An adventure born of field experience
Fanale Marine is first and foremost the story of Pierre-André Paoli. After an initial career as a nature sports instructor, he turned to boating, and in 2007 set up the ILS company, specializing in boat rental on the Isolella peninsula. Sales were soon added to the business, in particular with the Italian semi-rigids Selva, 3D Tender, Kardis and Domino.
In 2013, together with Catherine Ghilain and Jean-Jacques Paoli, he founded the company U Fanale, which would become the backbone of the sales and boat-training business. In 2016, the trio launched the Fanale Marine brand. In 2017, the first prototypes were launched.
A Corsican industrial project structured in three phases
Fanale Marine was conceived as a structured industrial project, with the support of the Collectivité Territoriale de Corse and ADEC. The shipyard aims to become a sustainable part of the regional nautical industry, with a three-stage development plan:
- Phase 1: Leverage the expertise of Italian partners, world leaders in polyester hulls and hypalon floats, to produce the first units and initiate a skills transfer.
- Phase 2: Develop local know-how in conjunction with local training centers to gradually master the entire production chain.
- Phase 3: integrate cutting-edge technologies into models (engines, upholstery, energy, materials) and adapt boats to new environmental expectations
Effective industrialization in Pietrosella
Since February 2018, Fanale Marine has been based in Pietrosella, where a production hangar has been set up. An initial team of workers and a network of local craftsmen assemble the RIBs.
Today, our mastery of manufacturing enables us to innovate, create new models and adjust production to demand.
An ambition supported by the partnership with Honda Marine
In 2024, the signing of a partnership with Honda Marine marks a new stage for Fanale Marine. The shipyard now offers complete packages with Honda engines, renowned for their reliability and technology. This alliance enables the dealer network to offer ready-to-sail turnkey boats.
A complementary founding team
- Pierre-André Paoli, founder and managing director, oversaw the entire industrial project, after developing the nautical rental and training activities.
- Jean-Jacques Paoli, a mechanical engineer in the aeronautical industry, puts his technical expertise to work in the service of boat reliability.
- Catherine Ghilain, a lawyer by training, has structured the company's legal and commercial organization. She also oversees the transport business.
A range rooted in the Mediterranean
Fanale Marine is developing a coherent range of RIBs suitable for summer sailing, cruising, diving and touring. In 2025, the models bear Corsican names:
- Piuma 600
- Filanciu 650
- Falchettu 700
- New for 2025: Alpana 820
- Altagna Diving
- Altore e Sole 900 Open
- Altore 900 Cabin
- Libecciu 1000
An island brand with an international outlook
With concessions opening in Poland (2019), Spain (2020) and Croatia (2023), Fanale Marine is expanding its sales network outside Corsica.
Fanale Marine embodies a Corsican ambition rooted in its culture and focused on the industrial and nautical future, with one watchword: build locally high-performance boats that are Mediterranean at heart.
Key dates
- 2007: Pierre-André PAOLI founds ILS (rental business for the
- boats on the Isolella peninsula);
- 2009: start of sales of pleasure boats (SELVA, 3D TENDER, KARDIS, DOMINO);
- 2013: creation of U FANALE, a company dedicated to boat sales and boat training
- 2016: creation of the FANALE MARINE brand;
- 2017: inauguration and launch of the FANALE MARINE prototypes;
- Setting up a dealer network.
- 2018: opening of the Corsican site;
- 2019: opening of a dealership in Poland;
- 2020: opening of a dealership in Spain;
- 2023: opening of a concession in Croatia;
- 2024: HONDA MARINE partnership
