Every Exceptional Tale Begins with Extraordinary People
In the annals of friendship, some stories transcend the ordinary, weaving bonds that reach back through the tapestry of time. Leopoldo Rodriquez, Bartolo D'Arrigo and Daniele Natoli are far more than ‘just a few friends’.
Their connection stretches beyond the boundaries of mere camaraderie. Their shared story, unlike any contrived marketing narrative, was woven together by the fascinating depths of their collective nautical history.
Leopoldo's grandfather, Carlo Rodriquez, a creative and enterprising man, designed, patented operated commercial hydrofoils, from 1953 onwards.
Bartolo’s grandfather played a pivotal role in the construction process of hydrofoils, along with numerous other critical elements of Rodriquez Hydrofoil.
Meanwhile, the birth of naval architect Daniele Natoli reads like a nautical legend – having (serendipitously) entered this world aboard one of the hydrofoils, between the enchanting islands of Lipari and Milazzo, Sicily. Notably, his birth certificate bears the signature of a trusted hydrofoil captain, who, whilst diligently serving Carlo Rodriquez's renowned navigation company, SNAV, aboard a Pt50 Rodriquez Hydrofoil, undertook the noble task of snipping little Daniele's umbilical cord.
Their entwined destinies are too extraordinary to be manufactured – and whilst we could have concocted an alluring marketing narrative, the genuine story of their connection surpasses anything we could have imagined.
Bartolo was a former Jetski, rally car, and go-kart racer, whilst Leopoldo indulged in off-road biking, surfing, long-haul sailing, and wakeboarding. Daniele's role, the silent guardian of this intrepid duo, and by all means no less vital, revolves around ensuring the survival of these two adventure enthusiasts during their escapades.
The SuperNano was born of an idea sparked by the rediscovery of an aged and rather odd-looking product at San Bartolo Nautica yard.
Priding ourselves on being ahead of the curve within the maritime space since 1887, and possessing a keen eye for opportunity, the Rodriquez Team swiftly began to lay the foundations of what would later become, the SuperNano.
The result of 3 years of research and development, the SuperNano is a masterpiece of ingenuity and meticulous planning, in which numerous desirable attributes have been drawn together, to offer far more than a devilishly good-looking personal watercraft.
SuperNano for all
The result of 3 years of research and development, the SuperNano is a masterpiece of ingenuity and meticulous planning, in which numerous desirable attributes have been drawn together, to offer far more than a devilishly good-looking personal watercraft.
The Mission: Raising the Bar
Our aim was to craft a vessel that embodied versatility - offering unwavering stability, reliability, ease of maintenance, affordability, and a double dose of excitement. It needed to be aesthetically pleasing whilst remaining affordable, allowing for competitive racing sessions against fellow enthusiasts.
For Rodriquez, experienced in passenger transport vessels, safety and reliability are paramount. Our goal was to create a watercraft so unique and well-balanced that even a supervised child could operate it. We're proud to say that we've succeeded in this endeavour. A well-tapered power-to-weight ratio further enhances safety and user-friendliness.
The SuperNano boasts a gentle learning curve, ensuring that even inexperienced users can easily adapt. Its design provides a driving experience that's remarkably similar to driving a car or a go-kart, ensuring ease of operation for beginners.
While the SuperNano may not come with all the extravagant features of a standard 007 amphibious vehicle, it does offer a foot throttle, opposed to the conventional hand-operated lever, as well as separated gears – simplifying operation even further.
Design: It’s all in the details
The SuperNano’s hybrid catamaran hull makes it the convenience king. Easy to store (preferably in the place of that old Jetski that drained your finances with maintenance and running costs over two years, an expense the SuperNano can spread over a decade), and capable of being placed on any swimming platform without the need for a cradle.
If you ever fancy a gentle glide onto a sandy shore, simply elevate the engine with the straightforward push of a button. Additionally, the process of hauling and launching from the shore becomes notably more accessible, ensuring quick and effortless getaways.
This design also increases the vessels’ ability to bear a heavier load, attributed to the efficient weight distribution and reinforced buoyancy; picnic al mare, don’t mind if do.
We've created the SuperNano to offer simplicity and customisation. You can easily mount your preferred outboard motor, whether from a previous vessel or brand new, in just a matter of hours. This streamlined process minimises downtime, speeds up maintenance, and cuts costs.
The SuperNano Experience
Being aboard the SuperNano ensures excellent visibility for everyone. With such a minor difference between the SuperNano’s internal flooring, and the external water level, there lip of the hull is almost non-existent.
This not only enhances the overall ride experience, but also acts as an additional safety feature, especially in busy waters with swimmers and divers. Being so close to the water also allows for far greater ease of getting into the water and reboarding – not to mention being able to don a pair of goggles and check out what lays beneath with ease.
Safety: Stability’s the name of the game
Catamarans are favoured by many and are rapidly gaining a significant portion of the mono-hull market, for a host of reasons, but perhaps none greater than the stability and efficiency provided by their distinctive double hull, a feature shared by the SuperNano.
The SuperNano's design ensures a smoother and safer experience, primarily attributed to its inverted arch shape, in contrast to the traditional V-shaped hull design. This construction effectively disperses any bumps and jolts, enhancing stability and comfort.
Ensuring seaworthiness is a fundamental principle deeply ingrained in the Rodriquez family's shipbuilding legacy, which spans more than a century. With a rich history in ferry and maritime transportation production, we are committed to crafting vessels that exemplify reliability and sturdiness. Our rigorous testing and meticulous refinement processes guarantee the utmost dependability.
Leopoldo Rodriquez himself has personally conducted over 400 nautical miles of testing on the SuperNano prototype, accompanied by a highly skilled (and well-fed) engineering and production team. This hands-on approach underscores our dedication to delivering a product that can be relied upon in all marine conditions.
Commercial Utility: A Clear Choice
Weighing in at a mere 120kg, the SuperNano boasts straightforward operation, effortless maintenance, versatile customisability, and exceptional stability, making it an invaluable addition to the tourism and rental sector.
Mounting smaller engines with less than 10HP enables license-free usage in most countries. Moreover, it offers the flexibility to replace the engine with a higher-powered one, up to 50HP, in just 1-2 hours, using readily available tools.