Francois Vivier

François Vivier began sailing in the nineteen sixties, when boats were mostly wooden, the shared creation of an architect and a boat builder.

Educated as an engineer and a naval architect, François worked in the shipbuilding and general maritime transport industries. He later served as director of the French Shipbuilding Research Institute. In 1981, François cofounded the magazine “Le Chasse- Marée”, a reference for wooden boat lovers in France. Needless to say, he is intimately familiar with all kinds of boats including sailboats, yachts, fishing boats, merchant ships, cruise vessels and navy ships.

For the last 30 years, he has contributed to the revival of heritage boats and the developement of sailing and rowing boats for the home builder. Having built several boats himself and having sailed on many traditional and classic boats, François has the experience needed to design beautiful and seaworthy wooden boats that can be easily built by amateurs.

We at Duckworks consider ourselves fortunate to be able to offer these wonderful designs to our customers, now that they have been translated into English. We can sell them to anyone except folks who live in the EU - those people or anyone who prefers to buy in Euros are urged to visit the designers own website: vivierboats.com (English) or francois.vivier.info (French) - European builders can purchase kits for most of these designs. Plans in French are available from the designer as well.

Classic and Traditional Sailboats

Beg-Meil - Gaff sloop; traditional daysailer

Béniguet - Pocket cruiser or daysailer w/ cabin & centerboard

Ebihen-15 - Seaworthy, stable fishing boat or family daysailer

Ebihen-16 - Larger version of the Ebihen-15 above

	Ebihen-18 - Larger, half-decked version of the Ebihens above
	Méaban - Classic, trailerable, centerboard cruiser for 3 or 4

Stir Ven - Lapstrake centerboard cruiser w/ cuddy cabin

Sail and Oar boats

Morbic 12 - Rowing/sailing/ motor dinghy with classic style

Aber - Rowing/sailing seaworthy centerboarder for 1 to 3

Ilur - Seaworthy centerboarder for daysailing or cruising

	Seil 18 - Large row/sail scandinavian pram for river cruising
	Youkou-Lili - Swampscott style rowing dory for ply lapstrake

Laïta - A Lapstrake Scandinavian style pram

10 good reasons to buy a Vivier plan, kit or boat:

1. Vivier boats are inspired by the best traditional or classic boats of Europe and North America. I do not propose hundreds of designs. I do prefer to concentrate on excellent ones, which are permanently improved. However, I am always prepared to draw something new to answer your particular needs.
2. Above all, I want boat-builder and/or boat-owner to be proud of his boat. To draw a beautiful, lovely, authentic, but also seaworthy, fast and reliable boat is my main concern.
3. Boats are also designed to cope with today's way of life. Most designs under 7 m (23') are trailerable. Many have a well for outboard in an optimum position. Other may be fitted with diesel engine of electric propulsion.
4. I always give to customer the best support, to choose the right design, to help during construction and even to get the best of your finished boat, without any extra charge. I do my best to give a quick response.
5. Plan package allows easy construction, even for the first time builder. No lofting, no special tools required, no difficult woodwork. You have the best opportunity to get a boat with a professional looking. Plan package includes detailed and clear drawings, comprehensive instructions, accurate material lists, all at the very best level.
6. In addition to plan package, you may buy either full scale patterns on polyester film or kit of plywood parts cut on NC machine. They are the best way to avoid mistakes, save some plywood panels, get a well shaped hull and gain a huge amount of time.
7. You may find free or cheap plans on the web. But most are ugly, not adapted to available supplies, not complying to regulations, without any building instruction... Buying a good plan package, as well as patterns or kit, avoids wasting material and above all ensures a satisfying work. The plan is your first expense in a boatbuilding project, but at end it is only a small amount of the overall budget and you will be fully reward. At the helm of your boat, you will never regret the money spent for a quality plan !
8. Wood and plywood are mostly chosen as the building material. Well engineered and associated with modern products, as epoxy system or polyurethane paint, it is by far the best choice for the home builder and does not require more care and maintenance than a mass produced GRP boat. Wood is also light and far stiffer than GRP, and therefore is ideal for trailerable boats.
9. All plans meet the EU rules and ISO standards, the highest references for safety. All open boats are fitted with generous buoyancy located to help righting up and bailing out water.
10. My boats are intended for both amateur and professional building. Boatbuilding partners are located in western Europe. Elsewhere, it is always possible to find a good professional.