Tested By. Capt. Vince Daniello

A trendsetting musician in his day, Mozart drew the best elements of his predecessors, composers like Bach and Vivaldi, but added a contemporary flair. His new “classical style” was traditional and methodical, but also innovative and fresh.

With that in mind, it is fitting that Apreamare named a model Don Giovanni, perhaps Mozart’s most famous opera character. Apreamare’s design traces back thousands of years, to fishing boats on the Bay of Naples. In some ways Apreamare’s boats more closely resembles the fishing fleet of Giovanni’s Mediterranean than the sterile fiberglass yachts of today. The double-ended stern, teak decks, and varnished mahogany trim are quite traditional, but its sexy curved lines, polished stainless steel, and 32 knot cruise are certainly contemporary.

Apreamare did not simply design a yacht with traditional looks. The Aprea family has been building fishing vessels for five generations, with plenty of experience on what makes a boat solid and stable. A unique feature of the Naples fishing fleet, wings are fitted under water at the stern. In a sea the wings act as stabilizers for resistance against rolling. In the 1970’s, young Cataldo Aprea wanted to go fast, as many young men do. But the rounded sterns of his family’s fishing boats did not provide enough surface area to allow the boats to plane, so Cataldo redesigned the wings into the shape of a planning hull that would go fast, yet retained the stabilizing effect of the wings at slow speed. Based on this design, the first Apreamare yacht was built in 1988, with the boats rounded stern masking its true character. Just below the surface lay a planning hull, with square corners and a Vee bottom. Apreamare’s hull retains this feature today, merging the stability wings of old into a modern high-performance hull.

While the Don Giovanni’s hull is similar to all Apreamares’, the rest of the boat is a departure. In Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni was the quintessential lady’s man. Had the Don been in the market for a yacht, he would have clearly appreciated this boat, with overnight amenities for two, and only two. Where most boats this size try to incorporate a little of everything below decks, the Don Giovanni’s cabin provides very comfortable accommodations, but not much else. There is an island-style queen bed forward and a small settee aft to starboard. On the port side, the ample head includes a separate stall shower, and there is just enough of a galley to produce champagne and strawberries or a romantic breakfast in a secluded anchorage. The galley is concealed within beautiful cherry cabinetry; when closed it looks like an entertainment center. And with its spacious, open interior, this thirty-five footer’s cabin looks and feels like the master suite of a sixty footer. Whether for two days on the hook or two hours at the marina, the Don Giovanni provides the perfect couple’s getaway.

While the cabin may be for two, topside the Don Giovanni is a crowd pleaser. The long, flush foredeck, which helps give the boat it’s distinctive look, can be fitted with a large sun pad. Taking advantage of the rounded stern, 360 degree circular seating in the cockpit keeps everyone involved in the conversation, and the giant stern platform, a common feature in Europe and gaining popularity in the US, offers plenty of room to stretch out after a dip.

Just like Mozart who blended old with new to form his own timeless music, Apreamare brings together contemporary design with classical elements to form a unique style which is sure to draw attention even among much larger yachts.