SAETTA

CLIENT: Jim Kimball Enterpirse
SERVICE: Concept Design of Exterior and Interior

Saetta is not simply a boat. It is a study in material rhythm, a floating object where wood, metal, and proportion create direction rather than decoration.

ENGINEERED FOR EASY ASSEMBLY

In 2006, Kevin Kimball invited me to design a Barrel Back runabout.
His vision, shared with Bill Scheunemann, was both simple and ambitious: create a CNC-cut wooden kit, intuitive to assemble on a building jig. A boat democratic in construction, yet capable of becoming extraordinary in style.

I am not a naval architect.
My focus was not the hull, but the topside identity.

BUILDING IDENTITY THOUGH MATERIALS

Two ideas defined the project from the start:
to create identity through contrasting wood essences, and to design custom metal details rather than relying on catalog components.

The split cockpit layout was traditional for this type of boat.
The real challenge was to visually connect the space between the two windscreens across the deck.

DIRECTION, NOT DECORATION

The chromatic inspiration came from vintage Hawaiian longboards, where light and dark masses create horizontal tension and visual continuity.

The solution became a longitudinal rhythm in contrasting woods: a progression running from bow to stern, flowing across the deck, integrating into the leather seats, and closing within the curvature of the Barrel Back.

This is not decoration.
It is direction.

A COMPLETE DESIGN LANGUAGE

Every detail was conceived as part of a unified identity. The instrument panel was handcrafted in Modena from hand-polished stainless steel, while oval anti-slip inserts in rubber and steel were carefully integrated along the perimeter. The name, logo, and instrument dial graphics were all designed specifically for this project, ensuring that no element felt generic or borrowed.

BEYOND THE BOAT

The design extended beyond the hull itself, evolving into a coordinated ecosystem of objects. Onboard accessories and a dedicated timepiece were conceived to share the same visual language and material sensibility. This was never meant to be just a boat: it was designed as a complete object, where every component contributes to a coherent and recognizable whole.

RECOGNITION WITHOUT IMITATION

In Italy, it is often mistaken for a Riva.
In America, for a Chris-Craft.

When Riva’s designer, Mr. Barilani, personally called to compliment the design, I understood something rare had been achieved: tradition made recognizable, yet expressed in a personal language.

Saetta later won the award for Most Beautiful Classic Boat at a Florida boat show.

A FLOATING ARTWORK

But Saetta was never designed to win awards.

It is not a boat meant simply to move from one harbor to another.
It is a small floating artwork that glides across the water in style.

When you see it resting on a lake, you don’t think about destination.
You think about how to be there.