Maxspar srl — Since 1994
Maxspar srl was founded in 1994 by Enrico Franchetti in the Port of Genova, in the heart of the Mediterranean and directly on the waterfront. Since its foundation, the company has specialised in the production of single-piece carbon fibre masts of large dimensions — a technology that requires dedicated equipment, advanced know-how and complete mastery of composite materials.
Over the years we have equipped some of the fastest racing yachts in the world and a long list of élite superyachts, working alongside the leading naval architects of our time — including German Frers, Ron Holland and Guillaume Verdier.
The Founder
Enrico Franchetti's passion for sailing began in his earliest youth, racing at the Lega Navale in Genova. That same passion, refined over a lifetime spent on and around the water, became the foundation on which Maxspar was built in 1994.
Today, after more than 40 years of mast building, Enrico Franchetti has delivered over 5,000 masts for sailing yachts — from small one-design dinghies to the largest superyachts afloat — a track record matched by very few manufacturers in the world.
The Carbon Revolution
Maxspar's current technology is the result of two years of intensive testing and research, which led to the selection of the most demanding but most rewarding manufacturing route: pre-impregnated carbon laminated on a male mould and cured in autoclave. The result is a single-piece, monolithic spar — without lateral joins or bonded interfaces — directly derived from the construction logic of the aerospace industry.
Working at this scale means controlling every step of the process internally. Our workshops independently produce every part of the mast, the rigging and the accessories, remaining completely autonomous and able to solve any technical problem in-house. Each mast is built around the specific characteristics of the vessel, its sail plan and the owner's performance targets.
Facilities
Our facility in Via al Molo Giano, on the waterfront of Genova Porto, is among the most complete in Europe dedicated to the design, construction and service of yacht spars. We operate exclusively in the spars and rigging field — masts, booms and standing rigging — and within this scope we are fully autonomous:
- Autoclave curing oven: ø1300/2000mm diameter, 70m length, max 6 bar / 120°C
- Air-conditioned clean room for pre-impregnated carbon lamination
- Refrigerated storage cells for pre-impregnated materials
- 70m paint curing oven with atmosphere control
- Hydraulic rod press for diameters up to 25.4mm (#150)
- Rigging test station up to 50 tonnes load
- Quayside crane for masting and demasting yachts directly from our workshop — a unique logistic advantage
From Yacht Engineering to Architecture
The competence developed in the calculation and construction of large-scale composite structures has allowed us to apply the same technology to ambitious architectural projects. Among the most significant: the structural ties of the "Bolla" — the geodesic dome built in Genova for the G8 2001 summit — together with the spire of the Athens Cultural Center and the mast of the Krause Gateway Center in Des Moines, both for projects by Renzo Piano.
These projects are the most direct proof of our engineering competence: the ability to size, laminate and deliver composite structures that perform predictably under real-world loads — whether at sea or as the load-bearing element of a landmark building.