vdL Composites at METS 2023
The METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, 15 to 17 November 2023, is the world’s largest B2B exhibition of marine equipment, systems and materials.
This year, organisers confirm there will be 1,300 exhibitors from 49 countries, estimated to attract around 17,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany will again attend in partnership to showcase the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company, vdL Composites GmbH.
vdL Composites GmbH offers lightweight construction solutions to many of Europe’s leading boat builders and design houses, and during the past 11 years, has also supplied customers in a range of different industries, including architecture and construction.
Inga Von Der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH said, “We are looking forward to meeting customers from all over Europe, especially the technicians from France from Gunboat and Outremer, and our Italian customers from Itacat, to discuss new and upcoming projects, as well as evaluating our recent deliveries.
“From Finland, we expect to see our contacts from Baltic Yachts and Nautor Swan, as well as Schionning Design catamaran builders from Greece and Bulgaria and Grainger Design builders from other parts of Europe. It will be interesting to hear about the diverse Dutch projects for special designs of extendable platforms, and an interior designer specialising in outdoor superyacht furniture.
“Of special note and attracting a lot of interest is our range of sustainable products under the DuraKore brand of planks and panels. DuraKore products are manufactured with Diab ProBalsa® cores and laminated with a hardwood veneer providing a stiffer structure with less weight than conventional timber materials.
End grain balsa offers extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, exceptional shear and compressive strength, high impact and fatigue resistance, high thermal and sound insulation properties, good moisture resistance and low FST properties
The DuraKore planks is easier to form into shape, better to handle, and more durable.
“We welcome all interested brands and builders to speak with us about their unique needs.”
The vdL Composites stand will be located at CMP 12.803 at METSTRADE SHOW, 15 to 17 November in Amsterdam.
ATL Composites heads to METS 2023
The METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, 15 to 17 November 2023, unites the world’s leisure marine brands and businesses in the world’s largest B2B exhibition of marine equipment, systems and materials.
This year, organisers confirm there will be 1,300 exhibitors from 49 countries, estimated to attract around 17,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany will again attend in partnership to showcase the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company, vdL Composites GmbH.
vdL Composites GmbH offers lightweight construction solutions to many of Europe’s leading boat builders and design houses.
For 11 years ATL Composites and M.u.H. von der Linden have worked together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries, including architecture and construction.
Nicholas Cossich and Lorraine Duckworth, Directors at ATL Composites are looking forward to METS 2023, saying “It’s the opportunity to see the innovations and ingenuity from around the world as well as meeting with our partners and customers to see how we can collaborate on their projects.
“Seeing what’s on offer from new and established brands, enjoying the informative presentations are important parts of METS.”
Helge Von Der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH said they have been exhibiting at METS for 28 years.
“Since 1995, we have been exhibiting at METS as M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH, visiting the show to meet friends and foster business relations,” he said.
“Exhibiting products designed for customers in the marine market has resulted in success especially for vdL Composites. Having been to Amsterdam for the show over so many years, we feel very connected not only to the city but to our business friends, many of whom we only meet once a year. It is a great place to meet and discuss innovations and solutions for our customers.”
At METSTRADE 2023, the vdL Composites stand will be located at CMP 12.803.
Red Car Marine resto relies on DuFLEX
A classic Sydney trawler that operated for 30 years in Tasmania as Marconi’s Cross out of Hobart is being given a new lease on life by the experts at Red Car Marine in the fortuitously named suburb, Goodwood in Hobart.
James Watson runs Red Car Marine and he and his team are meticulously restoring the 14.75-metre timber fishing vessel for its Sydney owners.
Built in 1948, the historic vessel is a veteran of tuna fishing, trawling and towing fish pens, before going up for sale.
As James explains, “Her new owners have commissioned a total refit, including the wheelhouse, aft lounge, sliding doors and interiors to turn it into a pleasure boat for cruising the Hawkesbury River, and eventually some passage making to Whitsundays.”
The design brief has expanded over time to include the aft lounge with covered awning, and below decks, berths in the foc’s’le, and two additional berths in the fish hold.
James, a shipwright, drew up the plans, and with his two assistants, Dean and Paul, have set to work on the refit project.
