The flagship of the Verga 1958 fleet satisfies both requirements. It is comfortable when under way thanks to a hull that performs well even in rougher seas
by Niccolò Volpati – photo by Andrea Muscatello
Sixty-five years is quite an achievement, above all in the marine industry. Especially when it is a company that has never changed hands, never changed management. The only change has been generational. Today it is Stefano Bitturini’s turn to take over the boat part of the company. Yes, because Vergaplast is a production reality with a long history, but also with a wide production sector, of which boating is just one. Thus Verga 1958 was born, the company’s division dedicated to the production of boats, and the first of this new generation is the Sestante 6.8, a day boat, taxi boat, charter boat or simply a refined and elegant boat for spending a day on the lake or the sea. The design was developed by the yard in partnership with Matteo Costa. It has a very deep V to cut through the waves and high sides to protect the passengers in the cockpit and around the bridge. You really can’t fail to notice the Sestante 6.8.
What the Sestante 6.8 by Verga 1958 looks like
It has a 1960s, Dolce Vita look, both in terms of its lines and the pastel shades used for the hull. Verga 1958 lets buyers choose from a wide range of colours, all of them pastels. Even though it comes in at under seven metres overall, the versatile set-up means that the fore and aft sun pads can take five people. The foredeck features a U-shaped sofa with a high-low table, that when lowered changes the area into a relaxation zone. In the stern, a foldable back means the cockpit can make full use of the beam. There are swimming platforms on either side of the single outboard engine, which are also useful for getting onto the quay.
The versatile set-up both fore and aft means you can have a lot more seating or plenty of room for the two sun pads.
Quay access is also easy when moored bow-to as the anchor locker is a good foothold. Inside the locker, there is room for a windlass in addition to the chain. The advantage of having high sides is that you don’t need a guardrail to get around on board. You can do so safely because the side decks are very much lower than the sides. And so the design of the lines remains untouched, pop-up cleats are used all along the sides, whether fore, aft or midships. There is plenty of storage space, thanks to three lockers – two beneath the seats on the foredeck, and one under the cockpit sofa. There is no lack of shade either, as both the fore and aft decks can be fitted out with awnings. But Dolce Vita means comfort, and because it is a boat, that can’t be just when it is moored, but also has to apply when it is underway. Lake Como was rather problematic during the test, both because a fairly stiff wind was making the waves choppy and also because there was a lot of traffic on the water, so there was no lack of bow waves. We had a 150 horsepower Suzuki on the transom, the most powerful unit allowed, which meant that I got to some decidedly high speeds. The fastest I went was a shade under 37 knots, 36.9 to be precise.
The finish is very high quality, and the design reflects the typical style of the 1960s, although the Sestante 6.8 is a comfortable, modern boat.
The excellence of the keel made itself felt, both in its ability to cut through the waves and also in the easy way that it stayed on the plane at just 11.6 knots. Fuel consumption was also very good, so that up to thirty knots we didn’t use more than a litre per nautical mile. The size of the tank also means you get a good range. When turning through waves I appreciated the high sides that meant no spray got to me, not even in the cockpit and despite the stiff breeze. I thought the windscreen was the right size as it protected the skipper and mate as it should do, while not blocking sightlines while under way. The ergonomics are good because the steering wheel and throttle are both to hand, both when you are steering standing up and sitting down. The dashboard allows owners to choose between analogue and electronic instruments. To keep everybody happy, Verga 1958 has also come up with a fully electric version, with an onboard engine that delivers five hours of use at cruising speed.
Engine data
VERGA 1958
Via Monte Generoso, 7
I-22074 Lomazzo (CO)
T. +39 02 96370886
[email protected]
www.verga1958.it
PROJECT
Matteo Costa Yacht&Design and Shipyard technical department
HULL
LOA 6.78m • Maximum beam 2.23m • Fuel tank volume 187 l • Water tank volume 70 l • Maximum installable power 150 hp
MAIN PROPULSION
1x Suzuki D150AP • Outlet mechanical power 150 hp • 4 in-line cylinders • Swept volume 2,867 cc • Bore&Stroke 97mm x 97mm • Gear ratio 2.50:1 • Maximal rotational speed 5000-6000/min • Weight 236 kg
EC CERTIFICATION
CAT C
PRICE
Starting from 48,000 € (January 2025)
(Sestante 6.8 by Verga 1958 – La Dolce Vita – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, January 2025)
