Enhance the know-how of molded wood construction
The Jollenkreuzer is a dinghy less than 10 m long designed in the 1970s in Germany. With the transfer of the construction, both his builders are dismissed by their employer. That's when Lothar Fichtner, owner of a 30-year-old Jollenkreuzer, learned the situation. Aware of their experience in cold moulded wood construction, he then decided to launch the shipyard, LA Yacht - und Bootsbau GmbH in 2014 and to recruit them, so that they could share their know-how within this new yard. After the refit of a Shark 24, the shipyard decided to build a new boat design, a 28-foot daysailer. A boat developed specifically by Lothar Fichtner for his own pleasure, and intended for his private winter residence in the Balearic Islands.
A fun design, but a showcase of know-how
Following the instructions "8.80 x 2.50 m mahogany keelboat", designer Martin Menzner from Berckemeyer Yacht Design designed this new model, with its modern lines and classic design. " The boat is not only fun, but also shows the ability of this new shipyard to build cold molded wooden mahogany hulls." explains the site manager. " We didn't try to design a simple retro/classical yacht, another copy of a Brenta (NDRL: from the B-yachts yard)" adds Lothar.
The LA28 is more than a retro classic exercise: the lively works are those of a modern keelboat, while the design of the dead works is both atypical and classic. There are surprising and elegant architectural codes. We are far from the classic slender bows, modern lively bilges or high superstructures. We discover a thin and low boat on the water, a very elegant canoe stem, a sensual rounded liston, very soft oval cross sections that remind us of the fuselage of an aircraft. This daysailer recalls the aesthetics of Manfred Curry's AERO II.
A top-of-the-range construction
The LA28 is not only a simple design, but also a construction method, with a cold molded wooden shell. The molded wood construction consists of crossing very thin wooden folds (2/3 mm) over several layers at 45° on a manikin. On this boat there are 5 vacuum glued wooden plies, while the partitions and screens are cut using a CNC (digital milling), as for the very efficient T-keel) it is a structural stainless steel beam reinforced by a carbon fairing, with a lead weight located at the bottom of the keel sail. LAs are available with a fixed keel or a hydraulic lifting keel.
This top-of-the-range construction highlights the moulded wood manufacturing method, which, thanks to its robustness and lightness, had its heyday before the advent of modern composites and the plasturgy industry. However, for very small series production and thanks to digital cutting tools, this method is quite relevant.
The LA28 has already been presented at several trade fairs since 2015 in Germany and several examples are already sailing in several navigation areas in Europe (lakes, Baltic Sea and Mediterranean). "Currently, we're building hull number eight." explains Lothar.
The LA35 also exists and with a length of 10.50, there is a kitchenette and 4 beds on board. The LA28 has only two berths. But what characterizes these two boats is the very large cockpit, to spend as much time as possible outside.
Beautiful, and fast
"The LA28 is not only beautiful, but also very efficient. With 8 knots of wind, upwind, the boat reaches a speed of 7 knots. Under gennaker, the speed is about 15 knots at 120° from the wind." explains Lothar.
It is necessary to count 100 000 ? HT for an LA28 with fixed keel, without sail and without motor. With X-Drive Carbon sails including a gennaker and a 2.0 kW Torqueedo electric motor, lithium battery, charger, etc. the boat displays a price of 120 000 ? HT. The price of the LA35 without sail and engine is ?205,000 excluding VAT.
