VIAREGGIO. There was not an aspect of life in the port of Viareggio and its shipyards that was unknown to Giuseppe Balducci, one of the most important nautical entrepreneurs, who died yesterday at the age of 87. Born in Limite sull’Arno, Balducci began working at the Picchiotti shipyard at a very young age, as an apprentice electrician. It was 1954, the year in which the construction site was renovated and 100 people were hired thanks to the Marshall Plan. Balducci himself recounted that period, interviewed by his nieces Victoria Balducci and Eleonora Tomei, for the volume “Nautica. History is Us” wanted by Navigo. Among those 100 was the very young apprentice electrician Balducci. That in the Picchiotti shipyard, busy building “the minesweepers commissioned by the United States to Italy”, remained until 1971, becoming foreman. «At the beginning of the 1960s Baglietto and Picchiotti began making pleasure boats for private individuals», the story continues: «The history of Italian boating began from here. The construction sites immediately brought with them the supply of craftsmen: those who made, for example, winches or ladders began to make them in series. The growth of shipyards has always gone hand in hand with the growth of craftsmanship.”
With the end of Picchiotti, Balducci set up his own business and founded Elettromare, a cutting-edge company that created and still creates naval electrical systems. It was while traveling around Italy that Balducci encountered fibreglass: «It was immediately clear to me that Viareggio had to switch from wood to fiberglass as soon as possible. I believed in it so much that, as soon as the opportunity arose, I bought land in Massarosa to set up a building site.” Balducci involves the other prestigious brands: the idea is that of a single plant for fiberglass production. «When the construction site was ready, in 1982, they withdrew because they thought that fiberglass had no future. At that point, on my own, I began to supply hulls to many shipyards.” Once again Balducci’s vision is not wrong and numerous shipyards entrust him with the construction of their hulls. An unbeatable nose for business, a long view of the fast-paced world of sailing, a unique desire to innovate to bring unique boats to the market: these are the ingredients that have made the name of Giuseppe Balducci, his family (his children Katia and Maurizio) and family businesses.
It was 1985 when Balducci gave life to the Mangusta brand. At the time the fastest open ever was Tecnomarine’s Cobra. «One day his salesman, Gerardo Rodriguez, was fired and called me in despair», is the story that Balducci entrusted to his nieces: «He asked me to help him and I, who had just returned from Thailand where I had seen a fight between a cobra and a mongoose I said to him: “Ok, let’s get to work making a mongoose, because it’s the only animal that can beat the cobra”. Years later Balducci won the Mangusta brand in court. And this is another of the elements that distinguished him: when he felt he had to say no, he did so loud and clear. Whoever was in front of him.
The Overmarine shipyard was then born and would specialize in the construction of maxi-opens – recalls a company note – “fast with an unmistakable and timeless style, soon becoming a world leader in the construction of ships of this type”. Of the first maxi-open, the Mangusta 80, 85 examples will be built. What is now the Overmarine group, it is underlined, «is the result of the tireless enthusiasm of a man who believed in a great dream». And in the potential of Viareggio, being among the founding members of two companies in the port, Udina and ArPeCa. «Active until the end, he personally followed the construction of a new production plant in Pisa which will be inaugurated in the next few days».
Giuseppe Balducci «leaves the memory of a reserved man, with subtle irony and great love for his wife Bruna, his children Maurizio and Katia, his beloved grandchildren and all his collaborators who together with him built ships that have become icons for the nautical world. This is how the entire Overmarine team wants to remember him, who sincerely thank him and join the family in this delicate moment.”
The president of the Tuscan regional council also remembered Balducci on behalf of the entire Assembly: «A great Tuscan, an example for many industrialists who work in shipbuilding, one of the flagships of Tuscan industry».
Funeral today at 11am at Don Bosco church. Anyone who wishes can donate a donation in memory of Giuseppe to the Crea social cooperative, always dear to him.
