GUY COUACH’S LEGACY

The passing of the creator of the prominent French shipyard

Guy Couach, founder of the famous French shipyard in Gujan-Mestras, passed away on January 6th, 2014, at the age of 88. One of the defining individuals of the French yachting industry, he left, in his wake, a boating legacy.

The grandson of Albert Couach, founder of Moteurs Couach, Guy Couach joined the family business in 1946 upon the launch of the first industrially built boats. Sixteen years later, he founded the Guy Couach shipyard. Specialized in the creation of boats with new types of composite materials such as fiberglass and resin, the shipyard created the world’s first yacht made of Aramat, a kevlar-based composite material, in 1970. This creation confirmed the shipyard’s prowess and quickly propelled them to one of the leading suppliers for marine law enforcement and naval authorities.

Providing his leadership and implication, Guy Couach stepped down from the company in 1986, leaving the company in the hands of his son, Pierre Couach. The shipyard turned towards the production of superyachts in 1996 and was purchased by Nepteam in 2011. The company continues to be specialized in luxury yachts and professional boats, still pursuing the innovative force of its namesake.