“The bridgedeck is the first part,” he says. “Mark Richards, who is acting as the owner’s representative, and I chose to use composite board from ATL. The DuFLEX panels cored with 40mm Divinycell H80 Structural Foam are ideal for use on top for their lightweight and strength. They weight 50 or 60kg lighter than plywood and lining. Plus, the added advantage of ease of installation, cutting down labour time.”
Custom built to meet the specific size and shape for the bridge deck, the DuFLEX panels will be shipped in eight parts and joined on site at Red Car Marine for optimum freight efficiency and handling. 
“We simply install the panel, fabricated with a specialty finish on the underside which results in no pinholes, and then go direct to sand and paint. It cuts down prep time by a truckload of hours. We are using exposed wooden beams underneath with the modern top for a really beautiful look.”
James is a loyal advocate of WEST SYSTEM products, which he describes as “our go to products”. He swears by 105 epoxy resin and 206 slow hardener, as well as Techniglue R15, a toughened, thixotropic epoxy paste with increased peel strength.
“ATL products are great quality, and the team at ATL provides good support and communication to tailor advice for each project. I’ve always found them very helpful. Tasmanian Marine Distributors – Distributors for ATL products – introduced us to Lorraine. We met her at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and she’s very personable.”
The Marconi’s Cross restoration is on track to be delivered back to her owners in January 2024 in time for summer cruising on Sydney Harbour.
Follow the progress over the coming months: news.atlcomposites.com.au
Marconi’s Cross on Instagram @marconi_trawler
Composite Panels for Speed and Efficiency in Boat Racing
Boat racing is a thrilling sport that requires exceptional speed and performance. To be successful in this sport, each component of a racing boat must be optimised for maximum efficiency. The use of composite panels, which offer a variety of benefits that help to improve speed and performance, is an important aspect of the design of a boat.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at composite panels and how they help improve the performance of a racing boat.
What are composite panels?
Composite panels are created by bonding two or more different materials together to form a single, lightweight, and strong material. Some of the most common materials used in boat racing include carbon fibre, Kevlar and fibreglass. These materials are known for their high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes them ideal for use in applications where weight is a critical factor, such as boat racing.
How do composite panels improve speed and performance?
- 1. Reduced weight: One of the most significant benefits of composite panels is their lightweight nature. Boats that are constructed using composite panels are much lighter than those made from traditional materials like wood or metal. This reduced weight means that boats can achieve higher speeds with less power, allowing racers to push their boats to the limit without sacrificing performance.
- Increased stiffness: Composite panels are also known for their high stiffness, which allows boats to maintain their shape and resist flexing. This stiffness improves boat handling, making it easier to control the boat and maintain speed around corners and in rough water conditions.
- Enhanced durability: Composite panels are incredibly durable and can withstand the high stresses and strains that occur during boat racing. Unlike traditional materials, composite panels do not rot, warp, or corrode, ensuring that the boat remains in top condition for longer periods.
- Improved aesthetics: Finally, composite panels offer a sleek, modern look that is ideal for boat racing. Their smooth surface finish and ability to be moulded into intricate shapes allow boat designers to create unique and aerodynamic designs that can improve the boat’s speed and performance.
Conclusion
Composite panels are an essential component of modern boat design and help improve speed and performance in boat racing. Composite panels enable racers to push their boats to their limits and achieve the highest levels of performance possible by reducing weight, increasing stiffness, improving durability and enhancing aesthetics. As boat racing continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative uses of composite panels that will enhance the sport and its competitive nature.
ATL Composites is a leading supplier in Australia of advanced composite boards, materials and engineering for the construction of high-performance, lightweight structures for the marine, automotive, architectural, civil and industrial tooling markets. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services!
Composite Panels: Benefits in Marine Industry
ATL Composites has been supplying the marine industry for over 35 years and has the experience and materials technology to provide practical solutions to optimise structures for weight, strength, and stiffness. Our experience includes CE/ISO, Lloyds Register, ABS, DNV, Germanischer Lloyd, BV and Australian Standard compliance for racing yachts, catamarans, ferries, patrol craft and pleasure vessels.
The team of structural engineers at ATL Composites understand all aspects of composite technology, with a focus on engineering to allow for practical fabrication solutions and to optimise structures for weight, strength, stiffness and affordability for marine applications. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of composite panels for your vessel.
