3D Printed Boats: Unconventional By Design
From carbon fiber components and personalized interiors to muscular superyacht tenders. Find out more.
December 18, 2024
From carbon fiber components and personalized interiors to muscular superyacht tenders, 3D printing is transforming how boats are designed and built.
Above: A 3D printer prints physical 3D model with plastic wire filament at a modern technology exhibition. Photo by Zyabich via Pond5.
3D Printing Is Pushing Boat Design Foward: Any Shape Is Possible
Robots are coming in force, in weird and wonderful shapes and sizes. The advent of the MAMBO, the world's first 3D printed fiberglass boat, debuted at the Genoa Boat Show in 2020.
The MAMBO project, produced by Moi Composites, highlighted substantial advancements in polymer additive manufacturing, the use of different materials, such as continuous fiber reinforced (e.g. carbon, glass) composites with thermoset resins enabling the personalized and high-performance boats to be printed, enhancing strength and reducing weight.
Composites Production: Ideal For Taxi Personalization
Striking 3D printed yachts enable infinite contouring possibilities producing elevated levels of light and shade. The outcome is a more sculpted finish with enhanced definition for a taut, athletic aesthetic.
"You can bring a yacht to life by straying away from traditional boat building methods by changing how the light changes on the curve of the hull," says Tommaso Geri, Head of Materials Engineering at Moi Composites.
"The result is a more refined aesthetic. Each design is made completely bespoke, fluid in style with an elegant use of curved lines and organic shapes made with a lot of interfaces. Some of the shapes are difficult to manufacture because these would not be extractable from molds, which is the traditional way of making boats. 3D printing affords yacht owners who want to produce bespoke designs higher levels of customization."
Many 3D technologies are being used for custom products mass production, bringing novel competitive advantages to manufacturers who wish to tailor their products on specific customers’ needs. Tenders and taxi boats are often designed based on the shape and space available within the superyacht garage.
"When you step off the yacht, you will be just as unique as the mothership itself," says Geri. "The taxi is often a guest's first contact before entering the mothership, and you cannot make a first impression twice."
3D customization enables superior levels of precision with minimal wastage and reduces the need for manual labor. Additive technologies can be used cost efficiently for mass customization and presents boatbuilders with unique manufacturing solutions.
Sailing Yachts: Advancing High-Performance
The high stiffness-to-weight ratio achieved through 3D printing has shaken up America's Cup. American Magic has adopted Stratasys carbon fiber 3D printing to further optimize the performance of its sailing yacht. The technology will enable the team to 3D print components on demand and re-engineer new parts post-race to improve performance, more notably masts and hulls.
Above: The advent of the MAMBO, the world's first 3D printed fiberglass boat, debuted at the Genoa Boat Show in 2020. Image via Moi Composites.
Collaboration Between 3D Printing and Traditional Shipyards
3D printing is not a one-stop solution for all areas of boat building. “Our mission at Moi Composites is not to replace traditional shipbuilding methods but to coalesce with traditional boat manufacturers by helping them to identify when this technology can help them achieve a greater, more efficient outcome.” says Geri. For example, by reducing the number of assembly parts, you can eliminate the need for joints. This is done by partial or integral redesign through DFAM, Design For Additive Manufacturing.
As always, the best outcomes come from knowledge sharing between two parties working on different sides of the coin.
3D printing is an excellent asset to shipbuilding, and over time, we will see the proliferation of technology as the equipment costs decrease and awareness of its capabilities among younger generations increase.
Are you interested in knowing more about the intersection between technology and boats? Find out how AI Adoption Is Reshaping The Recreational Boating Landscape.
