2018 One-Off “CAOBA” – unik Hemingway-inspire, 1.195.000 DKK

The CAOBA 690 is a truly unique, Danish-built one-off, where a classic mahogany boat, modern construction, and high speed come together in one exceptionally unusual motorboat.

The boat was built in 2018 by master carpenter Per Mejer Rasmussen and is the result of more than 2,500 hours of craftsmanship. The classic lines and mirror-smooth mahogany evoke the elegant motorboats of a bygone era, while the construction, engine, and equipment are modern.

CAOBA is thus not built as a traditional plank-built wooden vessel. The hull is constructed using plywood, epoxy, and fiberglass mesh and finished with genuine Honduran mahogany/mahogany veneer. The result is a strong and lightweight structure that combines the exclusive look of mahogany with modern construction techniques.

150 hk Mercury and up to approx. 40 knots

A 2018 Mercury 150 hk EFI outboard motor is mounted at the stern, giving CAOBA a top speed of around 40 knots. The combination of the relatively lightweight hull and modern engine makes the boat fast and easy to handle, standing in stark contrast to its classic appearance.

CAOBA is also more than just a design piece. The spacious cockpit offers excellent opportunities for day trips, relaxing, and fishing, while the cabin, galley, refrigerator, and toilet make it possible to use the boat for weekend getaways as well.

Equipment includes, among other things:

2018 Mercury 150 hk EFI
Stainless steel propeller
Garmin GPSmap chartplotter
Garmin autopilot
VHF
Echo sounder and fish finder
Compass and log
Galley with stove and refrigerator
Toilet
Pressurized water and water tank
Shore power and battery charger
Swim platform
Sun awning
Anchor
1 x 110 Ah starter battery and 1 x 110 Ah service battery

The Story Behind CAOBA

The inspiration for the boat came during a trip to Cuba, where Per Mejer Rasmussen saw Ernest Hemingway’s famous motorboat, the Pilar. That experience sparked the desire to create a modern Danish interpretation of the classic design.

The goal was not to build a direct copy, but to draw inspiration from the Pilar and combine it with a planing hull, modern materials, and contemporary propulsion.

The name CAOBA means “mahogany” in Spanish and is a natural reference to the material that largely defines the boat’s appearance.

Over the years, the construction project and the finished boat have attracted considerable attention. Bådmagasinet covered the construction process in several articles, and CAOBA has also been featured on TV 2.

A Danish One-Off

There is only this one CAOBA.

This makes the boat appealing to buyers who are not looking for yet another mass-produced motorboat, but rather something unique—with classic lines, modern performance, Danish craftsmanship, and a documented history.

CAOBA can be viewed in Vordingborg by appointment.

TV 2’s coverage of the construction project:
https://nyheder.tv2.dk/lokalt/2018-05-12-toemrermester-bruger-2500-timer-paa-at-bygge-kopi-af-hemingways-baad