more. The result is a Maserati boat price, which cannot be put.
The Final Docking
Maserati’s tryst with boats is unexpected and yet it is adventurous. They have managed to utilize both their expertise in engine making and design to deliver two types of boats that are leaders in their field. Despite the boats belonging to different eras, one thing is clear, Maserati’s repertoire and the name are enough to succeed in the world of boating.
