Menu
Working with raw wood is our job, passion and art. We master and sculpt it, aiming to bestow its qualities upon the sea and to build a bridge between humankind and the ocean, whenever the waves crash against it.
We specialise in wood-based products for the maritime industry: traditional carpentry, joinery and wood fittings, boat decks, manufacture of wooden masts and spars, varnishing, etc.
> For marine carpentry:
oak, acacia, spruce, poplar, Oregon pine and larch.
> For marine joinery:
exotic wood from Africa, South America or Asia (teak, sapelli, sipo, iroko, etc.).
Before taking over the Despierres shipyard, Nicolas Chanteloup imported exotic wood.
Thanks to his incredible knowledge, and in keeping with his environmental and ethical principles, we only use wood of the highest quality at our yard.
Before taking over the Despierres shipyard, Nicolas Chanteloup imported exotic wood.
Thanks to his incredible knowledge, and in keeping with his environmental and ethical principles, we only use wood of the highest quality at our yard.
« Being a marine carpenter means building and preserving our heritage. It’s about navigating through history. »
Although there are only fifteen traditional shipyards left in France, the popularity of wooden boats is growing. Our yard is one of those rare sites, particularly in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, where traditional craftsmanship is combined with the mastery of innovative techniques.
Marine carpenters, whose work is recognised as a craft, design and build the skeleton — the frame of a wooden ship. They carefully select the types of wood, make the templates, keels, sterns and ribs, and caulk its parts, giving rise to a unique, tailor-made boat, once all these parts have been assembled.
In 2018, we received the “Excellence des savoir-faire français” label (“Excellence of French Expertise”) for our mastery of rare skills and our cutting-edge technological innovations, joining the exclusive club of 1,400 French Living Heritage Companies (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant Français). Our yard is now one of many sites showcasing the excellence of French craftsmanship around the world.
50-60 boats pass through our workshop every year. We offer standard maintenance and minor repairs, as well as all types of marine carpentry work, from complete restoration to the identical reconstruction of an old sailing boat based on its original plans.
Fishing or cruising boats, sloops, cutters, ketches, schooners, historical monuments, centuries-old sailing ships, etc. We honour the history of all types of boats, aiming to revive or bring them to life.
At our shipyard, respect for materials, handiwork, and boats and their human and navigational histories, is combined with the precision of new technologies. That is why we have been using a new, high-performance tooling system, a five-axis machining centre, since 2020. The term “five-axis” refers to the number of directions in which the cutting tool can move, so a part can be cut on five sides at the same time.
We specialise in carpentry and fittings for all monohulls and catamarans up to 65 feet.
Many French shipyards specifically ask us to produce marine woodwork (structures for decks, cabins, saloons and cockpits) for their yachts. This means carrying out very precise, meticulous work, when it comes to fitting out small-series yachts, or delivering lumber parts and structures, serving the luxury French maritime industry through our art and craftsmanship.
Many French shipyards specifically ask us to produce marine woodwork (structures for decks, cabins, saloons and cockpits) for their yachts. This means carrying out very precise, meticulous work, when it comes to fitting out small-series yachts, or delivering lumber parts and structures, serving the luxury French maritime industry through our art and craftsmanship.
We can also modify yachts as you wish, optimising or re-modelling them.
High-end customisation that will enhance the lines and elegance of your yacht, while also making your life easier on board.
Drawing on our experience in traditional boat restoration, we developed an in-house design office dedicated to modelling and design in 2018. We also invested in a new, high-performance five-axis machining system to improve our manufacturing process.
In addition to our traditional craftsmanship, we have now mastered new techniques and technologies that enable us to work on all stages of boat-building, from beginning to end.
In our workshops, which we wish to keep to a human scale, we have the capacity to carry out one or two construction projects each year, such as the exact reconstruction of the « Cupidon Fou » (Crazy Cupid) based on the original plans, or the creation of an IRC 30 Monohull, a 20-30 ft dayboat, using epoxy plywood.
Drawing on our experience in traditional boat restoration, we developed an in-house design office dedicated to modelling and design in 2018. We also invested in a new, high-performance five-axis machining system to improve our manufacturing process.
In addition to our traditional craftsmanship, we have now mastered new techniques and technologies that enable us to work on all stages of boat-building, from beginning to end.
In our workshops, which we wish to keep to a human scale, we have the capacity to carry out one or two construction projects each year, such as the exact reconstruction of the « Cupidon Fou » (Crazy Cupid) based on the original plans, or the creation of an IRC 30 Monohull, a 20-30 ft dayboat, using epoxy plywood.
30/32, rue Sénac de Meilhan
17000 LA ROCHELLE
Tél. : +33(0)5 46 50 52 66