Weight
Weight is essential in marine applications for achieving performance, stability, and safety. The large panel-forming capabilities of ATL Composites provide the ideal solution for weight reduction. Our lightweight marine panels are a premier composite material that performs exceptionally well in a wide range of applications ensuring cost-effective, lightweight solutions.
Strength
Composite panels are designed to meet the toughest marine standards and have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than traditional materials. Our engineer’s design, fabricate and manufacture composite panel solutions ideal for a wide range of maritime applications including boats, yachts and other vessels. Our end products are lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant.
Stiffness
The combination of lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre and fibreglass, with our proprietary composite technology, ensures that each panel is stiffer than aluminium or steel panels of the same size. Our advanced solutions are designed to provide maximum structural stiffness for applications requiring a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Durability
ATL Composites takes pride in the superior quality and durability of our panels, which are designed to withstand the rigours of harsh marine environments. Our composite panels are water, UV, and corrosion-resistant, ensuring a long service life even in harsh conditions. This provides a more cost-effective solution for marine and industrial applications, as the panels do not need to be replaced as often. Additionally, our materials provide excellent resistance to vibrations and shock, making them ideal for use in high-performance vessels.
Cost-savings
Due to their lightweight construction, our panel solutions offer significant cost savings over traditional aluminium or steel panels. Composite panels’ lighter weight results in lower fuel costs and improved vessel performance, making them an ideal choice for boat owners looking to maximise efficiency while minimising expense.
ATL Composites is a leading supplier in Australia of advanced composite boards, materials and engineering for the construction of high-performance, lightweight structures for the marine, automotive, architectural, civil and industrial tooling markets. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services!
Composite Panels: Improving Automotive Efficiency
As technologies evolve to meet the constant demand for higher productivity, autoclave curing is progressively being replaced by alternative processing solutions such as compression moulding, standard infusion and high-pressure, fast-injection RTM. Epoxy resins, speciality core materials and high-performance reinforcements are now providing new structural solutions that will radically alter the way cars and other vehicles are designed and built.
Our in-mould coatings are used in the high-performance motor-sport industry, specifically V8 Supercars, to meet the high strength and toughness requirements. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on alternative technologies and materials to optimise and adapt to the automotive industry’s requirements. That is where our expertise in the development of new and innovative composite processes comes into play.
The benefits of these new composite panels materials mean that cars can be made lighter, more efficient and with greater reliable than ever before. The possibilities are virtually endless as these composites can reduce weight, increase strength and durability, improve crash safety performance, reduce production costs and enable a wide range of vehicle configurations. In addition to this, our in-mould coatings allow us to create a range of finishes on the vehicle components that are both aesthetic and durable.
Our team of experienced engineers is dedicated to finding new and innovative solutions for automotive OEMs and their suppliers while working closely with them to ensure their needs in terms of quality, performance and cost are met. Our commitment to research, development and innovation has enabled us to stay at the forefront of the industry, delivering quality components that meet or exceed OEM requirements.
The automotive industry is constantly evolving and we are proud to be part of this evolution. We strive to remain ahead of the curve in our industry, offering the latest technology, materials and production processes to ensure that OEMs can get the best possible outcomes for their product. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing quality products and services, with a focus on customer service and satisfaction.
We have experience in the design and manufacture of composite panels material for refrigerated cars and trucks, emergency vehicles, utility vehicles and even campervans. Our dedication to quality materials, production processes and customer service has earned us the reputation of being a leader in our field.
ATL Composites is a leading supplier in Australia of advanced composite boards, materials and engineering for the construction of high-performance, lightweight structures for the marine, automotive, architectural, civil and industrial tooling markets. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services!
TANK Rolls out for Double Duty
A compact coastal cruiser and a fast, efficient charter vessel, TANK is the custom-built boat of her owners’ dreams. After 11 months in construction at Noosa Marine, the Roger Hill-designed 13.9-metre (46-feet) monohull motor yacht known as TANK blitzed her sea trials and has been delivered to her ecstatic owners.
