Since 1932
A story of wood, water and passion
VABA Boats Lake Como has existed since 1932. Our passion for wooden boats and Lake Como lives on in our boatyard and in every trip.
Since 1932
Our story began in 1932, with a simple passion: wooden boats and the beauty of Lake Como. That passion still lives on today in our boatyard and in every journey we share with our guests.
1932 is the starting point of the VABA story. Today, we express that connection to the lake through our wooden boats. The landscape changes with every season; the pleasure of seeing it from the water remains.
A boat with a soul
To us, a wooden boat has a soul. You can feel it in the grain of the mahogany, the reflections dancing across the hull and the details that grow more beautiful with time. Preserving that character takes patience, skilled hands and respect for the material.
Look closely at a deck: light falls differently on every grain, a curved line leads the eye towards the bow, and the lake reflects on the polished surfaces. These are details to experience, not just photograph. Wood gives the journey a tangible, unmistakable character.
Our own boatyard
At our own boatyard, we work with wood, restore details and care for our boats personally. Among the scent of timber and freshly polished surfaces, we keep the craft of traditional wooden boat care alive. We know our boats intimately, from their smallest fittings to the way they move through the water.
A boat's beauty is more than its image. It is also the relationship between its spaces: a seat facing the shore, the passage from indoors to outdoors, a deck opening onto the landscape. Care for wood and consideration for the people on board belong to the same idea.
Private tours on Lake Como
VABA Boats Lake Como brings that passion to life through private tours on Lake Como. On board, the warmth of wood meets historic villas, quiet villages and mountains reflected in the lake. Every view invites you to slow down, look a little closer and enjoy the moment.
Como, the gardens of Cernobbio, the shores around Bellagio: from the water, these places are not a checklist. Reflections, mountain silhouettes and small harbours connect them. We prefer to leave room for the landscape and choose with you how much time to give it.
Become part of our story
Whether you are discovering Lake Como for the first time, celebrating an anniversary or simply spending a beautiful day together, we invite you to become part of our story. We welcome you aboard boats we care for ourselves, with the same attention we give to your experience.
A day for two, a gathering of friends, an occasion to remember: the reason for a journey may change. Our idea of exclusivity stays simple. A private boat, the lake ahead, and attention to the small details that make time together personal.
Our story lives in the wood. The next memory begins with you.
VABA Boats Lake Como has existed since 1932. Our passion for wooden boats and Lake Como lives on in our boatyard and in every trip.