Boatbuilder Marcel Brkić may have wanted the Leidi 990 to be completed sooner, but the yard could hardly have entered its anniversary year in finer fashion than by unveiling its newest and largest model to date. We first stepped aboard the Leidi 990 while she was still bare and under construction. Before that, we had seen her in computer renderings while Marcel talked us through the process of conception, design and construction.

From the outset, it was clear that this would be a proper little yacht. More voluminous than the existing 800, she is in fact an entirely new and considerably more complex boat. A perfectionist by nature, Marcel spared no effort to make every detail aboard her just right.

His yard cannot match the production capacity of international shipyards, but it can certainly match their quality. Its workforce of 18 local craftspeople builds between 10 and 15 boats a year. A new production hall is nearing completion and, together with the existing facility, will provide far better working conditions. For now, there are no plans to increase output significantly. The aim is to improve production, raise quality to an even higher level and build larger boats.

A Boat Made for Enjoyment

The Leidi 990 we tested is hull number one and the second example to be launched. Marcel built her for himself, but then a buyer appeared. The client had originally ordered a smaller model, but the moment he saw the Leidi 990 under construction, he did not hesitate for a second. We can understand why.

This is a boat made for pure enjoyment, entirely free of aggressive design elements. Every line is in harmony, and the whole boat radiates balance. The philosophy behind her creation was not to reinvent the wheel. The aim was to refine proven solutions as far as possible and create a boat for long, relaxed cruises through the Adriatic.

Everything offered by the smaller Leidi models is even more pronounced here. She is stable, solid, comfortable and beautiful, with still more space and luxury. She was built to serve not only her first owner, but his grandchildren too.

A Symbiosis of People, Boat and Sea

She looks lovelier still at sea, in her natural element. We found her moored stern-to, so all it took was a single step onto her large bathing platform. We cast off the lines and left Marina Polesana with the boatbuilder at the helm. Anyone who has met Marcel knows the particular delight with which he speaks about his boats. This occasion was no different.

As we eased out of the marina and warmed up the engine, he explained the reasoning behind every individual solution. Everything beneath your fingertips feels smooth and beautifully finished. It looks good. There is not a single edge that has not been meticulously treated. Everything that moves settles exactly into place.

As with so many things, the finest boats are those that do not try to be universal or pretend to be something they are not. The Leidi 990 has everything required for long, comfortable and safe cruising. Her owner can add further equipment to suit personal preferences, although moderation is advisable. The greatest pleasure comes from the boat herself and the time spent aboard.

Economical Even at Speed

She was not built for racing about, although she is fast. She planes with ease, but her hull design lies somewhere on the boundary between what we would call a semi-displacement vessel and a planing boat. A boater who chooses the Leidi 990 can cruise at 18 knots while consuming 40 litres of diesel per hour. At 8 knots, she uses 12 litres per hour, and at 5 knots a mere 2.5 litres. If time is pressing, she can reach 25 knots. In the twin-engine version, she achieves 31 knots.

Thanks to her superb construction, the elegant Leidi 990 will impress even those who favour sailing yachts. Stylistically, she remains faithful to the yard’s previous models and represents a logical step forward. The mass market fluctuates periodically and has slowed over the past year. But that does not apply to yards such as Leidi, which do not pursue mass production but focus instead on quality. A boat like this is intended for people who know exactly what they want. Their decision to buy a boat is not made overnight.

The Cockpit and Deck of the Leidi 990

This is the kind of boat on which most time is spent in the cockpit and at the bow. Both areas have therefore been designed to offer ample space and comfort. The cockpit is equally suited to socialising, relaxing and dining, as well as fishing and other activities. The bow has the feel of a yacht, with a large sunpad that can be shaded by a bimini top.

The boat’s exterior combines modern and classic design, with a wealth of carefully conceived details. The layout is asymmetrical, a solution seen with increasing frequency on motorboats of every kind. The reason is simple. Instead of two more or less narrow side decks, one is very wide while the other, though narrow, remains easy to negotiate.

The wider starboard passage is only one step above cockpit level and has a high side rail. The port passage is level with the foredeck and has a low rail. To avoid confusion, the rails are actually the same height, but the cabin is offset to port. This layout creates more room for the cockpit bench and enlarges the saloon. It also gives the skipper a more generous passage from the wheelhouse to the bow and stern, allowing for a quicker response.