Looking imposing as she left the shed on the first day of summer, coincidentally, the coldest start to the season ever, TANK was trucked to Lawrie’s Boat Services marina at Mooloolaba to be lifted into the water.
“She looks even better on the water,” says proud builder and Director at Noosa Marine, Julian Griffiths. “On her first day of sea trials she achieved a top speed of 47 knots. She was cruising at 40 knots against a 20-knot breeze in a metre of chop, and on board it was so smooth and dry.”
TANK is powered by twin Mercury V12 Verado engines, with 600 hp each which are hailed as “game changing” for their extraordinary range and performance, as well as the outboard segment’s first steerable gearcase and industry-first two-speed transmission.
The compact cruiser was an exceptionally technical boat to build, involving four craftspeople and several contractors for windows, upholstery, engines, electrical and flooring, Julian reports.
“It was built to AMSA Survey so there were strict parameters to follow. It all flowed very smoothly from concept to completion with no changes. We built the owners’ previous boat – the 63-foot power cat, Bajaca so we had a great relationship with the client. When they wanted to downsize, they worked hand in hand with Roger to design a fast, spacious motor yacht that is more like a luxurious super tender than a day boat.”
TANK will now be used around the Sunshine Coast until March, when she will relocate to Hamilton Island.
The 1,900 Litre fuel capacity will provide approximately 700 nautical miles of range at a cruising speed of 25 knots, and 500 nautical miles at 40 knots.
TANK also boasts a shallow draft of just 600cm, so TANK can approach the beach wherever she roams.
“In March, TANK will head north to Hamilton Island where the owners have built a home and TANK will be part of the offering, with a skipper. TANK is rated for up to 12 guests plus two crew. She will be ideal for day trips to the Reef and Whitsunday Islands.”
TANK can also be used by the owners for weekends on the water, with her large double berth and loads of outdoor seating, including a day bed that converts to an alfresco night berth.
Engineering to meet NCSV Compliance under AMSA, was undertaken by the ATL Engineering team, and the boat was constructed using DuFLEX Composite Panels cored with of varying densities; DuFLEX Panels cored with Divinycell H130 in the Hull Bottoms to provide structural performance at high speed performance, and H80 for Topsides were supplied is DuFLEX Strip Panel format.
The cabin DuFLEX panels were also cored with H80 and were reinforced with carbon fibre to meet stiffness and weight considerations.
The transom was built with Coosa Bluewater 26 – a high density, closed-cell polyurethane foam reinforced with woven roving and continuous strand fiberglass, used to provide additional flexural strength for demanding applications where greater span lengths are required – was fabricated at ATL Composites, along with the 3D routed Nose Cone, made from Divinycell H130 core, optimising material useage and fabrication time.
“DuFLEX is a light-weight, economical product that makes construction efficient and waste-free,” says Julian. “The lightweight construction optimises the vessel’s performance and the installation of a Quick MC2 anti-roll gyro will provide added stability.
“TANK’S owners are thrilled with their new boat and plan to spend every second day out on the water enjoying island hopping – Moreton Island, Noosa, the Gold Coast, Double Island. They are over the moon!”
Meet us at METS 2022
Running 15 to 17 November 2022, the METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam is the world’s largest B2B trade exhibition of marine equipment, materials and systems attracting 1,300 exhibitors and around 15,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany, will attend METS 2022, show casing the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company vdL Composites GmbH, which offers lightweight construction solutions and are preferred by some of Europe’s leading boat builders and design houses.
vdL Composites GmbH have supplied composite products to brands including Schionning, Gunboat, Outremer, Nautor Swan, Baltic Yachts, Judel Vrolijk Designs, Itacat from Italy, Twans in the Netherlands, Lütje, Michael Schmidt Yachtbau and Shiptec AG, as well as various superyachts, production boats, sea ferries and commercial craft.
In 2022, ATL and Von Der Linden commemorate 10 years of successful partnership, working together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries, including architecture and construction.
Nicholas Cossich and Lorraine Duckworth, Directors at ATL Composites will travel from their headquarters on Queensland’s Gold Coast in mid-summer to a frosty Amsterdam for METS 2022.
“After three years of travel restrictions, it will be wonderful to return to METS,” said Nic. “We are looking forward to returning to METS this year and renewing ties with our partners in vdL and their customers.”
