Chantier Naval Madagascar

Chantier Naval Madagascar, trading as Tropical Boat, is a custom boat yard at Nosy Be in northern Madagascar that builds one-off motor boats, sailing boats and tenders in plywood-epoxy composite. Most hulls are built to individual order from original designs, many by naval architect Patrick Vandamme and, more recently, in collaboration with architects such as Philippe Rivière, with calculations referenced to ISO, Lloyds and Veritas rules. The yard also handles warranty work, maintenance and refits on its own boats and on craft built elsewhere, and sells a small stock of used boats, hulls and tenders. It has operated from its site near Hell-Ville since April 2010.

Chantier Naval Madagascar, known as Tropical Boat, is a custom boat building yard based at Nosy Be, Madagascar. It builds exclusively in plywood-epoxy, using glued and glass-laminated assemblies without nails or screws, a method the yard says gives a fully sealed structure and around 30% weight saving compared with solid polyester construction. Around 90% of its boats are one-off builds against a detailed contract; the yard holds no hull or deck moulds, and states more than 15 years of experience and a three-year warranty covering severe professional use.

Services

Custom design and one-off boat construction in plywood-epoxy
Naval design work with 3D software, including buoyancy, stability and strength calculations
Construction to client-supplied plans from other architects or yards
Construction referenced to ISO (CE approval), Lloyds and Veritas rules
Warranty, maintenance and retrofit work on its own boats and on vessels built elsewhere
Sale of used boats, bare hulls, masts and tenders

Facilities

Yard established April 2010, five minutes from Hell-Ville
4,000 m² production area
6,000 m² dry storage and boat-keeping area
100% solar powered; guarded 24/7
Sea access via a natural slipway

Vessel Types

Motor boats: open, cabin, barque and motor multihull types, with around forty named models including CATTITUDE (14.5 m catamaran, 4 cabins), ARTHUR (11.4 m open, up to 28 passengers), LOIC3 and SNIT (9.8 m), and Kodiva / Nosy Tanikely National Parc (7.5 m barques for up to 18 passengers)
Sailing boats, monohull and multihull: WAPA 31, WAPA 40, ACA 40, Tropiques Express, Zanzibar, Arek, TITO 768, Coco Jet
Tenders from 2.2 m to 4.2 m, generally held in stock
Catamaran project under development
Boats aimed at tropical use and professional operators, including dive boats and glass-bottom craft

Location

Nosy Be 207, Madagascar, near Hell-Ville
Open Monday to Friday, 6:30–13:30 (Friday to 12:30); closed weekends
Telephone +261 (0)32 07 127 90; email [email protected]