The cockpit is deep and well protected on all sides. A gated passage to starboard leads to the large stern platform, which is spacious enough to carry a tender. It is fitted with a bathing ladder and an adjustable outboard bracket.

A stainless-steel rail runs around the entire cockpit, along the side decks and across the stern, and provides a convenient place for attaching fenders. The folding bimini top is also secured to this rail and connected to the cabin roof, ensuring plenty of deep shade.

The Engine Room

Beneath the benches are large lockers with room for fenders, mooring lines and lifejackets. There is also ample space for boat-cleaning equipment, fishing gear, buckets, the shore-power cable and other necessities. The entire cockpit sole is effectively one large engine-room hatch, raised hydraulically. If the engine ever needs to be removed, it can be lifted out without dismantling parts of the boat.

The engine room is completely separated from the interior and lined with 30 mm Airex insulation, which protects against noise, vibration, fumes and moisture. There is a surprising amount of space inside. Our test boat was fitted with a powerful 370 hp Yanmar engine.

There is sufficient room on either side to reach every part of the engine. This is where the qualities behind Leidi’s excellent reputation become most apparent. The same applies to the other systems, including the water heater, electrical installations and batteries. The exhaust runs beneath the hull through a fibreglass elbow positioned well above the waterline. This arrangement makes engine operation quieter and safer. The engine room is isolated so effectively that the boat will remain afloat even if water penetrates the compartment.

Large transparent fuel tanks are positioned on either side of the engine room and connected to a day tank, preventing the fuel from being heated unnecessarily. Their transparent walls also allow the fuel level to be checked visually should the sensors fail.

The yard also considered access to the tank openings and sensors, allowing the tanks to be cleaned thoroughly without removal. A locker in the corner of the cockpit bench accommodates two gas bottles. For an additional level of safety, an electric shut-off valve has been fitted, with an emergency switch in the galley.

A Year-Round Saloon

During the summer months, the sliding door between the saloon and cockpit will remain open most of the time, as will the door beside the helm. The custom-made aluminium doors were produced in Slovenia. When the weather turns cooler, or mosquitoes become a nuisance on summer evenings, everyone can move inside and continue socialising in the saloon.

A bench wraps around three sides of the large table and comfortably seats several adults. And what would a place for dining and entertaining be without a galley? The cook has a functional worktop, a three-burner gas hob and a large sink. If more room is required to prepare an elaborate meal, the table is within easy reach.

Above and below the worktop are cupboards, drawers and storage compartments, while a large refrigerator is located beneath the bench opposite the sink. Lowering the table creates another large berth, spacious enough for “one and a half people”. The saloon feels exceptionally airy and is surrounded by glass, yet can be closed off completely with curtains in a matter of moments.

The saloon is naturally well ventilated, and the sliding window on the port side can also be opened. From inside, visibility is excellent in almost every direction. From the helm, every corner of the boat is visible, forward, aft and to either side. The console is attractive, clearly arranged and equipped with modern navigation instruments.

The skipper has digital charts displayed on a large Garmin MFD, a Garmin autopilot and a Yanmar interface for monitoring engine parameters. There are also  analogue gauges showing the levels in the fuel, fresh-water and black-water tanks.

Other equipment includes an anchor-chain counter, bow-thruster controls, switches and Yanmar’s digital throttle lever. The panel also houses the Zipwake interceptor controls, switches for the lights, windscreen wipers, horn, pumps and windlass, as well as a traditional compass. Everything is close at hand.

A Surprise Below Deck

Designers Jure Kršanac and Brkić, together with the entire team behind the Leidi 990, deserve particular praise for the layout below deck. Within a hull whose waterline measures 8.2 m, they have managed to accommodate what might have seemed impossible. The forward cabin is genuinely large, with standing headroom, generous wardrobes and windows in both the hull and coachroof. The large double berth can be approached from three sides.

Beneath the cockpit is the guest cabin, with standing headroom at the entrance, a large wardrobe and a spacious double berth beneath the lower section of the ceiling, yet with sufficient room to climb in easily. The area beneath the cockpit is also pleasantly bright, thanks to hull windows and a small window looking into the galley floor.

