Computer Aided Design
Almost all our work involves a degree of CAD. We use CAD to model potential solutions to problems, to design new additions to your boat, and to produce manufacturing-ready designs or models. Depending on the requirement we use either 2D or 3D CAD software.
3D scanning
We have 3D scanning capability in-house and can scan items from approx 50mm square up to approximately 2×2 metres. This includes boat cockpits to create CAD models for hard dodgers etc. For extremely large or complex scans we will use a third party, but you will only ever be dealing with us for contact and part discussion.
Reverse Engineering
Sometimes it’s simply easier to send your old part to us (even if its broken or worn) and we can create a drawing from the old part. For items such as rudder bushings that wear down, we will ask for dimensions of the rudder stock and tube so that we can generate a new part that fits perfectly, but we will use the old part to replicate any specific geometry the part has.
3D Printing
We have in-house capability to produce parts in a variety of materials, only some of which are suitable for long term exposure to the marine environment, such as POM. However we can use rapidly produced temporary 3D printed parts to be able to offer up models to ensure a part will fit correctly prior to machining in Aluminum, Delrin, Stainless Steel etc.
In-house Fabrication
We can produce many parts in-house on our machines, including turned items, CNC plasma-cut and CNC routered items. We can also weld all marine steels and marine grade (5000 and 6000 series) aluminium. For welded assemblies we can do thin wall tube bending and rolling in-house, and creation of Delrin/Aluminum assemblies such as hinges etc.
We can produce parts up to approx 2x2x1 metres in GRP or Carbon, including foam and balsa cored laminates.
Contract Fabrication
Where we do not have the capability in-house to produce your part (or a section of your part) we will use our trusted network of suppliers to get it produced and then assembled at our facility. You will only have to deal with us for all discussions, and we will ensure the finished part is perfect. This way you will be speaking to a marine expert throughout the process who understands your requirements and can interpret these to the various machine shops and fabricators that we work with.
Repeat Manufacturing
A large amount of boat parts are high-complexity, low volume items. If you are a boat builder or manufacturer, we can provide initial design support and manufacturing for the initial part, and also volume production runs as and when required.