The Centre Français du Canot Automobile (CFCA) stands out as a unique place in Europe, dedicated to the motorboat tradition. Through a remarkable permanent collection and regular sales of vintage boats, it offers a space dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, sharing knowledge and appreciating the art of living associated with motorboating.
A motorboating sanctuary
The Centre Français du Canot Automobile (CFCA), located on the picturesque Arcachon Basin in La Teste-de-Buch, presents itself as an iconic venue dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the motorboat tradition. Founded in 2014 by Osenat's "Automobiles de Collection" department, this one-of-a-kind center brings together enthusiasts and collectors in a 1,400-square-meter space.
The CFCA houses a permanent collection of post-war wooden motorboats, including some of the world's most unique pieces from prestigious brands such as Riva, Chris Craft, Hors Bords and Runabouts. In addition to the static display, the center offers a dynamic selection of boats for sale, constantly renewed to meet the expectations of discerning buyers and collectors.
A commitment to heritage
In addition to showcasing its boats, CFCA offers a comprehensive range of services. Each boat offered for sale benefits from a detailed presentation on the Internet and in specialized publications, accompanied by a description drawn up by yachting historian Gérald Guétat. The center also provides optional services such as transport and light restorations to ensure optimum presentation of boats at sales.
Far from being just a collection centre, the CFCA is also a guardian of the memory of motorboating. It tells the fascinating story of this discipline, intimately linked to the evolution of the automobile and aviation. The pioneers of this technical, sporting and aesthetic adventure have opened up chapters that are often little-known, but always fascinating. While the common history focuses mainly on the beautiful lines and refined varnished wood of the motorboats of yesteryear, represented today by the famous Riva de la Dolce Vita, there are also hundreds of other, less famous but equally captivating units, built decades ago by exceptional craftsmen in France, Europe and the USA, at Chris-Craft, Seyler, Rio, Boesch or Rocca.
The CFCA showcases this extraordinary diversity of forms and creations, authentic witnesses to bygone eras that can sometimes arouse a certain nostalgia in visitors. Historian Gérald Guétat contextualizes each boat within its era and cultural heritage, offering visitors an enriching immersion in this particular branch of boating.
By bringing together enthusiasts and collectors in a dedicated setting, the CFCA aims to preserve a precious motorboating heritage threatened with extinction. For motorboat enthusiasts and the curious from all walks of life, it's a place where the past meets the present, in a glitter of varnished wood and chrome.