The team from MuH von der Linden has attended METS for many years and considers the show a valuable means of networking and demonstrating the DuFLEX range of products to all levels of industry.
“METS is a very valuable networking and showcase opportunity for us,” said Director, Inga von der Linden.
“Over the years, since 2012, we have enjoyed exhibiting at METS with Lorraine, Nick and representatives from ATL Composites. We have become great friends as well as great partners.
“This year, we are eager to catch up with clients and to work with them on their requirements for their new projects in 2023.”
Since 1988, METS has been the place where the global leisure marine industry meets to do business, catering to three specialist sectors: Superyachts, Marinas and Yards and Construction materials. In three specialised pavilions, exhibitors display products and services and visitors to the show, including trade delegations from around the world, can meet and learn about innovations in technology, componentry, materials and equipment.
Visit vdL Composites at 12 803 in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.
It’s a TANK …… 13.9m Roger Hill Mono destined to turn heads!
The latest Roger Hill design is a dramatic departure from the multihulls he’s built his reputation on for more than 25 years.
The custom-designed 13.9-metre monohull motor yacht, named “TANK, was commissioned by a former client and, while a step out of Roger’s comfort zone, the new build will still have a number of “Hill hallmarks”, including the lightweight, durability of the DuFLEX panel system.
As Roger explains, the brief was to design a monohull motor yacht for a couple who were intent on downsizing and using their boat more “casually”.
“Their ideas and needs have changed and evolved,” says Roger. “Their family has grown up and they would not use a big boat enough now there is only the two of them.
“A key factor was power and fuel capacity for longer trips. It’s powered by twin Mercury V12 Verado engines, with 600 hp each which are hailed as ‘game changing’ for their extraordinary range and performance, as well as the outboard segment’s first steerable gearcase and industry-first two-speed transmission.
“The 1,900 Litre fuel capacity will provide approximately 700 nautical miles of range at a cruising speed of 25 knots. But the boat will also be capable of 50 knot runs to Stradbroke Island for a picnic.”
The boat is being constructed by Julian Griffiths and the team at Noosa Marine from DuFLEX/Foam Composite Panels of varying densities; H130 Divinycell in the hull bottoms and H80 in the Topsides were determined to be the lightest and most durable solution by ATL Composites Engineering Team as part of their complete composite vessel analysis to meet NSCV Survey Compliance under AMSA.
“The lightweight construction optimises the vessel’s performance and installation of a Quick MC2 anti-roll gyro will provide added stability,” says Roger.
Construction on “TANK” is halfway through. “It’s called ‘Tank’ because it looks like one,” says Julian. “It looks like a big superyacht tender, with double berth and everything that opens and shuts onboard, including an outdoor galley under a T-top, lounge front and back with tables that can fold down.
“It’s about 8 tonnes, but it’s light for its length and it will certainly be speedy!”
No stranger to working on monohulls as the designer and builder of his own brand of weekender, the Noosa 7, Julian reports that the Hill monohull is proving “a tricky technical build because it has a lot of mechanical complexities”.
“For example, the anchor tucks behind an anchor locker and because of the plumb bow, it has to pivot out on an actuator. Then there’s a feature a lot of new boats have these days, the sides all fold out to give owners more leisure space. Plus, the duckboard boarding platform rises in and out of water and there are retractable awnings for added shade.”
Along with the large double berth, “Tank” boasts plenty of outdoor seating, a day bed that converts to an alfresco night berth. Another unique feature is the low draft of just 600cm, so the owners can practically beach “Tank” wherever they choose to anchor.
Fortunately, Roger has specified DuFLEX panel system which Julian has many years of experience building with.
“DuFLEX makes the build quicker and more economical. It makes the vessel lightweight and strong. It’s a win-win,” he says. For Roger, the new monohull is a stimulating adventure into new waters, and “a big confidence vote for the client to design with me. “Having the close relationship I have with the client, Julian at Noosa Marine and the technical advice and engineering expertise provided by the team at ATL, has resulted in a combination of solid information that has optimised this design.”
Roger Hill 12m Design takes shape with DuFLEX Composite Panels
The divinely named “Celeste”, a 12-metre Roger Hill-designed power catamaran, is in build at G & T Marine, Auckland – it’s the first time seasoned boat builder Grant Symmans has worked with the DuFLEX panel system and Z-press from ATL Composites.
