PAST

I have had a passion for construction since I was a child when I spent hours playing with Lego with my brother. After graduating at 19, I attended a course at Confartigianato in Venice for aspiring shipwrights, and that’s how I started my journey as a wooden boat builder. After six years of apprenticeship at the Vento di Venezia shipyard on the island of Certosa, I earned the title of Master Shipwright.

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I began approaching this trade as a helper, but it was in 2012 that I decided to go independent and follow my own path. In recent years, I have restored many antique boats and built around twenty new vessels in collaboration with other Venetian shipyards. I have also worked on the construction of three wooden boats powered by electric motors, which allow them to navigate while fully respecting the fragile natural ecosystem of the Venetian Lagoon. Sustainability and respect for the marine environment are the two values that motivated the creation of these boats—light, versatile, and powered by a silent, zero-emission electric outboard motor. Preserving the environment today means leaving a better future for our children.

PRESENT

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The shipyard is located in the port area of Venice, just a few steps from the city’s busiest waterways. A young team composed of carpenters, painters, mechanics, and electricians is dedicated to restoring and building boats in every aspect, from engine installation to the operation of onboard electronic devices, from the construction to the painting of elegant mahogany wooden motorboats—all coordinated by a competent technical office for design and customer assistance.

It’s important to attract foreign clientele because the number of residents in Venice is dwindling, and they often prefer more affordable fiberglass boats.

Craftsmanship in Italy still holds a certain appeal if you focus on quality and product customization according to the client’s requests, creating unique and beautiful products.

It’s essential to make it clear to outsiders that in Venice, there are not only hotels and restaurants but also many artisan activities with unique knowledge passed down over hundreds of years.

FUTURE

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Every boat built in our shipyard is an opportunity to teach young apprentices the techniques of this craft. Each work team consists of an experienced carpenter and a young apprentice so they can gain the skills to work independently in a few years.

In today’s increasingly virtual and digital society, it’s important to bring young people closer to crafts, where manual work develops the more creative side of our brains. Many young people are attracted to a superficial idea of happiness and success, presented to us by makeshift “influencers” and social media in search of “likes” and “views.” Craftwork, especially building a wooden boat, is not just a job, but a lifestyle where you practice patience, dedication, hard work, and determination, which will then help you face the challenges of everyday life.

Giovanni Da Ponte
GDP Carpenteria Nautica
Canale Scomenzera Magazzino 64, 30123 Venice, Italy
By appointment only: +39 3408531859