Callegari Sets Out Six-Model Chase-Boat and Tender Plan for 2027

Callegari is setting out a wider RIB and tender strategy following the public debut of its full-carbon Callegari 48, with plans for a family of six sizes extending from roughly seven to 20 metres alongside the 14.94-metre flagship. In an interview published on 30 October 2026, sales manager Giampaolo Capponi described how the revived Italian brand is addressing both private owners and the superyacht chase-boat market. The new development is the prospective range and delivery ambition, not a second launch of the 48, which had already been shown at Cannes and Monaco.

A 2027 fleet target, not confirmed deliveries

Capponi told PressMare that the company expects to have four units of the Callegari 48 sold and afloat during 2027. That statement is a target for the coming year, not evidence that four completed boats have already been delivered or that every sale is unconditional. The company says it has signed contracts and has seen interest from owners seeking onboard space as well as from large-yacht clients looking for a fast chase boat. The distinction matters because a large tender can be deployed for shore visits and short independent trips without occupying guest accommodation aboard the mother yacht.

Why the 48 is pitched at superyacht owners

The builder describes the Callegari 48 as a full-carbon maxi RIB with the living arrangements of a compact motor yacht. Official specifications list 14.94 metres in length, a 4.80-metre beam and a two-cabin interior with a separate shower area. This is a substantial craft by tender standards, but its intended job differs according to the owner. A private buyer may use it as a weekend yacht, while a megayacht owner can use a similar platform as a chase boat that transports passengers, equipment and crew away from the principal vessel.

Capponi's 30 October remarks explicitly identify that crossover. He said owners of larger yachts value an elegant chase boat that has its own cabins, giving personnel usable accommodation without displacing guests from the main yacht. The layout includes a forward double cabin and a twin cabin aft, together with an enclosed bathroom and separate shower. Outdoor spaces are emphasised as well, with open lounging zones fore and aft. The exact operational suitability for a particular superyacht would still depend on towing arrangements, crew, local rules and the tender's specified equipment.

Carbon structure and twin-engine performance

Callegari says its 48 uses carbon composite construction for the hull, deck and hardtop, drawing on the aerospace experience of the Recchia industrial group and sister company Aviorec. The builder's materials describe infusion processes and controlled post-curing as part of its lightweight design approach. In the PressMare interview, Capponi put the combined structure of hull, deck and hardtop at approximately 3,500 kilograms and the fully equipped craft at around ten tonnes. Those figures were presented by the company and should be treated as design or reported weights rather than a verified displacement survey of every configuration.

A twin-600hp Mercury installation is among the headline propulsion choices. Capponi described a top speed of approximately 47 knots and a cruising speed around 36 to 37 knots in his interview. The manufacturer website advertises a maximum of 50 knots and a more conservative cruising-speed band of 30 to 34 knots; those differences may reflect specification or operating assumptions, and should not be collapsed into a single achieved result. Owners comparing versions need the particular engine package, loading condition, and trial documentation. Callegari also lists an inboard Volvo Penta diesel alternative on its product page.

New technical tenders and a 20-metre model

The forward programme stretches below and above the current flagship's size. Capponi identified a seven-metre entry model, a roughly nine-metre boat and an 11-metre member of the technical T series as projects nearing completion. He said 13-metre and 20-metre models would complete a six-boat range when considered alongside the Callegari 48. The company's current website already presents Callegari 7, Callegari 10 and Callegari 48, indicating that not every planned size is at the same public presentation stage. Neither the interview nor the model pages establish firm launch dates for all six craft.

For superyacht managers, a technical tender has a different brief from a luxury chase boat. It may prioritise reliable boarding, practical equipment access and adaptability to daily vessel operations. A larger 20-metre model could address another use case entirely, but its specification remains preliminary in the material reviewed. The six-model outline is therefore best understood as a product roadmap, not a catalogue of completed and available boats. The yard has not supplied comparable speed, range or price tables for each prospective model in the 30 October interview.

Geniuss acquisition adds smaller tender capability

Callegari also points to its acquisition of Geniuss, a smaller-tender specialist with designs up to around 4.20 metres. The partnership had been disclosed previously, so the October interview does not represent a newly announced purchase. What it adds is an explanation of how Callegari intends to use the acquired range and patent knowledge within the broader tender strategy. Capponi referred to a Geniuss arrangement that puts the engine inside the tender, which the group sees as complementary to lightweight composite design.

The acquisition gives the revived brand exposure to a different end of the size spectrum from its 48-foot flagship. For a large yacht, that may mean options for compact service or guest tenders as well as a separate chase-boat platform, subject to a vessel's available storage and operating requirements. The technical details of the Geniuss designs are not fully set out in the new interview, and the intended release schedule remains to be established. It would be premature to assume a complete shared propulsion or service platform across all the company's proposed models.

The milestone to watch in 2027

Callegari traces its heritage to 1906, with inflatable-boat construction becoming part of its identity in the 1970s. The present relaunch under the Recchia group combines that branding with carbon manufacturing and yacht-like interiors. The Callegari 48 was displayed at the Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show in 2026, where the company gathered owner and industry feedback. Its next test is whether the combination of price, production capacity and build quality supports the stated ambition of having four 48-foot units sold and afloat in 2027.

There are several tangible developments for the industry to track: delivered hulls rather than orders alone, the next public technical-tender specifications, the planned 20-metre model and independently recorded performance for each propulsion option. Capponi's comments also show a deliberate distinction between high-performance luxury RIBs and utility tenders. For owners of larger superyachts, that is the meaningful story: a supplier seeking to serve multiple support-craft roles, with the current carbon 48 acting as the visible flagship while the remainder of the range is developed.

Primary source: PressMare interview with Callegari sales manager announcement. Builder or supporting detail: official or attributed reference.