SP pushes the boat out for revolutionary project

by Hannah Keddie on 25 Jun 2009 Structural design work on one of the most challenging boat projects is nearing an end at SP, the marine business of Gurit, who have teamed up with luxury yacht builders Baltic Yachts for their biggest venture to date.

Known for delivering high-performance sailing yachts, Baltic is pushing the envelope of yacht design and construction with their lightweight, super-fast 60 metre ketch, Panamax. Designed to be the largest ketch that can pass through the Panama Canal, the custom-built Panamax incorporates materials and engineering supplied by SP to ensure maximum performance.

Revolutionary in both concept and design, Panamax is notable not only for its sheer size but also a number of novel features; the unique ketch is set to be at the forefront of innovation, with project management by Jens Cornelsen. Featuring a plumb-bow, long bowsprit and traditional sheer line, the boat combines classic looks and comfortable cruising with powerful performance. Using a combination of Nomex honeycomb, SP Prepregs, Corecell™ foam, carbon, adhesives and laminating resins, Baltic’s largest yacht to date is being built with the finest composite materials available.

Principal Engineer of SP, Rod Fogg said: 'Panamax has been our biggest project, and we have worked on the design since 2007. The sheer scale of the yacht creates constant challenges for everyone involved, but its ground-breaking systems and engineering mean it is not just another large sailing yacht.' SP believes it is the largest single prepreg moulding ever.

'One of the biggest challenges of the structural design has been that of the two-stage lifting keel, which can operate in three positions, but raises in two stages using internal and external rams to 3.7m above the deck for the harbour draught. Designing for an ultimate grounding load of some 3,000 tonnes means this could also be one of the highest point loads ever in composite design. To help with the flow of such construction information, SP also has had an engineer on-site for a year'.

Co-designed by two top naval architecture offices (Gerard Dijkstra & Partners, and Reichel/Pugh), Panamax has been designed with a modern classic finish in mind. However, these looks hide a racing heart and SP’s structural engineering will help to ensure the high-tech carbon composite yacht is designed to perform well in both inshore and offshore regattas after it is delivered in 2011.

SP is the marine composite business of Gurit AG headquartered in Wattwill/ Switzerland, (SWX: Swiss Exchange: GUR) and currently supplies the superyacht market, high-performance custom, production and workboat sectors. SP has 25 years of composites experience in performance boat building. Gurit supplies markets including marine, wind energy, aerospace and automotive with a range of products and services including prepregs, liquid epoxies for infusion.