Construction Overview
Predominantly designed in the CAD program, CATIA, used by corporate giants such as Boeing and Toyota, our boats are founded using the latest design technology. The shell is a blend of light cored panels and multi axial cloth bonded with epoxy resins as used in modern race boats. The construction and materials are high tech when compared to conventionally moulded boats. With all flat surfaces these designs use pre-laminated Duflex panels. The Duflex panels are used with rigid end grain balsa, structural linear or cross linked foam and phenolic impregnated paper honeycomb cores laminated with a high performance epoxy resin reinforced with multi axial E glass or carbon fibre and peel plied.
The Core and laminates are co-cured in a hot press, a method that consolidates the laminate under pressure increasing the fibre volume and therefore the strength of the finished panel. By using epoxy rather than polyester resin as the matrix in Duflex panels, a reduction of laminate thickness is achieved while improving damage tolerance. Epoxy exhibits better core adhesion, moisture and fatigue resistance, and has superior strain capabilities which provides Duflex laminates with greater impact resistance than polyester/E-glass laminates that are up to three times thicker.
Total weight savings can reach 50%. For boats this has a follow on effect for power and fuel requirements. Toughness and durability of the panels reduce general maintenance costs, and there is no chance of osmotic blistering occurring in the epoxy matrix. The result is a light, incredibly strong osmosis and fatigue free boat that will hold incredible re-sale value in years to come.