The privately-owned, custom-built, displacement-hull power cat is on track for delivery by May 2023 to an experienced owner looking for volume and ease of cruising.
So far, according to Grant, he has used the Z-press to join the DuFLEX panels for superstructure and cabin top.
“It’s a first for me,” he states. “Roger is a huge fan, so we went with it. It’s labour saving, comes as a kit, and the DuFLEX is lightweight and sturdy.”
The 12-metre vessel is a “fairly straight forward” build, single level sedan with a beam of 4.8-metres.
“Using DuFLEX has made construction a simple process and at this stage we’re impressed with it. We’ll know more when we do the hulls,” Grant adds.
Using ATL’s Z-Press streamlines the composite panel joining process, applying heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins cure fully in 7 to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, type of hardener, core type and thickness of the panel.
Roger Hill, specialist power multihull designer, says the client sought a well-appointed powercat for “the next phase of his cruising lifestyle”.
“I have always said that these displacement hull power cats we design are ‘sailor’s power boats’,” he explains. “That is, when you have been a yachtie all your life and you’re facing the unavoidable ravages of time on your old body but don’t want to give up boating, these cats are a good option!
“For Auckland-based yachties who have been cruising around at around 6 to 8 knots, a lot of the time motoring (as you get older), and a lot of the time beating to windward, these smaller displacement hull power cats are ideal.
“They cruise most economically around 14 to 15 knots, or about twice the speed you have been used to going all of your previous boating life, and they are really fuel efficient. Also, they will motor directly into any head wind and nasty sea state without spilling your drink, or leaning over.”
Fortuitously, the client is Roger’s very first when he struck out on his own and established his design firm 27 years ago.
“He owned his lovely 11.9-metre cruising yacht from new, it fitted his requirements perfectly all of that time and he kept it in immaculate condition. Like all of us, he is getting older and the physicality of sailing a yacht basically on your own was starting to tell.
“He made the very hard decision to sell and move on with the next phase of his boating life. They went out for a ride on a smaller 10-metre displacement power cat we designed and from that, he commissioned his new 12-metre design.”
While there is nothing particularly new or radical about the design, there are some unique features.
“The client wanted something that he could trust and depend on to fulfil his future yachting aspirations,” explains Roger. “As with the original sailing yacht, the new power cat is specifically detailed around his requirements.
“Things like the very clever swimming diving platform that lowers down between the motors to form steps down to a wider bottom panel that allows easy access into the water for diving and launching a small RIB.
“It’s just the two of them, and the layout will be very comfortable for them to live aboard for extended periods through the summer as they have done with their yacht for many years.
“The choice to go with outboards was based on being able to explore areas they have previously not been able access with a deep draft keel, so adding a new dimension to their cruising ambitions.”
The choice to use the DuFLEX system came from the client seeing it for himself, visiting the 16-metre “Omahu” and speaking to its owner who had a previous sailing cat built out of DuFLEX and was extremely positive about the process.
“The preliminary design for the structure of “Celeste” was based on standard foam cored composite boat building methods. From that the options were costed up and DuFLEX won the job!
Cored with Divinycell foam, the DuFLEX panels in CELESTE have a combination of H80 and H100 densities in the hull shell. The hull bottoms are cored with 20mm H100 DuFLEX Strips that are laminated with a 460 grm unidirectional E-Fibreglass which will have an additional laminate applied on both sides, while hull sides are a mix of H80 thicknesses and laminated with double layers of 800grm quadraxial chosen to meet performance and engineering requirements.
Grant Symmans was a more traditional builder accustomed to using plywood, timber, and fibreglass skinning methods of construction, but he was intrigued with system and its multiple benefits – precision cut, time saving, labour saving and minimal waste.
Grant and his two co-workers are now well into the build.
“They made the large cabin top first and it went together very well and quickly, and they are now starting to plank up the first hull.”
“The client, whose father was a New Zealand timber boat builder and built many cold-moulded Kauri sailing yachts, was quite tentative about the process but is now also becoming much more relaxed and happy as he sees the boat coming to life.”