ON SET WITH MAUGAN NION, AN AMPHIBIOUS BOAT BECAME A STAR IN LA MAISON SERIES

This month, we had the pleasure of interviewing Maugan at the shipyard, where he works as part of the after-sales service team. The conversation provided valuable insights into his role and passions at Iguana Yachts. From technician to actor, you will also learn about his role in the new Apple TV series La Maison, featuring an Iguana boat.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF

I began with a CAP in the maintenance and repairs of pleasure boats, followed by a professional baccalaureate in nautical maintenance at the Nautical Institute of Brittany. Ever since I was a child, I knew what I wanted to do: repair boats. As soon as I finished secondary school, I attended a maritime high school to complete my CAP and baccalaureate over 3 years in a work-study program. My schedule alternated between 2 weeks at school and 2 weeks at work. I worked in Dive-sur-Mer at a boat repair yard.

This passion was passed down to me by my father, who has always owned a boat. We have been fishing together since I was 7 years old. That is how my love for pleasure and motorboats was born.

Then, I discovered Iguana Yachts. The product is innovative and exceptional, so I wanted to be part of the Iguana adventure.”

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE AT IGUANA YACHTS ?

“I joined Iguana as a member of the production team. It was the job offer that introduced me to amphibious boats and the company. I was almost shocked to learn this kind of technology existed, especially in Normandy.

I contributed to the production of 35 boats and became a technical manager in charge of before-decking. 3 years ago, I transitioned in the after-sales service, which resembled my first job, focusing on boat repairs and mechanics.”

This position aligned more with the skills I gained during my studies. Additionally, traveling abroad for the company was a new experience for me, as I had never taken business trips on such a scale. It contributed significantly to my personal development, particularly through learning English.”

It feels surreal to be at Iguana today, as I believe amphibious boats are the future of boating. Owning an amphibious boat is a major advantage because it eliminates many of the limitations of traditional boats. The amphibious technology offers so much, and I am very grateful to have discovered this world through Iguana Yachts.

A DAY AS AN AFTER-SALES AGENT

There is no typical day, which is what makes after-sales service so unique. A workday is often based on emergencies. While we try to organize our days as much as possible, they are disrupted by the unexpected. Our priority is always to be available for customers, especially since we may need to travel to the ends of the earth at any moment. Additionally, we provide annual maintenance, often traveling to the customer’s location or a shipyard abroad to perform the service.”

I love the versatility this job offers. Over time, I have acquired a broad and specialized skill set, which is one of the aspects I enjoy most about working in the after-sales service. Being able to handle a variety of tasks is essential, especially when we’re at a customer’s site. We can not bring the entire Iguana team, so we must be capable of doing everything ourselves.”

For me, amphibious boats are the dream vessel for all pleasure sailors. They simplify navigation by overcoming tidal constraints, launching, towing, and the cost and space limitations in ports. Additionally, you can sail further and explore previously inaccessible areas.

BEHIND THE SCENES, AMPHIBIOUS ADVENTURES IN LA MAISON

For the record, a film production team contacted us to rent an Iguana for 1 week of filming, to feature the boat in the Apple TV series La Maison. I was asked to be present as technical support in case of any issues with the yacht during the shoot. But, because the captiane was not confident about piloting the boat in such a rocky area, I took his role.

Fun fact, the day before filming, I started receiving calls from the hairdresser and makeup artist. As a technician, I was really confused about why I needed makeup .

I filmed with Lambert Wilson & Carole Bouquet, and we repeated the same scene several times. On set, I thought it was a simple project. But in reality, there were years of work and a significant investment. For example, 1 scene required more than 1.5 hours of filming with multiple takes and camera angles. The amount of work is huge!”

 After a week of filming, I think you’ll see me on screen for about 30 seconds in the series! It’s a massive amount of work for a spectacular result. It was a busy week, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience a new environment. I hope the footage I was part of looks great and that you will enjoy it. Be sure to look for the Iguana!”

Interested in joining the team? Check out our latest positions. 

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FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET A SUMMER 2024 SLOT

Take your final chance to acquire an Iguana yacht before the upcoming 2025 summer season. Reserve one of the final open slots in our shipyard for summer 2025 to get your amphibious boat ready for the sunny season ahead and enjoy the exceptional features that