The entire bathroom forms one large shower enclosure with a high ceiling, spacious enough even for larger people to shower comfortably. It also features an elegant washbasin of the kind usually found aboard much larger luxury yachts, together with cupboards, mirrors and a small window for natural ventilation.

And then comes the surprise. A small door in the bathroom leads into a space that can serve either as an exceptionally large onboard storage compartment or as a third cabin. Whichever purpose it is given, this space is worth its weight in gold on longer cruises.

Built to Last

The entire interior below deck and in the saloon is made from strong waterproof plywood with a durable laminated finish that replicates the texture and colour of wood. The joinery was produced using CNC technology by Fine Line of Matulji. It looks attractive and bright and is exceptionally resistant to UV radiation. It will not scratch or peel easily and is virtually everlasting, Marcel explains.

During installation, every element aboard was bonded in place with a flexible compound. As a result, there are no squeaks or rattles, while vibration and noise have been reduced to an absolute minimum. It should also be emphasised that the entire boat is exceptionally well soundproofed. Even under way with the doors open, conversation is easy and there is no need to raise our voices. Once every door is closed, only a soft, deep murmur from the engine remains. It is therefore possible to converse inside even when the boat is travelling at maximum speed through a short chop.

The new eight-cylinder Yanmar 8LV370 engine also contributes to this refinement. Its displacement is 4.46 litres, and it produces 370 hp between 3,250 and 3,800 rpm. The engine has been installed as far forward as possible. The test boat was fitted with a V-drive transmission, while a sterndrive with an extended cardan shaft is also available.

Paired with a large 40 cm diameter propeller, the propulsion system delivers consistently strong thrust and responds quickly even at low revs. This makes economical cruising at the optimum speed possible. Designer Jure Kršanac worked with Marcel and the shipyard team on the boat’s aesthetics. Her structure, hydrostatics and certification were entrusted to Nataša and Petar Preović of Adria Yacht Design in Krk.

A Modern Leidi 990

The entire boat is built using advanced composite sandwich technology, with vinyl ester resin, glass fibre and a core of waterproof foam. This technology ensures a strong boat with less weight than conventional fibreglass construction.

The core is resistant to moisture and marine conditions, an essential prerequisite for longevity. The complete interior, from the collision bulkhead to the aft bulkhead, is formed as an inner moulding. The monolithic structure continues uninterrupted through the engine room and all the way to the transom.

Two large Victron solar panels in rigid frames are installed flush with the surface of the hardtop. Their combined maximum output is 740 W. This amount of solar power provides the greatest onboard luxury of all, without any need to run the engine or connect to shore power.

The boat comes onto the plane shortly after 2,000 rpm, without assistance from the interceptors used for additional trim. She remains stable under way. We did not have an opportunity to test her in high seas, but she crossed her own circular wake with effortless ease. Thanks to the deep-V section at the bow, she cuts through the sea with ease. Her high bow keeps spray well away from the deck. In rain or when seas break over the boat in rough weather, the windscreen wipers will do their job.

She heels very little in a turn, even at moderate planing speeds, particularly when the interceptors are active. At rest, waves rock her only gently, with almost no movement felt on deck.

The boat inspires confidence, while Yanmar’s smooth digital control system makes her easy to handle at low revs. When manoeuvring and berthing in confined spaces, the powerful and instantly responsive bow thruster is ready to assist.

Our impression is that this is a genuinely well-designed boat, with ideal proportions for extended cruising in the Adriatic. The build quality is of the highest possible standard. The starting price of €220,000 has been set appropriately. We are confident that the Leidi shipyard will continue building the 990 for many years to come, and that these boats will become a familiar sight at sea.

Leidi 990
Length overall	9.90 m
Hull length	8.20 m
Beam	3.30 m
Draft	0.90  m
Weight, depending on options	5.2 t – 6.2 t
Fuel capacity	2 x 230 l
Fresh-water capacity	300 l
Black-water tank	60 l
Inboard engine	Yanmar 8LV370
Cabins	2-3
Berths	6-8
CE category	B (offshore)
Design	Jure Kršanac / Leidi
Base price	from €220,000

WORDS Teo Marević
PHOTOGRAPHY Teo Marević and Marin Srzić
Originally published in issue 277 of More, April/May 2024.