Design Brief & Intent
The Mojito 1088 was built to satisfy a highly demanding mission: delivering legitimate double-digit sailing speeds, offshore capability, and shallow-water flexibility without sacrificing the fundamental comforts of cruising. The defining engineering feat of the design is its integrated dinghy garage, an unprecedented luxury on a boat of this length. Pierre Rolland achieved this by running a tunnel forward under the cockpit floor, allowing a tender to be hauled directly into the stern. To make room for this garage, the twin spade rudders are pushed out to the margins of the transom, and the aft accommodations are shifted forward toward the center of the boat.
Inside, the shift in layout creates a highly unconventional interior arrangement. The main structural bulkhead is stepped forward, compressing the forward cabin into a cozy "Breton bed" layout, while the saloon and navigation station gain an exceptional amount of volume. The interior joinery highlights French minimalist efficiency, relying on high-grade composite panels, light oak trims, and clean, white gelcoat surfaces that prioritize weight saving and moisture resistance. The defining interior feature is the panoramic coachroof, which provides a 360-degree view of the horizon from the settee, filling the saloon with natural light and reducing the claustrophobia common on long ocean passages.
Variations & Configurations
While sharing the exact same hull and twin-rudder architecture as the Malango 1088, the Mojito 1088 is distinguished by its unique deck mold. The shipyard offers two primary interior configurations: a three-cabin layout accommodating larger families, and a highly practical two-cabin version. The latter replaces the second aft cabin with an expansive, dedicated technical room and workshop, which is the preferred choice for long-distance cruising couples who need to store heavy spares, sails, and tools.
The standard underbody configuration is a hydraulic swing-keel system. Drawing an impressive 9 feet 2 inches with the keel fully extended, it can be raised to a meager 3 feet 7 inches. In conjunction with its flat-bottomed aft sections and twin spade rudders, this allows the Mojito 1088 to dry out effortlessly. To facilitate beaching, the shipyard engineered an ingenious telescopic beaching leg system that can be deployed directly from the cockpit without entering the water. The rig is a modern, high-aspect fractional sloop, typically paired with a fixed bowsprit to carry massive asymmetric spinnakers and code sails.
Sailing Performance & Handling
The physical numbers behind the Mojito 1088 reveal a boat built for raw efficiency. Sporting a featherlight displacement of 9,921 pounds on a waterline of over 35 feet, it boasts an ultra-light displacement-to-length ratio of 96.85, putting it squarely in the planing category. Under sail, its sail area-to-displacement ratio of 27.6 represents a massive horsepower-to-weight index, allowing the boat to slip away in light air when traditional cruising yachts are forced to turn on the standard 30-horsepower Yanmar engine.
At the helm, the wide-beam design behaves like a race boat. Pierre Rolland integrated a pronounced double-chined hull. When heeled, the lower chine digs in to provide immense form stability, working alongside a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 33.33 percent to keep the boat stiff and upright. The twin spade rudders ensure that even when hard-pressed under a heavy reach, the helmsman retains absolute control without the risk of wiping out. Its capsize screening formula of 2.44 reflects its wide, stable beam, but also indicates that this is a modern, beamy hull form designed to ride over seas rather than punch through them. Consequently, its comfort ratio of 13.87 is low, signaling a quick, motion-intense ride in choppy head seas where a light-displacement hull will inevitably feel active and lively rather than heavy and damp.
Market Snapshot & Economics
Because IDB Marine is a boutique French builder focused on high-quality composite construction rather than assembly-line volume, the Mojito 1088 is a rare find on the brokerage market. The vessels command a premium when they do appear, trading at highly stable values due to their unique feature set—namely, the swing-keel versatility and the dinghy garage.
Potential buyers must evaluate the complexity of the hydraulic lifting keel mechanism, as well as the composite construction. IDB Marine employs vacuum infusion, utilizing high-density foam cores that offer excellent stiffness and thermal insulation. Prospective owners should also look out for specialized "Virgin" editions of the boat. These eco-conscious versions utilize flax fibers, cork, and recycled PET core materials instead of standard fiberglass, requiring surveyors experienced in alternative composite laminates during pre-purchase inspections.
The Verdict
The Mojito 1088 is a masterclass in French naval architecture, offering a highly specialized blend of raw speed, shallow-draft freedom, and sensible cruising comfort. It is not a boat for traditionalists seeking a heavy, motion-damping cruiser, but rather a sophisticated tool for modern sailors who prioritize performance, beaching capability, and clever space utilization.
Pros
- Innovative, dedicated stern dinghy garage that keeps the deck clean and clear.
- High-performance hull form capable of effortless planing and high daily averages.
- Hydraulic swing keel allows deep-keel performance with the ability to dry out flat on the beach.
- Panoramic coachroof provides exceptional natural light and 360-degree visibility from the saloon.
- Excellent construction quality using advanced vacuum infusion techniques.
Cons
- Quick, lively motion in head seas due to light displacement and flat hull sections.
- Compressed forward cabin space to accommodate the forward-shifted aft cabins.
- High complexity and maintenance requirements for the hydraulic lifting keel system.
- Scarce availability on the global brokerage market outside of Western Europe.
